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Methodology |
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Methodology
Our methodology was a combination of statistical and ethnographic research methods, combined with literature review.
We used on-line questionnaires targeted on existing Internet projects covering this age group. We had separate questionnaires for teachers, students and project coordinators. Schools included special schools.
We completed follow up, open ended, interviews with children (after they had filled in the questionnaire) in depth, in their own schools.
We used on-line conferencing and discussions to maintain and extend a dialogue with children.
We carried out an in-depth statistical analysis of the server data that we were able to gain access to for projects involving this age group.
We carried out an extensive survey of Internet based education projects around the world, summarising their findings.
We retrospectively reviewed our own work i n this area with children of this age group.
We analysed our own Archive of Educational Computing.
We carried out a detailed analysis of hardware and software trends including extrapolations manufacturing costs and were able to gain some candid and valuable insights into immediate futures.
For a GridClub it is worth reflecting that the server data should / could have been more accessible and more easily interpreted if projects had been designed from the start to collect specific data. In some cases the server log had been discontinued because it had become too big and collecting data was slowing server performance. GridClub design must include data collection and analysis from the start (see "what does "success" look like?" below).
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