Research on Embodied Familiarization

Purpose:  to investigate specific instances of learning as a process of embodied familiarization; to analyze everyday learning in terms of mattering, being-in, interpretation, whole-part relations, narrative, and so on.  To narratively describe and interpret fully-embodied, human learning as meaningful, situated participation. (Yanchar)

Participational Agency --> Learning as Embodied Familiarization --> ??

As the study is right now, there are a few concerns:

• Looking at LAEF is still too broad (maybe), isn't specific enough to get a good understanding of surrounding literature. (what specifically am I looking at, and how does that intersect with my research context?)
• Theory is still so new, it will be a very preliminary study.
• May overlap with Jon's study, looking at how learning experiences can be analyzed looking at LAEF.
• Qualitative research  won't let you go in with your own prediction of what you'll find.

Yet, following Yanchar's brainstorm for research of LAEF seems to be talking about a study just like what I have already.


So, which ones are okay above, and which ones are important to avoid? Which ones could we work around?

OPTIONS for addressing these concerns:

 1. Look at a particular part of LAEF

• Yanchar & Spackman (2012) suggest "theory and research in [a defensible account of human learning directly from a theory of agency] would benefit from studying two major concepts: a) interplay between tacit and explicit knowledge. 2) narrative structure. 
• Jon is currently looking at narrative structure, which would leave me with the concept of the interplay between tacit and explicit (T/E) knowledge.
• T/E knowledge is a HUGE topic, that actually broadens my research instead of narrowing it.  But it is very interesting, and what we learn from it could be applied in many different contexts.
• Another option would be looking at how people explore/become familiar with new technology.  The only concern with that approach is that it does not directly address the concerns associated with Agency and Learning, except in looking at choices, which is a different body of literature that is not really easy to navigate, and doesn't always relate to Agency and Learning.

2.  More specific into Technology Adoption Literature

• Learning versus adopting a new technology - learning to use, not necessarily integrating into classroom
• LMS literature

 3. Look at a more specific research question:

• Why does an agent not learn to use a new technology?
• Why does an agent choose not to learn (or give up trying to learn) a new technology?

4. Ignore being more specific

• Don't focus on tacit/explicit knowledge in this research, just look at LAEF as a whole
• Find a methodology that lets me do what I want to 

 My inclination right now is to go with whatever is easiest.  If those don't work, I might try something bigger.  So, I will start with no. 4 and work up.