Using Participatory Action Research Methods

What is Participatory Research?
This project endeavours to be inclusive in its explorations, so takes a participatory research approach. What is participatory research? We see it as a democratic form of participation which does not rely on a hierarchy of power. That is, the researchers are not empowered to perform research ON others. Instead, participatory research is performed from the ground up so to speak, with participants recording data as well as providing data, to bring about some form of social change in life, work, education or personal spheres.

Robin McTaggart, a great exponent of action participatory research, shares 16 tenets of action participatory research. In a nutshell, McTaggart describes its research methodology as
an approach to improving social practice by changing it and learning from the consequences of change. (online)

McTaggart co-authored a seminal work on action research with Stephen Kemmis, entitled The Action Research Planner (3^rd Ed), Deakin University, Victoria, Australia, 1988.

Kurt Lewin is said to have coined the term action research, and there are other major authors of action research including, Zuber-Skerritt, Carr, Schon, Brookfield and others who are worth some follow up to find out more on action participatory research.

What participatory methods does this project use?
1. Collaboration: The project aims to bring together all people, teachers and students, who have an interest in the movement of knowledge across borders. The project aims to open up discussion at all levels.

2. Exploration: This project web log will act as a vehicle for interested people to contribute their thoughts, words and arguments on the movement of knowledge across borders.

3. Participation: The project researchers do not seek to remain unattached from the discussion, seeing their role as facilitating and promoting discussion on the movement of knowledge across borders. Anthropologists call this technique insider anthropology, or ethnographic studies, whereby the researcher considers their experiences and reactions as being a part of the research.

4. Reflection: All participants have every opportunity to reflect on the progress of the project; its direction, themes and meanings. This is encouraged through focus groups at local sites, contributions to this web log and ongoing communication with researchers and other participants. It is hoped this will spark further discussion in areas of work, study and academic life.

5. Outcomes involving change: It is envisaged that a conference will be organised in 2005 to bring the project and its participants together in a more formal setting as a way to present the project to a wider audience.

Other outcomes might involve ongoing discussion in this area in relation to internationalisation of the curriculum, the nature of the global education market, globalisation, glocalism and citizenship. We all have the power to discuss these concepts and can do so across borders!

By widening the communication network we can take more control of the way our education institutions approach learning and teaching for the good of its staff and student community.

Multimedia Super Corridor, Malaysia (MSC)

Well, what a find! I did a search and found many references to the MSC, picking up on the MDC, which is the Multimedia Development Corporation - the promotors and facilitators of the MSC. I've reviewed much of the site information, focusing on the Technology Park and the Multimedia University, having campuses in Cyberjaya and Melaka.

I looked through their IT course at undergrad level and found the core units they deliver. It would be interesting to compare these to the Thai University and to Monash University list of core units we have. There is obviously a move to set up direct pathways through educational institutions to the MSC status companies. Do these pathways work across a global IT network? Do such degrees 'hold up' in the international sphere of IT training adn professional development?

The job prospects driven by the MSC must be something of a talking point in Malaysia. It would be interesting to discuss this with staff and students when we meet with them.

How does the MSC link to IT training and professional development?
Is there a push from government or business sources to have IT degrees with a 'pathway' to MSC status companies?
How might this affect the more traditional learning and teaching approaches employed at educational institutions?

There are heaps more questions and such insights may benefit our research as much as our data collection in the long run!

Some food for thought...!