About me
So you have come across my budding blog… Here’s a few bits about the author.
My name is Jane Alexen Shuyska and I’m currently in full swing with my PhD at the Department of Education at Oxford University.
My background is in ‘everything and nothing’ - in other words I’m a Generalist with a big G. I did my undergraduate degree at Roskilde University in Denmark, with a ‘basis’ in social sciences and then a tiny bit of specialisation in computer science and communication studies.
When I first came to Oxford in 2005, I came to study a brand new M.Sc. in E-learning which Dr. Chris Davies was running for the first time that year. From there I went on to do another masters course in Educational Research Methodology at the department as was required of me by my funders (the ESRC).
My main interest in my doctoral research lies in investigating a process of introduction of technological tools into classroom environments. I’m looking at what happens when you put a technological idea (with a someone like me to develop it) together with an enthusiastic and very busy teacher and try to position all this within the monolithic structure of the English educational system. The short answer to what happens is: a lot of very exciting frustration if you’re a researcher. The long answer (or at least one possible long answer… or no, one part of one possible long answer) will follow in the form on my doctoral thesis. Below follows a description of the project in a bit more detail. The exciting frustration can be followed throughout the blog posts - that’s what they are there for - to share the issues that mostly seem impenetrable, and sometimes the findings and ideas that happen to come my way on the wings of inspiration.
Apart from doing my doctorate, I also work as a research assistant on a project at OUCS called Thema. Thema is part of phase 2 of JISC’s Learner Experiences of E-learning Programme. In Thema we are investigating Masters students’ experiences with technology in their daily studies and social life. We take a broad approach to their experience, viewing the students as learners first and e-learners (maybe) second. Through longitudinal in-depth data collection (via email correspondents with each of the case students personally) we try to get at what role digital technologies play in their life ad how they change in the meeting with the university.
My research project
… yet to follow