I've had a few opportunities recently to explore how collaboration facilitates peer review, with a notable example being this blog! We quiet, shy, studious types, often batting ideas around the gymnasiums of our heads, too consumed to nod at each other in the hallways... somehow manage to deliver insightful, biting, and even inspiring comment and criticism to each other regularly. Initially with Mike's post about Open Data, we've managed to turn this blog into a real arena of shared inquiry.
Lately, I've been attending the iTable lunch series (Brian has, as well), where an author has a chance to receive fairly informal peer review from faculty and grad students. There's a bit of verbal jousting, lots of questioning, some exposition, and a really rich exchange of ideas in an environment where few seem apprehensive about expressing their thoughts. But is this sort of informal gathering the best way to throw balls at the wall? Does the fact that digital text is revisable make it less intimidating than the immediate judgment arising from sticking one's hand in the air? One interesting thing about active (live) collaboration, is it allows so many atoms of thought to smash against each other in immediate succession that a fairly anarchic explosion is possible. Cohesion might be missing, but the conversation, criticism, review, and what-have-you usually takes on a more organic form.
What does that mean for this class? For this blog? Are we missing the charged environment of a traditional graduate seminar?
I'd say we are extending, not missing out, on a traditional graduate seminar. I agree that a 'traditional' verbal discussion and a blog are like apples and oranges; one is much more dynamic and charged, requiring you to think fast on your feet, while the latter requires careful thought and planning. But that's the advantage of digital text for introverts like me!
ReplyDeleteI too hope that this practice is an extension - and for better or worse somewhat of a necessity given the large class sizes. But I think this is a good question to ponder - esp. if it results in the creation of new opportunities and venues for engaging in traditional (and/or virtual) forms of collaboration and peer review.
ReplyDeleteYour post made me think of this short video by Steven Johnson (author of Everything Bad is Good for You - the video is a promotion of his new book Where Good Ideas Come From):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU
I want to propose a challenge to everyone within this blog, and perhaps the other blog groups as well. Let's say next week we try and focus on one thread. We should do our best to keep our comments as stream of consciousness as possible, a sort of academic freestyling. What I mean by this is a sort of speed blogging. We could also try out Google Wave for a real-time collaborative blog post, and eventually upload to blogger as a single post. Ideas?
ReplyDeleteCool idea Mike - can't wait to see what this looks like if you go ahead with it.
ReplyDelete