Use of microblogging (Twitter) as a research tool

I've just read an interesting article on the use of Twitter as a tool for building narrative representations of the learner experience. It is by Elizabeth Aspden and Louise Thorpe of Sheffield Hallam University, who are researching informal study patterns (i.e. outside of schedules classroom hours) and how students choose and use different learning spaces.

An account of the method was given in a recent edition of Educause Qaurterly¹. They describe how they recruited 15 students for the study. Each student recorded an account of their use of learning space, at least 3 times a day. This was complemented with 3 longer summaries each week, and a final reflective interview.

Out of this they built a series of narratives² outlining a typical day in the life of each student. For example, in Eric's story, we learn that he frequently uses empty classrooms as quiet on-campus study space. Imagine what might happen if, through a change in policy, those classrooms were to be locked when not in use.

This method sounds promising, and I think I will try to use it in my own research. How might it develop in the future? Imagine the students using a wifi enabled multimedia microblogging system to record their events: text, photos, video of their experiences immediately posted for access by the researchers. Come on Apple, build us a iPod Touch with a camera!

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¹ Aspden, E. J. & Thorpe, L. P. "Where do you learn?": Tweeting to Inform Learning Space Development, Educause Quarterly Magazine, Volume 32, Number 1, 2009, http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/WhereDoYouLearnTweetingtoInfor/163852 [Accessed 17/08/2009]
² Informal Learning group, Sheffield Hallam University, Informal Learning: Scenarios, http://shulearningspaces.wordpress.com/informal-learning-scenarios/ [Accessed 17/08/2009]

Robert O'Toole : 17 Aug 2009 15:51 |  Tags: Inspiration Methodology |  Comments (0) |  Report a problem