So - the project to address the needs of NQTs with a self-evaluation tool used a blog to initiate discussion. Why? Because a blog allows "threads" of discussion around specific topics and sub-topics and the outcome can be stored in a calendarised format that anyone can revisit.
BUT ... and this is a big "but" ... it doesn't work unless people visit. Horses. Water. Drinking. All these spring to mind. Our education community is potentially ready for blogs - why, there's any number around. But how many have active and lively contributions? Do we really yet have an online education community, or is the technology in place, but the users are lagging behind. "It's something called a 'blog'", said one person discussing the research approach with another ... the blogosphere has not reached everyone and, judging by the response rate here, not many at all in one segment of the community.
What is the answer? Traditional means of research are less dynamic and interactive. They also deal with individuals' views, not discussions. Apart from focus groups and conferences, we have questionnaires - one person responds in isolation; interviews - one person expresses views in a less structured way to the researcher; we have desk research - a researcher goes and finds out what individuals have said - usually in isolation - about the topic.
Blogging, however, opens all that up. Everyone can read, contribute and discuss the topic to their heart's content - and it's all chronologically recorded. Are we ready for it? Not yet, apparently.
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