It's difficult to believe it's been 8 weeks since I begun this course, the time has flown by and I've loved every minute spent doing the tasks!
In the final week presenting your research project was discussed. This is something I don't think I will have to do in my university module but it's useful to have the knowledge there just in case. There's a very useful checklist provided during this week, to help you prepare for presenting a project and I learned some useful tips for coping with nerves and engaging with the audience. The educators made clear it's not possible to teach someone how to practise the delivery of the presentation or how to deliver it in itself, but like I said they did offer some very useful tips and techniques.
Overall this course has been brilliant, it's exceeded all expectations I had for it when I signed up at the beginning of June. Despite having been at university for five years, I've learned a lot and where I did know the topics covered, this course has reinforced my knowledge meaning I now feel better prepared to undertake a project. I can't recommend it enough, so if you're about to embark on a project of any sort I strongly suggest giving it a go!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
Showing posts with label #FLcuriousity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #FLcuriousity. Show all posts
Friday, 14 August 2015
Friday, 7 August 2015
FutureLearn: Developing Your Research Project Week 7
The penultimate week of this course, time really does fly when you're enjoying learning new things!
This week covered writing up your research, and the different ways to go about this. It was interesting to see how different people go about writing research up in different ways. For me I tend to create a rough structure of my report/essay as I make notes on and find sources, slotting them into place as I go along. It helps me develop a flow to my argument and means I can identify any spots in my argument which could do with a little more evidence and sources. Once I've got that I start on my first of many drafts, writing, reviewing and rewriting until I'm happy with what I've written or at least happy enough to submit it as my assignment!
Abstracts were also explained and we were encouraged to write an abstract of our research proposal for a peer-to-peer review. I found this was very helpful in a number of ways; it made me think about my research proposal and refocus my ideas as I wrote the abstract, giving feedback to a fellow learner allowed me to develop my critical analysis while writing in a supportive manner and receiving feedback from a fellow learned has allowed me to review my abstract and hopefully improve it.
All in all this week has helped me identify my writing style and develop my abstract writing abilities. I'm looking forward to next week, although will be sad it is the final week!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
This week covered writing up your research, and the different ways to go about this. It was interesting to see how different people go about writing research up in different ways. For me I tend to create a rough structure of my report/essay as I make notes on and find sources, slotting them into place as I go along. It helps me develop a flow to my argument and means I can identify any spots in my argument which could do with a little more evidence and sources. Once I've got that I start on my first of many drafts, writing, reviewing and rewriting until I'm happy with what I've written or at least happy enough to submit it as my assignment!
Abstracts were also explained and we were encouraged to write an abstract of our research proposal for a peer-to-peer review. I found this was very helpful in a number of ways; it made me think about my research proposal and refocus my ideas as I wrote the abstract, giving feedback to a fellow learner allowed me to develop my critical analysis while writing in a supportive manner and receiving feedback from a fellow learned has allowed me to review my abstract and hopefully improve it.
All in all this week has helped me identify my writing style and develop my abstract writing abilities. I'm looking forward to next week, although will be sad it is the final week!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
FutureLearn: Developing Your Research Project Weeks 5 & 6
In weeks 5 and 6 of this course the subjects of Academic Reading and Referencing were covered. I found both of these very interesting, although I could whizz through a lot of it having gained some knowledge of it through my Open University studies.
For the most part I found my academic reading abilities were up to scratch although I found I do have a weakness in deconstructing an academic argument; something which I shall try and improve in the coming weeks and months before my next university module commences.
As for referencing I'd forgotten how many different referencing systems there were to choose from! I use the Harvard Referencing System as it is the specified one at my university, and I will stick to it for that reason. But the choice available is phenomenal! The most interesting part of that week for me was the use of apps to aid with referencing; several were mentioned but I think the one I'm going to try is RefMe as I will be able to use it on my phone and tablet as well as my desktop and laptop!
I've already made a start on the seventh week of this course so a blog post on that should be coming up very soon!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
For the most part I found my academic reading abilities were up to scratch although I found I do have a weakness in deconstructing an academic argument; something which I shall try and improve in the coming weeks and months before my next university module commences.
