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The Online Chat and the E-mail: Alternative Interview Formats in a Science Teaching Methods Course
PROCEEDINGS

, , Concordia University, Canada ; , Concordia, Canada

E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education, in Quebec City, Canada ISBN 978-1-880094-63-1 Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), San Diego, CA

Abstract

In the educational context, anonymity plays a major role when 'power relations' may impact the participants' responses. The current paper presents a pilot study for the design and utilization of an anonymous synchronous chat (ASC) interviewing technique for the collection of data in an educational methods course. After the course was over, and anonymity was not a central factor, two other techniques were offered to overcome accessibility obstacles, namely an e-mail and a face-to-face format. Comparisons were then made regarding the nature and quality of information obtained. Findings reveal that students were most willing to share opinions in the ASC, the face-to-face approach was valued for its social interactive aspect, and the e-mail interview format was selected mainly for its logistic flexibility. Implications regarding quality of data and accessibility are discussed.

Citation

Tamim, R., Shaikh, K. & Schmid, R. (2007). The Online Chat and the E-mail: Alternative Interview Formats in a Science Teaching Methods Course. In T. Bastiaens & S. Carliner (Eds.), Proceedings of E-Learn 2007--World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education (pp. 6587-6594). Quebec City, Canada: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved March 28, 2024 from .

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