Reader 7

Going through the handbook and relevant readers prior to commencing the module, really helps me to understand what is required for that module and sets me in the right direction for beginning my studies. It also helps to highlight any areas that need more clarification or seem more difficult.

I thought it would be beneficial to blog about any useful tips I found in the handbook and in reader 7 for myself and my fellow module 3 students - in the hope that we can remain calm, collected and feel prepared moving forward into the inquiry.

Module 3 Handbook (2016) Middlesex University. P. 16

I found this image particularly useful in order to break down the upcoming tasks and activities. As seen in step 5, the breakdown of assessment requirements for Module 3 made things much clearer in my head as well.

PART 1: CRITICAL REVIEW

• Introduction
• Evaluation of inquiry process
• Analysis of the findings
• Critical reflection 
• Bibliography and appendices

PART 2: PROFESSIONAL ARTEFACT

I started to brainstorm ideas for this and looked at ones suggested in the reader:

• Poster
• DVD
• Film
• Notebook
• Scrapbook
• Recipe boook
• Comic book
• Learning tool
• Script
• Performance 

What would my professional audience like to see and relate to?

PART 3: ORAL PRESENTATION

• Power point (10 mins): 1. Intro 2. Evaluation of process 3. Main findings 4. Critical reflection 
• Question and answer (10 mins)

READER 7 HIGHLIGHTS

The purpose of a literature review:

1. To distinguish what has been done from what needs to be done 
2. Is to discover important variables relevant to the he topic
3. To gain new perspectives 
4. Identify relationships between ideas and practice 
5. Establishing context behind the topic
6. Rationalise the significance of the inquiry
7. Enhance and acquire subject vocabulary 
8. Understand structure of subject
9. Relating ideas and theory to applications 
10. Identify main methodologies and research techniques that have been used
11. Place research in historical context to show state of the art development 

(Hart 1998. P.27)

Action planning!

S: Strengths

W: Weaknesses

O: Opportunities 

T: Threats

Gantt Chart: "a chart in which a series of horizontal lines shows the amount of work done in certain periods of time, in relation to the amount planned for those periods." (Google)

As recommended by the reader, I researched Kent University's web page on action planning. The image below describes the stages really clearly and more detail can be found online.

Presenting data and analysis 

SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS uses social sciences to find explanations for situations (Popper 1960). In other words, looking at how people influence situations and examining the logical outcome to explain situations and further actions to be taken. 

When analysing our findings (i.e. data, literature and experience) we need to form CRITICAL ARGUMENTS and consider the following:

• How do they relate to the inquiry topic and thus practice?
• What does it indicate about your inquiry questions?
• What implications/benefits/impact did it have on professional practice?
• Did your chosen data collection tools provide the evidence you needed?
• What do I understand more about in the work place as a result?
• Possible further inquiry topics or questions?

When presenting qualitatiative data in the form of summaries with quotations. It is imperative to use:

VERBATIM   INDENTING   HARVARD CITATION   ANONYMITY (e.g. R3)

Professional audience and career implications?

How does the inquiry link to existing work or fit into the next steps of your career path? 

Research what options and paths there are.

"I'm hoping that my inquiry will increase understanding of interdisciplinary skills to optimise collaboration and team work within a theatre production. I also hope that this will impact positively on working relationships and sustain a happy working environment for companies. 

Communicating with other departments and observing their work may also highlight other interests that I didn't know I had. It may open my eyes to movement across departments as I develop my practice and become more experienced."

My responsibilities as a researcher... (Reader 7, 2016. Middlesex University. p. 21)

• INFORM participants from the get go
• Ensure they are COMFORTABLE and CONTROL their own involvement 
• State PURPOSE of project
• Mention the OBJECTIVES and intended use with the information 
• Offer FEEDBACK on interpretations of their words to ensure ACCURACY 
• Will I send DRAFTS of transcripts and COPIES of project?
• PROTECT and INVOLVE participants in best way possible
• PLAN an outline of intentions and make it readily available 
• Produce regular PROGRESS REPORTS
• Adhere to TIMINGS
• Avoid being DECEPTIVE 
• Consider IMPACT of each part of the process
• Return any materials in GOOD ORDER and on time
• Show APPRECIATION 
• Think about LANGUAGE in interactions/writings (consider age/gender/race etc)

We can apply some of these responsibilities to our practice and relationships: I had two friends wanting to watch the show in a venue where we were completely sold out. I spoke to the sound team and asked permission for my friends to sit on the sound desk. I was extremely thankful when they agreed and made sure I knew exactly what time and where they needed to be - this so that the sound departments pre-show set up was not affected in any way and so it wasn't am inconvenience for them. The day after i brought in a box of chocolates for them to enjoy, just to show a little gesture of appreciation and thanks for accommodating my friends. 

Advice for the Oral Presentation... (Reader 7, 2016. Middlesex University. P. 24)

1. Rehearse what you want to say and communicate important parts of inquiry 
2. Review examples on blogs and try yours out with SIGs
3. Don't overload slides with text
4. 1 minute per slide of talking
5. Show a sample of your artefact

REMEMBER! "It is a celebration of what you have learned!"

• Give details of inquiry using literature to explain ideas. 
• Clarify anything people want to know more about.
• Explain outcomes and benefits.
• Add important elements from your inquiry.