Page 49: Deciding upon a dissertation ...
BA3 is without the doubt the busiest year so far with assignments, placement and that all important dissertation! I am currently throughly enjoying my time being back in school and teaching, but alongside my planning, resource making and marking, I have started my dissertation!
This is a research project that I am really passionate and excited about. In the process of producing my research proposal and ethics application, it is exciting! I am throughly enjoying getting stuck in with my research however, working on this at the same time as my final placement can be challenging, but juggling your time effectively makes this manageable and allows you to carry out this high level research whilst still planning, teaching and conducting an effective professional placement. Being in the support and environment of a school, also inspires and helps with this process additionally.
Even to get to the point I am now, writing a proposal has taken a long time. Whittling down questions, subjects and theory to conclude the direction that I plan to take my dissertation on. However still, this is ever changing with my research changing direction in relation to the more reading and understanding I gain in the topic area.
For today's page, I am going to share my 5 top tips for deciding you dissertation questions/ any research proposal:
1. Start with your interests
When deciding on such an open ended opportunties, when starting to conduct discussions and decide on the area of research you would like to follow, start with your personal interests in the area. The last thing you would want to do is to commit to a task such as a dissertation in a subject you find boring or are not passionate about! Personally, in terms of education and teaching, I started looking at 3 topics that interested me in the filed and that I would like to specialise in in the future.
2. Conduct a literature review
Following on from starting with a few topics, before picking your specific and final area of research conduct a literature review into your potential options to see what literaute and fellow research is around supporting/critically questioning your research proposal. For such a lengthy assignment, you need to ensure there is enough relevant sources to use and cite throughout.
3. Links to theory
For any assignment, not just in specific regard to teacher training degrees, it is essential to link and support all ideas by the relevant theory. If there are some particular theories that interest you or you are strongly passionate about that you would like to use in your dissertation, when concluding on your research question, taking into account any theory you would like to use is helpful.
4. Speak to the experts
When writing a dissertation, you are allocated a supervisor. Before opting for your most suitable, it is important to discuss your ideas with a range of tutors and university staff to draw from a range of experienced perspectives and ideas. All university staff are extremely helpful so make use of the tutors and library service staff. Even the lectures not directly on the unit, are always more than happy to discuss there specialisms and potential readings with you to help shape and decide the direction of your research.
5. Potential future specialism
On particular focus for teaching, your dissertation can be used as your specialism area when applying for jobs in schools. Conducting such a thorough and lengthy process, you will begin to become an expert in your chosen area. If there is an area that you would like to focus on and become a specialist in school, a focussing your dissertation on this area is a fantastic place to start this journey,
When this mammoth project is complete, I am looking forward to delving into my research on my blog and sharing my findings. The fact that this process is my last step and final push to becoming Miss Yeoman is fantastic, this year is already flying by, and it will not be long until the application for a hopeful ECT position will begin too! Delving into this higher level of writing and research, motivates myself and inspires me of the future, aiming to complete a masters in education/teaching in a few years time! I will end today's page with an inspiring quote about working hard and towards your future.
'Work hard for your future, then future comes the way you want' - Vaisakh V S
- Miss Yeoman
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