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What are some ideas for research projects?

What should the topics for my graduate projects be?

  • I a doing a graduate degree in educational technology. I have two big projects to complete this year and I would like some help choosing useful/interesting topics. Both projects are 2 semesters long, and I'm not currently working, so I have a good deal of time to invest. 1) The first project is for a class called Human Performance Technology. The project is divided into 2 parts. The first part of the assignment, due in early January, requires me to create a 30 minute learning program. For the second part of the project, I am expected to develop non-instructional improvements that can be implemented on the same topic. I am hoping, at the professor's suggestion, to pick a topic whereby I can develop something that will be of service to someone, ideally a charity or "good cause" organization. I do have a couple of ideas, one of which involves a local charity, the other of which involves helping instruct teachers on how to integrate http://scratch.mit.edu/ into the classroom. 2) The second project is a traditional research project. I am expected to conduct research on some topic within the domain of education and performance, otherwise I have free rein. There are certain logistical restraints. That is, funds are limited, and I have to have access to my research subjects. With regards to this, I can reasonably expect to get access to local public schools (I am a teacher by trade). With regards to other organizations, well, I can try. I have been told that the professors' concerns are more with my process than my product, as this is an introductory course. I would like to do something that is interesting and educational. In a perfect world, I would find a project that allows me to learn a new skill and is cutting-edge enough that it would look impressive in my portfolio. I am currently considering doing research on knowledge flow through organizations, or investigating how technology or specific processes can help increase creativity in organizations. These ideas are both qualitative in nature, but I'm equally happy doing quantitative research. Some context: In both classes, I have been told "to forget about grades". The professors have been very explicit that "A"s don't happen. The standard for an "A" is "publishable as is". The focus should be on the actual learning of the processes involved in the design, development, and implementation of these projects. (I, of course, would like an "A" anyway) I would also like to make it clear that the focus of my program is not K-12. The focus is primarily training and adult education. I'm not dismissing K-12 ideas out-of-hand, but part of the reason I'm doing this degree is to change careers. Thanks in advance!

  • Answer:

    30 minute learning program What does "program" mean in this context? A presentation? A series of curriculum goals? A computer program? It's a little unclear, or maybe I don't understand the topic as deeply as I should. (I'm just starting a series of courses on educational technology myself.)

Maugrim at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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Thirty minutes isn't a very long time, if you're talking about teaching people something new in that time. It will need to be something simple or something iterative based on things they already know. It sounds like you want to look for a problem that has a training component (people don't know something they should) and a process improvement component (something doesn't work as well as it could). Working with a charitable organization is a good idea. Can your professor help you hook up with one? If you are trying to move away from K-12 education, resist the temptation to do too many projects there. Another source of research subjects is other college students. This is what undergrads are for! (kidding.) The areas of research you're considering sound interesting, but you definitely need to do some reading in those areas and narrow down your research question. The standard for an "A" is "publishable as is". Yikes. This basically means an A is impossible.

jeoc

Any chance you could get suggestions from a company like one you hope to work at after your career change? I mean, you want to impress future employers, you might as well ask directly what they'd want to see. This seems like a good informational interview sort of question. You might even suggest sponsoring/mentoring: for example, if a company (in your goal field) needs a 30-minute learning program, you could offer to make one in exchange for guidance from someone at the company (weekly meetings) and some support (payment for expenses but not your time). It's fairly common for engineering students to have a senior-year design project like this, with a few students solving a problem from a company sponsor, and these projects sometimes lead to jobs if the project is successful.

sninctown

I should have been clearer. I am required to use the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADDIE_Model process to design an instructional program. I am expected to do a needs analysis, write a list of objectives, find a way to test whether those objectives have been met, and design the actual learning program itself which will include extensive scripting. What medium I choose is up to me. It could be classroom instruction, a workbook, a website, a game, an online course, etc., or any combination of these. Clearly, part of the project is determining which of these mediums is best suited to the needs of the organization. Note that I only said design. I am not expected to actually create or implement the program, at least not for the first part of the project. This means that I can conceivably design something that I don't have the skills to actually create. (e.g. a game or simulation) That having been said, if I can design a project that can be put to good use, I'll do my best to get it actually made. Thanks for your interest!

Maugrim

Construct http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/04/weekend_project_compressed_air_rock.html to donate to children's charities (or help kids supported by such charities to make their own). Learn to turn a set of plans into a shopping list, shop for parts, use simple tools, construct a working machine, troubleshoot and modify...

obiwanwasabi

Have you considered Augmented Reality? I know this is more of a medium rather than a topic, but it is one that is getting a lot of attention in Educational research right now. http://elearningtech.blogspot.com/2010/07/augmented-reality-for-learning.html has collected a good list of other groups working on AR for learning. The field is young and there is a lot of space for developing something original and impactful. I am currently working on an NSF project to use AR in Informal Education scenarios and it has convinced me that AR is a valuable and underused learning tool.

keeo

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