Like a mosquito who found the aorta...

...what better way to describe the mixed blessing of finding a comprehensive literature review during PhD research? I am referring here to Linda Cannell's "A Review of Literature on Distance Education", Theological Education 36(1), 1999: 1-72. Yes, 72 pages. Cannell's work is a very comprehensive literature review that, while incredibly rich, is also incredibly full.Summarising and incorporating this into my own literature review (still working on the Christian education and DE/e-learning component) is proving quite a challenge. After an investment of about five hours solid I am only half way through - and I have not yet started adding the already five pages(!) of typed notes to my initial draft.

But I'm learning so much. Another potential research question has started to form, and I am feeling far more confident about my ability to complete this section of the literature review. then there are three additional elements to the completed literature review, and, of course, the necessity of revising everything once I get supervisor feedback.

Just as well I'm loving the learning.

The skirmish begins

I'm into my reading on the subject of Christian and theological education and distance and e-learning (topic 1a). From the initial readings gathered, I have 16 down and 50 to go! I have been carefully reading each article, extracting key themes and quotes in Endnote. From there I have been assembling thoughts in a draft chapter. Only then is an article considered 'down'. I have assembled 24 pages of raw notes (using a smaller font) and 13 pages of early draft notes. At the current rate, I can look forward to about 75 pages of raw notes and 39 of early draft notes from these initial readings alone. The scale of things is starting to dawn on me.

I have been challenged by my primary supervisor to read (='down with') six articles each week as a part-timer. I feel up to it.

This round of articles is sourced from only four journals, only two of which could be considered thoroughly gleaned. The oldest article is from 1996; the youngest three are from 2007.

Already the draft headings I have used for the draft of this 'chapter' are showing their inadequacy. I am redrafting under the following structure:

1.0 Terminology: Online distance education and hybrid learning
1.1 Paradigm shift
1.2 Online theological education
1.3 Hybrid learning
1.4 Barriers and issues
2.0 Technology and change
2.1 The imperative
2.2 Opportunities
2.3 Theological arguments
3.0 Unanswered questions and issues for exploration

It's exciting to already see a useful article result from my progress, as several lessons become apparent once the ideas in the first 16 articles are mixed together and decanted. My next step is to redraft my raw notes for this 'chapter' into the structure above. Then, it's back into the reading... it will be about eight to nine weeks before I finish this initial round of readings. During this time I will also trawl through other journals, then it will be a task of 'downing' them. Once I've done that, I think a publication will be timely!

Or is this just typical early war optimism...?

Plan of attack

Much has happened since my last entry below (as you'd hope, considering the substantial gap in time!) I have confirmed both supervisors and a statement of expectations is agreed upon.

Here's the plan:

1. Primary field of inquiry: Christian education, particularly as it relates to a) distance and e-learning and b) philosophy/theory.
2. Supplementary fields of inquiry: a) Philosophy of education; b) distance education (general); c) e-learning (general).
   

My prospective research question:

How can we place distance education and e-learning in a sound Christian education context, so that its practice can be optimized and theologically/philosophically legitimized in Christian circles?

At the moment I am delving into distance and e-learning literature within Christian education. It's a surprisingly rich literature base, but already I am struck by the lack of theological discussion.

Key activities thus far:

• Family and employer on board.
  
• Supervisors confirmed.
  
• Statement of expectations finalised.
  
• DRC2 form (application) sent off - today!
• Endnote installed, 65 articles from three journals(!) added, all with full text available.
  
• Nine articles fully reviewed and incorporated into draft chapter, "Christian education, distance education and e-learning" (snappier chapter title required...)
  
• Amazon wishlist ready.
  
• I'm geared up for it as well!

I have set a goal to fully process four journal articles or half a complete book each week. At this rate I hope to have a comprehensive literature review relating to "Christian education, distance education and e-learning" in about five months or so - then it's on to general philosophy of education, then Christian education (or the other way around...?) before examining mainstream DE and e-learning literature afresh.

Phew.