Resumen de Epistemological and methodological challenges in the field of research in education and digital culture
Eliane Schlemmer Grings, Daniel de Queiroz Lopes, Rosane Kreusburg Molina
The epistemological and methodological challenges identified in this abstract are the result of our experience in advising Master’s and PhD students in the context of the Graduate Program in Education at Universidade do Vale dos Sinos- UNISINOS, Brazil. The challenges involve the construction of research objects and problems in the field of education and digital culture in contexts using digital technologies, such as: Virtual Learning Environments, Digital Social Networks and Virtual Digital Worlds in 3D. Establishing coherence between research object, problem and instruments, in these contexts, in the investigations of ethnographic designs, in processes of constructing valid academically and socially relevant knowledge has led to epistemological and methodological doubts which, however, are yet to be discussed. Instruments, analytic processes and empirical fields are dimensions that have required us to think epistemologically and conceptually. In the sphere of these reflections, we build questions and knowledge about the following perspectives: a) epistemological and methodological tensions involving ethnographic, virtual and digital concepts; b) players who are collaborators and researchers in digital education and culture – from where do the problems come? c) subject/collectivities immersed in the digital culture – who is in or part of digital culture? Can research be done from outside the digital environments? Based on these doubts, reflections and challenges, we believe that it is possible to re-think the term virtual, as demarcating an epistemological and methodological frontier in ethnographic research of education and digital culture. In our opinion, the term digital is better to distinguish this frontier. Thus, we also consider that the term netnography is better to distinguish the theoretical-methodological design from ethnographic research in education and digital culture. However, participating in this event gives us an opportunity, on the one hand to share our experiences and, on the other, to broaden thematic understanding by means of new discussions.
