The (Un)Making of the Teacher—Record, Pause, Rewind: Methodological Issues of Integrating Video and Research

Abstract

This paper describes the methodological issues that emerged in the organization, participant selection, and data collection phases of The Un)Making of the Teacher, a research study that documents a small group of teacher candidates' conceptions of teaching and learning as they progress through a Bachelor of Education program. The study incorporates visual research methodology, specifically, the use of the video camera, so that the findings could also be mobilized to a broader audience outside of the academy. Four examples of technological and ethical methodological issues specific to the initial phases of the research study are presented and accompanied by a description of the attempts at either resolving the issues or preventing similar issues from reoccurring as the research study progressed.  After working through the complex and new research conundrums I faced as a novice visual researcher, I not only grew as a teacher educator, but I also gained new insights into my role as a researcher. The paper concludes with three broad recommendations for teacher educators/researchers exploring new methodologies.