|
Articles Conference Reviews |
2008QRNGerbenQualitative Research Network Last autumn I replied to an email that Seth Kahn and Heidi McKee sent out to the WPA listserv calling for proposals to this year’s QRN. Although I had been teaching composition for 5 years, I was a humble first-year PhD student again at Michigan. Faced with the return to writing papers in the early morning hours and conducting research for half-hashed ideas with questionable methodology, I decided to propose my study looking at the use of Facebook in the classroom. I knew I had a good idea, but was fumbling with my framework and methods, and knew that even if I recorded good data, I didn’t know where to start in terms of analyzing it. Fortunately, my proposal was accepted, and so I was able to bring these thoughts and fears on the road to this year’s CCCC. It turned out to be an incredible experience, and beneficial to my research, so this is less of a review of the session than an advertisement for anyone considering applying in the future. The session, which had less than 50 people in attendance, began with a keynote on fieldwork by Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater (UNC-Greensboro) and Bonnie Sunstein (Iowa). They delivered an easy address of “trust us, you can do this too” which seemed to put everyone in attendance at ease; the newcomers felt welcomed, and the veterans were freed up to admit mistakes and doubts. This was the tone and atmosphere throughout the rest of the afternoon. During the keynote, attendees were invited to participate in small activities at the six round tables in the room, and everyone shared their results in a conversational and relaxed manner that, again, invited attendees to be co-collaborator’s on the day’s issues. A great deal of time was spent discussing fieldwork in terms of positionality, and all of the related considerations involved: issues of objectivity, quantitative vs. qualitative paradoxes, and fixed or subjective positions. Perhaps a bit to my surprise, this begat a lot of conversation about ethnographic study, which even though not necessarily the main thrust of qualitative work, was a main concern for many in attendance. After a brief break, small groups were formed at each table to discuss individual projects. The tables were arranged thematically, with a facilitator and several presenters. My table, “Researching in/with Networked Communities,” was facilitated by longtime QRN supporter, Roxanne Mountford (Arizona). Like other tables, each presenter was allotted approximately half an hour to present findings or concerns, and then open up the discussion to others at the table. This latter part of each presentation provided a supportive and congenial workshop atmosphere that felt more like a conversation at a café instead of a stressful discussion at a conference, and everyone—at least at my table—thrived in the environment. At my table, Ethan Jordan (Michigan Tech) presented a study on gaming networks at his university. Next, presenters Justin Everett, Diedre Pettipiece (both University of the Sciences in Philadelphia), and Timothy Ray (West Chester University) discussed their desire to share findings in collaborative, global, and electronic mediums. Finally, I presented my brief discussion of using social networking technology in and out of the classroom to facilitate collaboration. I’ve long believed that the best lectures, talks, or conferences make you want to run home and start writing and revising right away. This is how I felt after attending my first QRN, and given the number of participants continuing their conversations into the hallways and elevators afterwards, I have a feeling that I wasn’t alone. This was a friendly, intimate, and helpful workshop that anyone—at any level of research—should definitely consider in future years. |