I am researching what will be the final paper for my Masters degree. I'm having trouble. The philosophy that I have discovered and subsequently indulged over the past 2 years of study is that "knowing" is not the objective of educators, trainers or whatever you want to call us. It's the "knowing how to know". In other words, much more important is figuring out how to tap into a community of information on your chosen subject. Of course, I'm far from alone. A small but growing group of learning theorists write daily on this subject. The problem is that I have to write an academic paper and include appropriate and relevant references where journals take superiority over blogs thanks to a rigourous and outdated process of peer review whereas the best research I can find is in the Blogosphere. Today I read in George Siemen's blog:
I find more zeal, energy, and creativity in the chaotic edublog community than I find in formal journals. And I personally would rather stand with others on the fertile verge of technology and education defined by enthusiasm and a spirit of advancement than to pursue a method of knowledge validation antiquated for our scholarly needs today.
That's easy for him to say. He's not trying to get a High Distinction on a Masters paper. So, do I follow my instincts and write a modern paper with relevant references whatever the source or do I play safe and fill my paper with staid references from "expert" journals?
Links:
Peer review. Whose Opinion Counts?Peer Review in Peril
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