Methodologies for tracking learning paths: designing the online research study Making a Filmmaker

Abstract

The article concerns the design of a collaborative research project (2008-09) entitled Making a Filmmaker, which examines how young Scandinavian filmmakers create their own learning paths in formal and/or informal contexts. Our interest is in how learning experiences and contexts motivate the young filmmakers: what furthers their interest and/or hinders it, and what learning patterns emerge. The aim of this article is to present and discuss issues regarding the methodology and methods of the study, such as developing a relationship with interviewees when conducting interviews online (using MSN). We suggest two considerations about using online interviews: how the interviewees value the given subject of conversation and their familiarity with being online. The benefit of getting online communication with the young filmmakers is the ease it offers, because it is both practical and appropriates a meeting platform that is familiar to our participants.