Here are the tasks that have been identified for this project.

• Proposal
  • This was created during the last half of 1999, was submitted in January 2000, and was approved in April 2000 with the project to begin in January 2001. A copy of the proposal is available.
• SCU Ethics Procedures
  
  • Steps were initiated to complete these requirements as soon as we began work in January. Answering the various questions on the forms was straight forward, but it was a bit of a surprise to realize that copies of all of the instruments would also be required. I should have anticipated this, but didn't, and the issue had never been explicitly mentioned in earlier discussions.
  • The immediate problem was that these instruments had not yet been developed, so the top priority quickly became one of creating the questionnaires.
  • Here is a list of the actual steps involved in completing the Ethics procedures
    • Jan. 15 - I obtain an electronic copy of the guidelines as an attachment to an email message
      • I must supply the following information:
        • completion of a form providing details of the proposed study
        • sample of a Consent letter
        • sample of the Competing Values Framework questionnaire
        • sample of the Internet Self-efficacy questionnaire
    • Jan. 22 - Completion of the Ethics form
      • Jan. 19 - first draft completed
      • Jan. 21 - first draft reviewed with Keith
      • Jan. 22 - final version completed.
    • Jan. 22 - Completion of Consent letter
      • Jan. 19 - first draft completed
      • Jan. 21 - first draft reviewed with Keith
      • Jan. 22 - final version completed
    • Feb. 6 - Creating the Internet Self-Efficacy questionnaire
      • Jan. 20 - send email to Helen Kelley
      • Jan. 20 - send email to Robert LaRose
      • Jan. 20 - send email to Matt Eastin
      • Jan. 23 - reply from Matt Eastin
      • Jan. 23 - ask Eastin for permission to use and modify questionnaire
      • Jan. 25 - Eastin gives permission
      • Jan. 31 - First draft of modified questionnaire completed.
      • Feb. 2 - Second draft completed, based on Bandura article.
      • Feb. 6 - Third draft completed, based on feedback from Keith & Allan.
    • Feb. 6 - Obtaining Competing Values Framework questionnaire
      • Jan. 19 - send email to Pat Hodd (no reply until Jan 31)
      • Jan. 23 - borrow Quinn book from library
      • Jan. 23 - send email to Wiley publishing (no reply)
      • Jan. 29 - send email to Ali Dastmalchian
      • Jan. 30 - send email to Dr. Barath (no reply)
      • Feb. 1 - reply from Ali: questionnaire will be sent shortly
      • Feb. 6 - copy of cvf questionnaire arrives via email.
  • Early in February support staff at the University of Lethbridge prepared an online version of the two questionnaires. This took about 2 weeks and a couple of quick iterations to clean up a few typing problems.
  • The hard copy versions of the materials (plus an indication that there was also an online version) were submitted to the SCU Ethics committee in early February.
  • A reply was received giving an ethics approval number. The formal letter confirming this arrived on April 30. The consent letter is only required for the interviews.
• VRF Advisory Committee
  
  • Discussions with Keith in late January about the membership of this committee resulted in Keith Skamp, Allan Ellis, Martin Hayden and myself all agreeing to be on this committee. One additional representative from the School of Education was sought, and Bob Wright agreed to join the committee.
  • This committee meets about once a month to discuss progress and make suggestions for future activities.
    • February 15, 2001
    • March 21, 2001
    • April 17, 2001
    • May 15, 2001
    • June 13, 2001 (scheduled)
  • A web site has been created that contains the minutes of each meeting.
• Instruments for Collecting Data
  • Two questionnaires were used:
    • competing values framework (obtained from Datmalchian)
    • internet self-efficacy (created for use in this project, based on instruments from Kelley and Eastin)
  • Online versions of both questionnaires were also developed.
  • An interview script was created and used with two people conducting interviews
  • Video equipment using firewire technology for a PC was reviewed, ordered in Lethbridge, and shipped to Lismore. This arrived in late April.
  • Technical difficulties were experienced with the firewire peripherals
    • the firewire hub required an Australian voltage transformer (obtained from Allan)
    • the iBOT camera required a 6-point to 6-point firewire cable (missing) (obtained from Allan) (eventually found in the box with the hard drive)
    • the hard drive would not format (help obtained from the manufacturer)
    • the video editing software fails to play back a recording
• Data Collection Activities
  • The online version was introduced to the Schools of Education and SaWD in mid March
  • All 14 Schools had received the online version by early April.
  • By the end of April, the number of responses was still very low (7 each in Education & SaWD, only 4 others)
  • Interviews began in mid April (3 completed by the end of April, another 7 were being scheduled for early May)
    • tape recorder supplied by Dale
    • additional microcassettes purchased
    • batteries low after 3 interviews - additional batteries obtained from School of Education
  • Transcription of interviews:
    • $500 provided by the School of Education
    • Hiring of a person completed by the end of April
    • May 3: 4 interviews completed, 2 tape in process of being transcribed
    • $500 provided by SaWD
    • June 12: 10 interviews completed, 5 tapes in process of being transcribed
  • Hard copy versions were distributed to Science and Humanities in the second week in May. [this will provide an indication if the low response rate is due to it being online]
  • A highly abbreviated form of questionnaire is being contemplated [this may provide an indication if the time involved was too high]
• Products
  • a web site for the VRF Advisory Committee
  • a web site for the final report
  • a web site for overall project
  • a poster/short paper was presented at Ausweb01 on using the web while reading fiction
  • a presentation on using the web to carry out research projects (June 12)
  • a 6-week mentoring program for faculty on online course development. (tentative)
  • possible extension of this project in Lethbridge in late 2001
  • possible extension of this project in Lethbridge in early 2002 (Leonie Jennings)
  • possible future project with a school jurisdiction (Keith & Dale)
  • possible future work in Alberta with Count Me In Too maths recovery program (Bob Wright & Dale)