Open Research 2015

Reflection in research is closely linked to evaluation: it is about making sense of what we have done, what we are doing and how we are going to evolve. What do we gain or lose when we share this evaluation publicly? Why reflect in the open?

Activity 16: Catherine and Megan (45 minutes)

We invite you to read two blog posts: in the first one, Catherine Cronin, a lecturer in Information Technology at the National University of Ireland, Galway, reflects on her topic of research: digital identity practices in open education. The second blog post is a reflection by Megan Beckett, Project Manager at Siyavula, on her experiences of sharing.

Read both blog posts and think about the following questions, then post your answers and comments in the Disqus forum below.

• Why do Catherine and Megan blog?
• Do you think they achieve what they set out to do?
• Would you be comfortable sharing as they do? If not, why not?

Here are some other examples of blogs where reflection serves different purposes:

• Gráinne Conole’s e4innovation, where she blogs her book chapters ahead of publication.
• Steve Wheeler’s blog, especially his post on April 1st 2014 and the follow up on April 2nd on the rewards and challenges of having your ideas “out there”.
• Academic blogging and collaboration make demonstrating pathways to impact an easier matter, Peter Mathews details the benefits he has achieved by publishing his impact funding statement and inviting feedback from colleagues online.