As for referencing I'd forgotten how many different referencing systems there were to choose from! I use the Harvard Referencing System as it is the specified one at my university, and I will stick to it for that reason. But the choice available is phenomenal! The most interesting part of that week for me was the use of apps to aid with referencing; several were mentioned but I think the one I'm going to try is RefMe as I will be able to use it on my phone and tablet as well as my desktop and laptop!
I've already made a start on the seventh week of this course so a blog post on that should be coming up very soon!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
Friday, 24 July 2015
FutureLearn: Developing Your Research Project Weeks 3 & 4
Approaching the halfway mark of this course and I have to say I'm learning loads!
In the third week we covered actually starting research and the different sources available; including primary and secondary sources, academic journals, broadcast media and datasets. Most of which I already had some knowledge of from my studies with The Open University. Yet I found it useful to reinforce that knowledge.
We also covered ways of recording your findings, making it easier when it comes to referencing the sources at the end of your project. Something which I admit I tend to struggle with as I have no consistent way of noting down my sources; they tend to be jotted down here, there and everywhere so locating them when I need them can be rather bothersome! But I always manage it somehow. Hopefully using the checklist provided from this course, and the other stuff I've learned, I'll be able to be a bit more organised in future.
Exploding out search terms was also covered, which I found quite interesting too. This is where you identify other words with the same meaning as those in your search terms, as well as related words. Then you can use all these combinations to effectively search the internet for information on your topic. This is something I've used a lot over the years without even realising it.
In week four we covered research methodologies. This is where I found things got a little tougher. Methodologies are the system of methods used for your research, there are many different types, mainly falling into two broad categories of quantitative methodologies with facts and figures behind the findings and qualitative methodologies which are more contextual.
The reason I think I found this fourth week tougher is because I still only have a rough idea for my project. I'm doing this course in preparation for my next Open University module which is a project, but right now I still have no real definitive idea of what the specifications for this project are so narrowing down my research question and identifying the methodologies best suited to answering that research question is difficult. I'm doing my best to complete this course and give it as much attention as it needs but I can't throw myself into a research project just for the sake of it, not with my health the way it is. I'm hoping that even with just a vague idea for a research project I'll still be able to complete this course and it will help me when the time comes to complete my project.
As I write this we are nearing the end of week 5 on academic reading which I still haven't had a chance to start. Catching up again as usual!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
In the third week we covered actually starting research and the different sources available; including primary and secondary sources, academic journals, broadcast media and datasets. Most of which I already had some knowledge of from my studies with The Open University. Yet I found it useful to reinforce that knowledge.
We also covered ways of recording your findings, making it easier when it comes to referencing the sources at the end of your project. Something which I admit I tend to struggle with as I have no consistent way of noting down my sources; they tend to be jotted down here, there and everywhere so locating them when I need them can be rather bothersome! But I always manage it somehow. Hopefully using the checklist provided from this course, and the other stuff I've learned, I'll be able to be a bit more organised in future.
Exploding out search terms was also covered, which I found quite interesting too. This is where you identify other words with the same meaning as those in your search terms, as well as related words. Then you can use all these combinations to effectively search the internet for information on your topic. This is something I've used a lot over the years without even realising it.
In week four we covered research methodologies. This is where I found things got a little tougher. Methodologies are the system of methods used for your research, there are many different types, mainly falling into two broad categories of quantitative methodologies with facts and figures behind the findings and qualitative methodologies which are more contextual.
The reason I think I found this fourth week tougher is because I still only have a rough idea for my project. I'm doing this course in preparation for my next Open University module which is a project, but right now I still have no real definitive idea of what the specifications for this project are so narrowing down my research question and identifying the methodologies best suited to answering that research question is difficult. I'm doing my best to complete this course and give it as much attention as it needs but I can't throw myself into a research project just for the sake of it, not with my health the way it is. I'm hoping that even with just a vague idea for a research project I'll still be able to complete this course and it will help me when the time comes to complete my project.
As I write this we are nearing the end of week 5 on academic reading which I still haven't had a chance to start. Catching up again as usual!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
Monday, 6 July 2015
FutureLearn; Developing Your Research Project Weeks 1 & 2
I recently signed up for a couple of online courses on FutureLearn.com a site offering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as something to fill my time and keep my brain ticking over during my break between Open University modules. Two of these have now begun, one of which is Developing Your Research Project.
