The Half Way Point

So guys, 60 credits gone, 60 to go, we're half way there now, no turning back (you must be crazy if you do) this is where the real fun begins. THE PROJECT!!

So, after a well deserved break it's that time again and for some reason this time i have found it the most difficult to be motivated. I just want this pre-summer holiday to keep going I really think it's because i have scared myself into a position where i feel my whole grade relies on my project, it has to be fantastic. So no pressure or anything right!!

I also know that the end few months of completing this project are the busiest for most people on the BAPP course and things could get a little stressful, for me having three jobs, xmas shows, xmas bookings and my degree project could quite possibly make me unpopular in my house!!

So, what am i going to do about it? Well this post if a first, and many people have been asking me about my project as it was the main subject of conversation a few months ago, whats good is Jess has even booked herself on a pole course so i was having some effect on the public. I am off to get some questionnaire questions down as that is the first thing i said i would do in my proposal, i'm sure things will go from there. I have done well so far and not prepared to let myself down, so here goes, good luck everyone

Abbi :-)

Research methods learning diary 7

Overall Reflection

I have learnt so much over the past few months and have recently just researched focus groups, perceptual mapping and designed my own survey all are really important as they will be the main body of my project. I have often fallen in and out of love with this module as at times I have loved doing all the research and writing up my findings and then hated it when I can’t find words for my proposal. There has been many times where I feel I have been on top of my work and so many times where I have stared at my computer waiting for a miracle.

The last few weeks I didn’t feel very confident about my work as my project proposal feedback hit me that it wasn’t very focused, this was a knock to my confidence as I realised how much more work I had to do hence falling out of love with the module. However the last few days I have been able to focus and fall in love with it again as I do feel very confident about my work, I have worked very hard to complete this module and have put in many hours to get it to the standard I now feel happy with.

The area I found the hardest was actually writing my proposal as I thought my first draft was good however my feedback proved that it lacked focus, after editing a lot of my word count I then struggled to write anything as I constantly reminded myself not to write anything unnecessary. If I am honest, on many occasions I just wanted to actually start the project as I am so interested and passionate about my title. I took a few days off from my proposal and when I got back to it the words came flowing. This is something that I have learnt, I need to take time away from an area I find difficult so that I can start again with a clear head.

It has only been recently that I have been thinking about the rationale for my degree title, I always wanted it to have education in it somewhere and it wasn’t until speaking to Peter that we agreed on Human Movement & Education. I have to be honest, I had no idea what human movement was but Peter explained what it was and I also researched it and I have to say I am very happy with it.

If I could do it all again I would defiantly try and get time off work to get to the campus sessions as being able to discuss things with people is a way that I learn. I like and feel comfortable when I write lists of things that I need to do or ask and this then benefits my work. I have gathered that the campus sessions have been very helpful as people have been able to do this.

Overall I have mixed emotions of this module but I defiantly feel ready to start my project.

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Research Methods Learning diary 2

Over the past few months I have learnt so much on my course at Middlesex and its starting to come to light that all of the previous tasks are the foundations for the final module The Project.

Over the past few months I have learnt how to set up a blog to represent me and my work, it has also connected me to my peers and tutors. I have produced and advertised my CV to inform others of my training and my goals/dreams. I have learned how to express my interests and those who inspire me and why. I now know about the Kolb theory something I had never heard of before and to understand what it was I researched it to broaden my knowledge thus helping me with my current module as it’s something I have experienced doing before. I know that on a daily basis I use the Kolb Theory to make things work better and now I evaluate my work more frequently.

The most significant work to help benefit this module and my project is the writing styles as I have learnt how to write academically which will be the main style of writing for my project, learning the Harvard way to reference will be required for significant information. I know how to market something which may benefit me if say for instance i want to market some of my new classes. I know how to write a good descriptive piece of writing and have learnt that this is my favourite style of writing. The need to market work and the use of descriptive writing may be required as part of my research dependent upon my project title.

During the course I have had to reflect and analyse my work which is not something I used to do, I have had to take into account comments and critique from my peers in order to improve it which was very valuable. I’ve also learnt that my comments to my peers are very valuable for them and can improve their work and felt I did this very well. I learnt that appropriate and useful feedback is vital for improvement.

Everything I have learnt will benefit me in one way or another especially for the next few months ahead.

Module WSB 3835 Project Planning and Development

Research Methods module, What is it?

This is an important module because it is a key part of the WBL programme. It is designed to equip me when undertaking a work-based project of a research and development nature.

What does the module focus on?

The module focuses on project planning, design and the identification and the use of an appropriate research approach and specific research techniques suitable for my proposed project.

Major outcomes

A major outcome of this module will be that I will have assembled my own research portfolio. This will equip me in a practical way and help me carry out the project component of my project as well as help me become more effective at work through the development of research related skills.

So what is research?

A “systematic investigation to establish facts or principles or to collect information on a subject” http://www.thefreedictionary.com/research

What do I need to do for this module?

Learn about research and ways to collect information
Learn how to plan my time
Experiment with possible project titles
Learn about ethical practices
Decide research project and possible avenues to write about
Choose degree title and give justification

Things to consider when choosing the title for the project

What do you need to find out?
Why will that make a difference to your work and career?
What impact will it have on your job, your work colleagues, and the sector in which you work?
Can you disseminate what you find out anywhere?
Will your project have some sort of impact?
Are you going to develop some new service? A new product? A learning resource?

So what next?

I need to develop some ideas for titles for my project and write down the advantages and disadvantages of the titles. Once I have narrowed them down I then need to think of all the relevant questions relevant to the title and ways to get information for my project.

Research Methods Learning diary 1 (16th Feb 2010)

Campus Session 16th February 2010 at Cat Hill Campus was extremely helpful this week. This is my first campus session since the induction day, so to put some faces to all the people that I have been reading about and leaving comments for on from the previous tasks was nice. It was also good to meet Rosemary who is extremely enthusiastic about the course and the whole blogging thing!

I like many my other fellow BAPP buddies was very overwhelmed when reading the course handbook and even contacted my advisor Peter about it before the session. He explained that it’s about learning how to research for a project so when we have learnt how to research we can put in place everything we know for the final module (actually doing the project). After the session everything started to fall into place, I just have to keep reminding myself that it’s how to research NOT doing the research.

In order to learn how to research I have to think about what I would like to research or what I would like to find out. It was often mentioned that trying to find out something that you don’t know would be a good starting point, and to try and base the title of your project on something you want to know about, are interested in or want to bring attention to. I have many ideas of titles for my project and as I am going to be learning about different methods of research and my project over the next year it needs to be something I will really enjoy writing about. My only worries are most likely to be the same as others and that is that I won’t have enough solid information and that my title will not be interesting to read.

So, now I have grasped the concept of the module I am looking forward to putting some notes together on my chosen three titles to see which one I feel has the most content and the most interesting to find out about.