Research Projects are using the VRE to support project management, communication and engagement with research participants.  Researchers are able to collect, store and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, to take part in collaborative drafting and writing, and to publicise project activities using news and email tools.

BERA Special Interest Groups are using the VRE to support membership services, publicise events and activities, and prepare for the Annual Conference and other events.

Small Groups of Researchers have established worksites in which they have collected content such as bibliographies and online resources and have worked together on collaborative writing tasks such as producing conference papers, drafting responses to consultation and preparing research proposals.

Collaborative Networks and Communities of Enquiry which include practitioners and policy-makers along with researchers use the VRE to support agenda-setting, discussion, collaborative writing, analysis and engagement of research 'users' in and with research activities.

Training Networks and Course Providers have used the environment more like a 'Virtual Learning Environment' to support teaching and learning activities.

Some groups and networks use VRE as a Communications Hub; members rarely 'log in' but administrators can use the browser-based tools to manage email lists, make announcements to all members or sub groups, and offer access to documents - rather like an email 'listserver'.

Innovation in Research

The VRE has also been used as part of innovative research designs; it allows research participants to engage anonymously or pseudonymously in online discussions, and has also been used as part of a pilot evaluation of innovative online consultation processes. This has allowed researchers to explore new patterns of research engagement, associated ethical issues and 'mixed methods'research approaches in which digital data are are analysed alongside those collected 'face-to-face'.

Some Further Reading

Carmichael, P., Procter, R., Rimpilainen, S. and Laterza, V. (2006) Sakai: A Virtual Research Environment for Education Research Intelligence 96 (August 2006) pp.18-19.

Carmichael, P. and Youdell, D. (2007) Using Virtual Collaboration Environments for Education Research: Some Ethical Considerations Research Intelligence 100 pp. 26-29.

Laterza, V., Carmichael, P., and Procter, R. (2007) The Doubtful Guest? A Virtual Research Environment for Education Technology, Pedagogy and Education 16(3) pp. 249-267 Online at: http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/14759390701614363.

Wilson, A. et al. (2007) Using a Virtual Research Environment to support new models of collaborative and participative research in Scottish education Technology, Pedagogy and Education 16(3) pp. 289-304 Online at: http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/14759390701614413.

McEvoy, L. and Lundy, L. (2007 E-consultation with pupils: a rights-based approach to the integration of citizenship education and ICT Technology, Pedagogy and Education 16(3) pp. 305-319 Online at: http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/14759390701614447.