Analyzing Skype Logs

Image retrieved from 

http://accesibilidadeinclusion.blogspot.com/2010/06/skype.html

Besides my journal, another instrument that provided me with qualitative information was the Skype Logs  I collected since the implementation process began.

As Saxton (2008) argues the new emerging technologies offer people a variety of tools such as blogs and Skype to add to our professional development. This author clarifies that “the new Web is participatory, with information flowing in all directions rather than simply from author to reader.” On this regard, these web tools give us the possibility to interact with each other, learn from each other, and construct knowledge through that interaction.

In action research, I see great potential of using Skype as a data collection tool and as an evidence of the ongoing reflection process that characterizes action research. As Burns (1999) claims action research is “evaluative and reflective as it aims to bring about change and improvement in practice, it is participatory as it provides for collaborative investigation by teams of colleagues, practitioners, and researchers” (p.30).


Taking into account the above premises, I used Skype during this research to maintain an ongoing dialogue with my research director fostering in this way the reflection component of the action research cycle and as a data collection tool to gather data about my views on the whole process; these views were validated, confirmed or enlightened by the research director’s views.

Please click here to have access to the coding of the conversations I held with my thesis director throughout the implementation process.


References:
Saxton, E. (2008). Information Tools – Using Blogs, RSS, and Wikis as Professional Resources. Young Adult Library Services 024-294. Chicago: Young Adult Library Services.

Burns, A. (1999). Collaborative action research for English language teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.