Research Survey

I have now closed the pilot of the Survey and would like totake this opportunity to thank all those who have participated.

ICT research questionnaire

I have been working on my questionnaire for the research into the educators perception of the development of ICT capability at KS3. I have found this very difficult, especially formulating the attitudinal question. I am sure it is not right yet, it is long, and I have been drawn between the theory that the most successful surveys are those with the least answers to participate in, and the fact that too long a question is likely to put people off. I have opted for the longer question on the basis that the style of the question is the same throughout and as such is not difficult to answer. Then there is the other dilemma. many of the statements require a positive result, and although I have tried to include some negative ones to even it out I think I have missed the point. should they essential be the same question one with a positive bias and one with a negative bias - or totally different questions. I know when I have conducted focus groups in the past from a marketing point of view the technique is to throw open seemingly unrelated questions to get into the individual / groups way of thinking. Well I have done all I can for the moment i will place the link up for debate. I am sure Steve and Howard will spot where I am going wrong. Any comments before we meet will be gratefully received!!!

Thanks

and here is the new link

Click Here to take survey

Questionnaire

Well a start has been made on the formulation of questions to try and establish how IT educators perceive ICT capability. I'm not sure i am happy with them yet and really could do with other peoples opinions to see if I am asking what I think I am asking. I am using an online survey site. it is called survey monkey and is quite good in that it allows you to set up templates and the basic service is free. Problem is that the basic survey terms only allows you to use 10 questions per survey so I have had to produce more than one survey. I will upgrade the membership once I have my questions in place and then combine them.

I am having a little difficulty with this for example how can I get at a series of questions to establish what the educators think ICT capability is without having an open question which is going to be awkward to analyse.

The other thought I have been working on is what sort of incentive can I give to the various ICT educators to get them to fill in the survey in the first place. It has been suggested that resources may be a carrot, I have a number of interactive / web crosswords and quizzes that I could use or word searches. these would appeal to KS3 students.

Below are 2 links to the surveys I have put together so far - and I would be grateful for any comment.

1. Click Here to take survey
2. Click Here to take survey

bubbl.us

Mandy has just put me on to this web based mind - mapping / brainstorming tool and it is really quite good. I think I can use it to start planning my questionnaire. I have been playing around with it a planning tool for one of my groups that i hope to get blogging. I thought they could use it to plan their blog and then their first blog entry can be reflections on the use of maps such as these and blogs in the support of pedagogy. Thought has suddenly occurred I wonder if they can be adapted for the concept mapping stage of my research with the pupils. They may be more involved if it is carried out electronically. Have to think about that one.

Saturday 17th January 2009

I have been very remiss about blogging - full of good intenetions but things have been getting in my way. New Years Resoultion - try and blog with findings and key points every week, hopefully this will keep me focused.

I have had my research proposal accepted and the literature review has been accepted. the aims of the research are

1. to understand the understasnding of IT educators of ICT capabiliity
2. to investigate the relationship of the IT educators personal constructs of ICT capability and the elements of classroom practice
3. to investigate the pupils perception of their learning and development of ICT capability at KS3
4. to clarify the characteristics of ICT capability as represented by the National curriculum at KS3
5. to characterise the effective practicein the teaching of the national curriculum at KS3

I thought it would be a good idea to stick my objectives in so that I can keep on track.

The Lit review has been started and to date the objectives are still the same. there isn't a lot written about the subject and of the literature I am reading it is the same people doing the writing. This worries me a little as I wonder if this is going to limit the reserch a little. So next stage is to start designing questionaires I really need to get them out this term if I am to get a research group going by the start of a new school year. so targets for this week

• see if I can locate any questionaires on the subject
• start designing questions
• investigate on line surveys.

My superviser has suggested I contact a fellow researcher and talk about her on-line questionaire - I have contacted her and have a site for on-line survey, so the start is good.

checked out the Site and joined - now all I need is the questions!!!