Recently at the TCC, Technology, Colleges and Community online conference I presented a session, now available  online: “Visual E-Communications to Enliven Collaborative E-Learning.” 

These resources may also be of interest:

• For models illustrating  collaborative e-learning, see the Taxonomy of Online Collaboration: http://www.vision2lead.com/Taxonomy.pdf and more resources, including podcast interview.
  Visual Methods for Collaborative E-Learning http://www.vision2lead.com/Visuale-learning.pdf.

• Book chapter:”Expect Originality! by Janet Salmons, PhD

• Collaborative Learning Workshop Guide

• For more on visual mapping: see the handout: http://www.vision2lead.com/Mapping.pdf

• For more about communicating and learning visually:

Gowin, D. B., & Novak, J. D. (1984). Learning how to learn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Grove. (2005). Grove Consultants International: Transforming the art and practice of collaboration. Retrieved January 15, 2005

Marguilies, N., & Maal, N. (2002). Mapping inner space: Learning and teaching visual mapping (Second ed.). Tuscon: Zepher Press.

Sibbet, D. (2010). Visual meetings. Hoboken: Wiley.

• For more about using visual research methods:

Banks, M. (2001). Visual methods in social research. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Banks, M. (2007). Using visual data in qualitative research. London: Sage Publications.

Heath, C., Hindmarsh, J., & Luff, P. (2010). Video in qualitative research: Analysing social interaction in everyday life. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Mitchell, C. (2011). Doing visual research. London: Sage Publications.

Pink, S. (2007). Doing visual ethnography (Second ed.). London: Sage Publications.

Rose, G. (2012). Visual methodologies: An introduction to researching with visual materials. London: Sage Publications.

Salmons, J. (2010). Chapter 8. Visual research and the synchronous online interview Online interviews in real time. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Online Interviews in Real Time  offers the theoretical foundations, practical steps and examples researchers need to use visually-rich multi-media communications for scholarly interviews.

Cases in Online Interview Research  offers examples of studies that used online interview data, with an analytic Framework and analyses of each case.

These  Cases in Online Interview Research Assignment Ideas and assignments can be used in a course on research methods, or a course where students complete research projects.

An Online Interviews and Cases Syllabus shows how you can use both of these books in a course. You can adapt the whole syllabus or use several units in another research methods course.

“Qualitative E-Interview Tips” includes handouts on practical issues for e-interview researchers.

Online Interviews in Real Time and Cases in Online Interview research are now available as CourseSmart e-books, or as a discounted bundle.

I recently conducted  the first stage of a  study about women entrepreneurs and communications technologies. In what ways does online communication and collaboration influence the options women see for themselves and their businesses? I am interested in how women entrepreneurs use which technology, as well as the kinds of collaborative practices that emerge.

I am interested in businesses where online communication is used to promote, develop or sell “real world” goods and services (like real estate, landscaping/gardening or health care) as well as businesses where online communication is used to promote, develop or sell “cyberspace” goods and services (online teaching, facilitating, consulting, designing avatars or Facebook games, etc.)

I am interested in communications technologies, not writing, accounting or productivity software. I am interested in use of synchronous (online meeting platforms, video calls or videoconferencing, chatting/texting, etc.) or asynchronous tools (Facebook, email, websites, forums, blogs/micoblogs, wikis, etc.).

Since this is a qualitative study I am interested in experiences, thoughts, perceptions, ideas and feelings about what works and what is important in regard to communications technology and the business.

I presented some of the findings from this research at the Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management conference. A recording of the E-Research on E-Entrepreneurs: Women Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age presentation is posted here. Thirteen themes emerged that will form the basis of the next stage of inquiry:

• Pull is stronger than Push
• Creative/quality control is more important than business growth.
• Grow out, not up and down
• Women entrepreneurs make more entrepreneurs.
• Choice of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) is made strategically.
• Choice of ICTs is made strategically.
• Free or cheap ICTs work.
• Asynchronous or near-synchronous communications work
• Relationships matter, and they are sustained with regular communication.
• Direct communication leads to positive ROI.
• Choice of ICT depends on the nature of the relationship.
• ICTS can increase efficiency…or increase distractions.
• Intellectual property and data privacy are considerations when choosing/using ICTs..
• Plans for future ICT use includes use of media.

This study is the basis for a chapter in a forthcoming book from Praeger edited by Louise Kelley: Women Entrepreneurship: New Management and Leadership Models.

I intend to build on this research with a second stage of interviews starting next fall. If you are a woman e-entrepreneur interested in participating, please use the response form below or contact me at jsalmons(at)vision2lead.com.

