Experiential pedagogies in the online space

From academic research into the pedagogies of social research methods and from anecdotal evidence, we know that a key component to teaching social research methods is the experience. Research methods instructors in all sorts of contexts set tasks for their learners to experience what it feels like to be surveyed or interviewed, and to critique that process. However, what happens when the learning environment is not a physical classroom but a virtual one? In this chapter, a research methods instructor collaborates with one of her undergraduate students and two research methods workshop attendees to explore the rationale, experience and impact of research methods course delivery online. They argue that it is still possible to engage with and apply Kolb’s experiential learning, and that most classroom-based tasks can be adapted for virtual delivery.