home

= = EDUC 8846-1

Throughout this course, you will work in a learning community of four members to begin to formulate a study in educational technology—a study grounded in theory, research, and methodology. This research proposal might be something you want to pursue in your workplace, or it might become the focus of your dissertation. Within your learning community, members will review and critique each other's thoughts and ideas, and along the way, grow as scholars. While this may serve as the basis for your dissertation, please note that your dissertation committee, not the Instructor of this course, is the final arbiter of your work. You will be learning about the key elements of conducting a study, so be sure to share your work and your ideas with your dissertation chair.

//**Preparation for a Research Study**//
Throughout this course, you will work individually to develop the course project, with feedback and input from your learning community. Be sure to print out the rubric for this project so you can note the details of what is required in each module. Learning community members will support each other’s work on the following aspects of a research study:
 * Module 1: The Purpose of Dissertation Research**
 * Create a group wiki. (One member creates it for the learning community.)
 * Create individual pages in the group wiki. (Each member creates his or her own page.)
 * dentify research interests.
 * Identify theoretical foundations for a research study.
 * Module 2: Literature Review**
 * Find five areas of relevant research for review.
 * Provide a justification of these five areas.
 * Module 3: What Questions Should We Be Asking?**
 * Identify a gap in the research.
 * Refine your research questions.
 * Develop a problem statement for your research study.
 * Determine a theoretical base or a conceptual framework for your study.
 * Module 4: Research Paradigms: Methodologies and Traditions**
 * Complete a table on three possible methodologies that fit your research questions.
 * Complete a table on the method of data collection for your study.
 * Module 5: After the Data Is Collected: What Then?**
 * Determine the significance of your study.
 * Decide on the best way to disseminate your research.

//**The Purpose of Dissertation Research**//
During this module, each learning community will create a wiki to use as a workspace. Each member of your learning community will create one page for his or her own work, so everyone can easily visit and view it on a regular basis. After creating your wiki, send a link to each member of your learning community as well as your Instructor via the **Email** feature in this eCollege classroom. Please ensure the Wiki is created by **Day 3** of **Week 1**. After watching the video program, “Purpose of the Dissertation,” you should have several ideas about the purpose of a dissertation and how to develop relevant research questions. In this module, you will accomplish two tasks: (a) identify an area you want to explore to formulate your question(s); and (b) identify the broad theoretical foundation that seems most relevant to your area of research. Review the posts of colleagues in your learning community and confer with them to help them refine their topics of interest. Ask questions of one another. Provide constructive feedback. Offer support and additional reflection to help your colleagues formulate and refine their thoughts and ideas. Through this process, you will begin to refine your own research questions. Note that you will continue to refine your questions throughout the course. Post your response by **Day 7** of **Week 1**. Respond to your learning community by **Day 3** of **Week 2**, so you have time to engage in a discussion of your ideas.
 * Part 1: Create Group Wiki**
 * Part 2: Define Research Interest and Identify Theoretical Foundations**
 * First:** In your wiki page, create a section titled **Research Interest**, where you describe an area of educational technology in which you would like to conduct research. Revisit those thoughts and ideas that pique your fascination and interest (or “keep you up at night”). Consider only those ideas that you might be willing to spend a year of your life researching. In this section, describe these ideas for your learning community, and begin to reflect on the kinds of questions you might want to research. At this point, your ideas may not be well-formulated or focused. That is to be expected.
 * Second:** Create a section in your wiki page titled **Theoretical Foundations**. Select two of the seven areas described in your course text, and share why these areas are most relevant to your research interest. Support your selection(s) with references and citations from the text. Once you determine the kind of theoretical foundation you need for your interest, it will be easier to locate the specific theory or theories you must explore for your study. Refining your ideas based on your own philosophical approach to research will help you gain a stronger focus for your own work.