Icon credit: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Watch an introduction and overview of how to use the Taxonomy of Collaboration to plan and design online or hybrid online/f2f collaborative projects. Listen to a podcast interview with On Teaching Online. Download a handout to see the model.

Two additional models, posted here, relate individual and collaborative ICT literacy and critical thinking skills with the tasks involved in online collaboration.

You can find all you need to view the event here (livestream recording and chatlog*) -*The livestream provide great visuals for big text, but not for small text such as in chat spaces. Use the chatlog link to read along if you want to follow the comments.  29 avatars inworld and 5 livestream attendees from all over the US, as well as UK, Germany and other places participated.

“Studying the (Virtual) World of (Virtual) Work”  will be the topic of discussion at the Applied Research in Virtual Environments for Learning with Jonathon Richter (Wainbrave Bernal) and Janet Salmons (Soleil Lemondrop) on Wed, March 21, 1pm  SLT.

Jonathan Richter will discuss his case study, “Learning to Work In-World: Conducting Qualitative Research in Virtual Worlds Using In-Depth Interviews,” and Janet Salmons will explain how she critiqued this case using the E-Interview Research Framework. They will answer questions about designing, conducting and reviewing research that uses interview data collected in virtual worlds.

The discussion will draw from the new book: Cases in Online Interview Research. Also, see the related article on e-interviews in virtual worlds in the recent ARVEL newsletter.

http://storify.com/einterview/next-generation-internet-users

If you missed the Cases in Online Interview Research seminar on SCoPE, you can still view two recorded webinars.

Introduction to E-Interview Research and the E-Interview Research Framework

In this webinar, Janet Salmons (editor) provided an overview of the E-Interview Research Framework. Cases in Online Interview Research contributors discussed design issues and research experiences.  Their studies  included interviews conducted in Facebook, Second Life and BlackBoard Collaborate.

Participants were:

• Allison Deegan, author of Chapter 3: Stranger in a Strange Land: Online Interviews Within the Social Networking Space 
• Ann Randall, author of  Chapter 5: Beneficial Interview Effects in Virtual Worlds
• Wendy Kraglund-Gauthier, Chapter 8 : Putting the Action into Online Research: Transitioning from F2F to Online Instruction

Online Interviews- Lessons from E-Researchers

This e-panel webinar on e-interviews included Janet Salmons (editor and moderator) and Cases in Online Interview Research contributors. They each spoke about lessons learned, offered tips to interviewers, and answered questions.

Participants were:

• Ann Randall, author of  Chapter 5: Beneficial Interview Effects in Virtual Worlds
• Wendy Kraglund-Gauthier, Chapter 8 : Putting the Action into Online Research: Transitioning from F2F to Online Instruction
• Nellie Deutsch, author of Chapter 10: Implementing Technology in Blended Learning Courses 

 The  SCoPE Professional Reading Seminar is winding up, but you can still read and view the resources!

Join Cases in Online Interview Research contributors and me for a 2-week Professional Reading seminar on SCoPE, February 20 – March 3, 2012.  The seminar included synchronous events and asynchronous discussion.

Here is an outline of the Professional Reading Seminar:

Opening Webinar: “Introduction to E-Interview Research” with Janet Salmons (editor) and Cases in Online Interview Research contributors Allison Deegan, Ch. 3; Ann Randall, Ch. 5; Wendy Kraglund-Gauthier, Ch. 8 .  The recording is online.

February 20-25

• Part 1. Framework for E-Interview Research: We will explore the 8 inter-related categories of key questions about online interview research that serves as is the organizational principle for the book. We’ll explore the implications for planning to conduct research interviews online, or teaching/guiding student researchers. We’ll discuss Chapter 1.
• Part 2. Interviews and Postings: Conducting Research with Social Media
  Q & A and discussion about Chapters 2 and 3.
• Part 3. Interviews and Observations: Conducting Research in Immersive Virtual Worlds
  Q & A and discussion about Chapters 4 – 7.

February 27-March 3

• Part 4: Visual and Verbal Interviews: Conducting Research in Meeting or Videoconference Spaces
  Q & A and discussion about Chapters 8-11.
• Part 5: Online Interviews in Your Research:  We’ll discuss Chapter 12.

Cases in Online Interview Research is available from Sage Publications and your favorite bookseller

Virtual & Visual: Performing the Online Interview
You can view a recording of the presentation I made at The Qualitative Report 2012 conference, and download a Handout for Visual and Virtual Interviews with references.

Please use the comment area to post questions or to share links to other resources relevant visual e-interviews.