Module 2 - Session 3 - Part 6 about tools and planning the proposal

We had am and pm sessions for Part 6 -  so please look at blogs from -  Lisa, Christie (am), Ruth Holly, Ilona, Lianne, Sian - Sarah tried but the connection from Italy was not cooperating. Overall we had some very good discussions - so here is a brief synopsis.

To start us off for this one we did time lines - in the am we started with the teens and in the pm from college.

People have been through many interesting and sometimes challenging experiences - these might shed some light on why you have chosen your particular topic.

We then talked extensively/briefly as time allowed about these incidents/circumstances on the timelines - ending up where we are now and looking at the 'next page' to 'forecast' the things you need to do for your inquiry - this is essential for the planning you need to do for the submission. 

Try a timeline as a way of getting started for the outline.

Then on page 19 in your handbook is the main outline for the proposal/plan - you can add to this if you need to but it provides the basic information. It is also about specifics - what are you doing? who are you talking to? what literature will you need to inform your thinking about your topic?

• Title of the inquiry (a working title about what you want to explore - think key words)
• Context of the inquiry - what do you do - e.g. professional role and the type of work that you do? why is it important to find out things in this context? you can use you literature here to explain...
• Rationale and Inquiry questions - what do you want to find out about - your topic/area of study? 
• Aims/Objectives - what are you going to do - will this go beyond the practitioner research - will you be doing something with what yo find out?
• Literature and publicly available ideas - expertise in the area - what other practitioners think
• Inquiry tools - looking at documents, interviews, focus groups, observations, surveys - qualitative - or mixed with some quantitative data - refer to the research books and Reader - who will you take to and how will you choose these people?
• Approach to analysis- linked to Reader 6 - how will you decipher what you find out 
• Ethical practice - how will you carry out informed consent and use your work code of practice - links to the Employer support form and the Ethics form - do you have the permissions you need?
• Resources needed - equipment - travel - computer - access to we or library? people?
• Schedule - yes a real schedule - will you be looking at literature over the summer? when can you interview people 
• Conclusion - summing up feasibility of what you are planning? contingency plans? 
• Bibliography
• Appendices

Rehearsing these ideas with you special interest groups - your colleagues on the programme and where you work - helps you think things through.

Remember you practice with the tools (interviews etc.) are not with the 'real ' public - but with a colleague to see if that method is right for your particular inquiry - you won't use all the methods so try the ones that fit with your topic/area of study. 

Send a draft of your proposal/plan to your adviser for written feedback.

Remember your critical reflection first goes on your blog and then is cut and pasted as Appendix 1.

Don't forget the form about your Award title - this is what will go on your final certificate - we look at these at the academic boards and sometimes suggest changes - so talk over with your adviser if needed.

Hope those are the main points... there are some good examples up on the archived blogs...