Introduction to Educational research
July 27, 2008
Intro to Educational research is (hopefully) my last subject in this degree. I won’t say that it’s one I’ve been looking forward to as it is essentially a how-to-research-properly subject that seems to get tacked on to every Masters program in the world of academia. Given that I’ve successfully managed to complete the rest of the degree without it, it seems a little redundant but I shouldn’t look some gift knowledge in the mouth and hopefully it will help down the track.
Specifically the subject will address questions such as: why conduct research? what constitutes ‘good’ research? how are methodologies and theoretical frameworks for research determined? what are the ethical implications of conducting and reporting on research?
At the end of this subject, I should be able to:
1. Demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the nature of inquiry and research in educational contexts
2. Identify, critique and articulate published research from the education field
3. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the design and conduct of education research and inquiry
4. Plan and present a research proposal
In the field of education we take the term research to mean the collection of unique data in some systematic manner as part of an investigation to respond to a problem.
So I have to identify an area that relates to my work that I might want to research.
I have a particular interest in the development of game/scenario based learning in the VET sector. One of the big issues I have come up against in my work to date has been the range of I.T literacy of learners and their exposure to/comfort with computer games. I would like to investigate this at my Institute to inform the design process in developing these games.
This is an example of a classroom teacher who has identified something within her teaching practice that she wanted to examine further. Consider:
- Who the teacher has involved in the research
- The issues the teacher wanted to explore (perhaps the questions you think the teacher posed)
- What the key findings were for her
- What her findings mean for you as you read the article
Her learners (both in business and creative writing streams)
Whether a new approach works for her learners
Key findings – learners appreciate richer media environments
Well duh.
- Who you would involve in the research
- The issues you would explore (perhaps the questions you might ask)
- Who you would want to know about the information you gather
I’m interested in developing as broad an understanding of the students at CIT (across the range of faculties/centres) as possible, so I would approach this initially by talking to the CIT student union for their thoughts about the best way to reach the widest range of students possible. I’d also speak to the research unit at CIT who are responsible for other institute snapshots and information gathering. Obviously the ultimate source of information would be the learners themselves.
My main interest is to discover the level of interest in using games in education and the I.T literacy levels of learners in different sections of the institute. This would help determine the complexity of the types of games being developed.
I would primarily want to know that it was a representative sample of the learners. The information would be shared mainly between myself and other members of the flex:ed team that I work with.
I have to say that I’m really not sure if this is a deep enough project for this subject but it is what I want to know at the moment.
Entry Filed under: 921, General. Tags: research methodology.
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