Research Methods: Delphi and NGT

In contrasting The Delphi Method for Graduate Research[1] I found that this approach can provide a great deal of valuable insight given the respondents anonymity.   The Modified Nominal Group Technique (or NGT[2]) has the direct means of collecting information directly through a semi-quantitative fashion which also benefits in assessing an individual’s perceptions.

Which one is better depends ultimately on what you hope to achieve in terms of responses.  Anonymous responses may be easier to obtain whereas through an NGT respondents may be shyer to provide more honest responses and consequently require more time.   However with individuality comes personalization with this information which depending on the level of attributes obtained could provide more detailed demographical data. 

In retrospect as part of my research studies I have unknowingly taken a somewhat hybrid approach whereby the respondents to my research while anonymous provided a great deal of attribute information which allowed me to gauge based on gender, location, age, education etc.  The information collected while semi-quantitative allows me to mine information for extended research which has the means to transcend for other avenues of research.

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[1] http://jite.org/documents/Vol6/JITEv6p001-021Skulmoski212.pdf

[2] http://www.stfm.org/fmhub/fm2004/June/Alison402.pdf

Harnessing Collective Wisdom and Power

The Structured Design Process or SDP is a process which provides a method of collaboration which all participants utilize an array of consensus tools including formal discipline in engagement, technology and visuals.  The model is driven on a trust model whereby all participants remain autonomous and respectful. 

Within the text on page thirteen of the New Agora paper[1], the SDP illustrates its support for planning, innovation and change through the first phase.  The first phase of the effort which deals with generative dialogue stresses the importance of autonomy and authenticity of the collaborative individual.  Such a requirement where by each individual is respected and no changes are allowed to respective ideas unless it is approved by the originating person ensures that ideas are discussed thoroughly and gain wide acceptance.  In doing so, the first phase of generative dialogue has specific controls around group sizes based on familiarity of the topics.  Group leaders are subject matter experts and are required to be supported by the group ensuring that there is less chance for absolutism.

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[1] http://www.harnessingcollectivewisdom.com/pdf/newagora.pdf

Game Based Learning

Game based learning has been around since the late 70's (perhaps earlier but that’s as far as I can go back)when companies like Atari attempted to take 8bit graphics and embed some measure of education and interaction into those cartridge based games such as Math Grand Prix and Alpha Beam with Ernie. In the later part of the 20th century games such as Math Blaster and Carmen San Diego were popular titles in the personal computing arena which taught mathematics and history/geography quite effectively. Games such as Sid Meier's Civilization and Microsoft's Age of Empires subtlety taught you about civilizations and history which made it fascinating and engrossing. My whole point here is that game based learning has been around for quite some time but has been limited in its methods and outreach.

Gaming has become embedded in the life styles of the adolescents and teens in particularly.  Given the fixation and fascination the richness of this media has many organizations thinking that interactive learning experiences where individuals can immerse themselves in virtual surroundings and worlds where they can interact and learn not only by themselves but collaboratively.  This method of interaction within the gaining industry has a lot of traction as stated within the 2011 Horizon Report (http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/HR2011.pdf) which forecasts a major push in this space in the next two to three years. The challenge with this approach is balance. Too much entertainment and not enough education can limit the success of the experience. Also not everyone can necessarily benefit from learning in a gaming environment. Individuals with physical limitations such as loss of sight and hearing will not benefit nearly as much as those with good hearing and ocular vision so in order to educate all we mustn't leave anyone behind right? The other challenge is that if one is taught at an early age to learn through this medium and it is not provided at a higher learning experience the re-adjustment to learn in a different methodology could prove catastrophic.

While I will always be a proponent of exploring and expanding new methods of learning, this avenue I believe should be used as a means of augmentation of the learning experience but not necessarily to supplant the traditional class room. Reason being that interaction, social and presentation skills which such learning environments if adopted whole may neglect the importance of genuine human interaction. Game rooms can never teach firm handshakes, hands out of pockets, smiling, voice inflection and eye contact all of which are subtle but important aspects as part of the overall life long learning experience.

There and back again

It's been a while and I've been buried to a point where I've not been able to sustain the original blog site that I originally setup so here I am back and brand new.  Since the last time I had posted I had a number of writing projects which I was working on most notably was the publication of my co-authored book Seven Deadliest Social Networking Attacks (http://www.syngress.com/hacking-and-penetration-testing/Seven-Deadliest-Social-Network-Attacks/).  I've been told by a few followers that this book is now available on-line as a free download.  Folks let me be straight with you, it's not not available on-line to download for free (albeit from legitimate sources). 

Now that this is behind me I've not let up, I'm wrapping up on my Doctorate and almost ready to defend my completed dissertation (whew).  Alongside that effort I've completed two fictional short stories that I have a very talented creative team illustrating for publishing into graphic novels soon which I'm hoping to introduce this summer (for more info visit www.tangounlimitedllc.com).

All the same I thank you for your support, kind words and feedback. It's been quite a hectic journey but a lot of fun getting these efforts completed.  So as always please provide feedback (good/bad/ugly) as I'm very interested in what you have to say.

Cheers.

-Rich