Debbie Baff introduced herself as a PhD candidate researching technology enhanced learning. She has over 20 years experience in higher education and as an online learner. Her PhD proposal focuses on understanding why and how people engage with online communities. She is considering a methodology of surveys and interviews to understand participation in two case study communities. She is working to refine her research questions and proposal for submission in May, with the goal of thesis submission in December 2020. She discussed challenges in narrowing her focus and imposter syndrome, and views open research as an open way of being.

1. DEBBIE BAFF
8th Global OER Graduate Network (GO-GN) Seminar / OER19
April 2019
Galway, Ireland
PhD Candidate
@debbaff Debbie Baff

2. WHO AM I ?
Senior Academic Developer
Higher Education +20 years
Open Education Advocate
PartTime Online and Distance
Learner +20 years
SecretWeather Presenter
Wannabe
@debbaff Debbie Baff

3. @debbaff Debbie Baff

4. PHD E RESEARCH &TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED
LEARNING
@debbaff Debbie Baff

5. MODULAR PHD PROGRAMME
Modules 1 - 5 Completed
25,000 Words Done
Module 6 Research Proposal …
May 2019
Draft Thesis Submission
Dec 2020
@debbaff Debbie Baff

6. MY IDEA
Early Days
Still working on it …
@debbaff Debbie Baff

7. MY ONLINE COMMUNITIES
@debbaff Debbie Baff

8. @debbaff Debbie Baff
Why and how do people get
involved with online communities ?
How do they engage?
Why do they remain engaged ?

9. RQ1 WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH
ONLINE COMMUNITY ?
RQ2 HOW DO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE
IN THOSE ONLINE COMMUNITIES ?
RQ3 WHY DO PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND SUSTAIN
THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN THOSE ONLINE
COMMUNITIES ?
SOME TENTATIVE RQ’S …
@debbaff Debbie Baff

10. @debbaff Debbie Baff
“Let’s look
at all my online
communities to find out says I…”

11. TOO AMBITIOUS ?
‘To try and do all your communities would be far too ambitions … ‘ Debs Supervisor
@debbaff Debbie Baff

12. SO CONSIDER TWO CASE
STUDIES ?
Unit of Analysis Individuals
@debbaff Debbie Baff

13. METHODOLOGY
Maybe a
Survey ?
In depth Semi
Structured
Interviews ?

14. HELP
WANTED …
These Communities ?
Theoretical Framework
Community of Inquiry ?
Method ?
Participants ? ?
@debbaff Debbie Baff

15. PROGRESS
@debbaff Debbie Baff
Refine & Submit Proposal by May
Ethics and Approval
Thesis Submission Dec 2020

16. ISSUES
Difficult to narrow down focus
Is it worthwhile ?
Imposter Syndrome
ButterflyWings
The SoWhat Question ?

17. OPEN RESEARCH -WHAT IT
MEANSTO ME ?
Open
Practitioner
Open
Values
Way of
Being

18. @debbaff Debbie Baff

19. THANKYOU
Please get in touch 
@debbaff Debbie Baff