I signed up to this course in the hope it would help me in my next Open University module, TM470, which from what I can gather is an individual project where I have to choose the topic and research it, creating a final project to be assessed at the end of the module. Two weeks into this free course and I'm ever more hopeful it will help.
Week 1
The first week was mostly introductions; introducing yourself to other learners, videos introducing academic research and transferrable skills, that sort of thing. But I learned a lot from it. We were also asked what we thought we could gain from undertaking a research project; initially I didn't think this would be an easy question to answer but thanks to the videos I'd watched that week especially the one about transferrable skills, I was able to come up with what I thought was a suitable answer:
Week 2
This week was another very interesting week and I learned even more. So much was covered and it was done in a way that meant it was easy to absorb the information, so easy in fact that time flew by and I only realised just how much I had learned when reflecting back on the week!
The use of a learning/research log was discussed, and essentially that is what I'm hoping these blog posts will become. I never realised my blogging about my Open University modules was also a learning log, but having read about learning/research logs during this course I realise it actually is one. Perhaps not the most detailed since I note down a lot of things on paper, but it is a form of a learning log.
We looked at how to pick a topic for your research project, which included key questions to narrow down interests, academic strengths and personal gains from undertaking a project. We were asked to share our thoughts one these key questions in the comments below the article, which elicited some interesting responses. Mine was:
The most important lesson I learned from the course this week is how to narrow down my focus for the project. Going from a broad subject and context down to a topic and draft hypothesis. Something I had always found difficult in the past. This led on to a peer review activity in which you submitted a draft research proposal to be reviewed by another learner or learners on the course. This was a very interesting and beneficial exercise which helped me not only develop my skills as a reviewer of someone else's work but also gave me confidence that I was on the right track with my draft hypothesis.
Now I'm looking forward to the start of Week 3!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
I signed up to this course in the hope it would help me in my next Open University module, TM470, which from what I can gather is an individual project where I have to choose the topic and research it, creating a final project to be assessed at the end of the module. Two weeks into this free course and I'm ever more hopeful it will help.
Week 1
The first week was mostly introductions; introducing yourself to other learners, videos introducing academic research and transferrable skills, that sort of thing. But I learned a lot from it. We were also asked what we thought we could gain from undertaking a research project; initially I didn't think this would be an easy question to answer but thanks to the videos I'd watched that week especially the one about transferrable skills, I was able to come up with what I thought was a suitable answer:
"I think I will gain skills which will be transferable to a lot of aspects of my life, whether that be in a future career or finding a way to make a living from home if necessary"Finally there was a very useful checklist provided as a Microsoft Word document or PDF (depending on your preference) which covers some of the basic questions that need to be answered when preparing any research project, this included Overall Deadline Date, How it will be assessed, What format the project will be presented in etc.
Week 2
This week was another very interesting week and I learned even more. So much was covered and it was done in a way that meant it was easy to absorb the information, so easy in fact that time flew by and I only realised just how much I had learned when reflecting back on the week!
The use of a learning/research log was discussed, and essentially that is what I'm hoping these blog posts will become. I never realised my blogging about my Open University modules was also a learning log, but having read about learning/research logs during this course I realise it actually is one. Perhaps not the most detailed since I note down a lot of things on paper, but it is a form of a learning log.
We looked at how to pick a topic for your research project, which included key questions to narrow down interests, academic strengths and personal gains from undertaking a project. We were asked to share our thoughts one these key questions in the comments below the article, which elicited some interesting responses. Mine was:
"I am interested in E-business Technologies particularly how implementation of which can improve existing business practices but I am also interested in how the use of e-business technologies makes it possible to build an e-business from scratch. I think one of my academic strengths is report writing which is likely to be useful in my project. I'm hoping undertaking the project will help me towards gaining a decent overall grade in my degree."
The most important lesson I learned from the course this week is how to narrow down my focus for the project. Going from a broad subject and context down to a topic and draft hypothesis. Something I had always found difficult in the past. This led on to a peer review activity in which you submitted a draft research proposal to be reviewed by another learner or learners on the course. This was a very interesting and beneficial exercise which helped me not only develop my skills as a reviewer of someone else's work but also gave me confidence that I was on the right track with my draft hypothesis.
Now I'm looking forward to the start of Week 3!
Current and future runs of this course are available here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/research-project-3/details
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