At the start of this research journey, I thought that educational research was something that could only be done by doctoral students or by educators that already had their PhDs. I have learned that anyone can conduct research, as long as they follow certain guidelines, such as solid research design and ethical principles. I have learned a lot of useful information in this course, including how to evaluate research AND how to use the (formerly dreaded) APA format. I have also learned that instructional technology is a challenging field in which to do educational research - so much changes so quickly that it's hard for published pieces to stay relevant for long. The process of searching for articles for my annotated bibliography and capstone proposal has helped me develop a solid foundation for searching for peer-reviewed articles on a very narrow topic.
When I looked at my upcoming classes for Spring Semester in the Instructional Technology program at Kennesaw State University, I let out a little silent groan. Research? Seriously? Why do I have to take THIS class? Needless to say, I didn't have a very positive outlook on taking a class about research. Even though my mom is a former media specialist, I've never been enthralled with the prospect of educational research. Can't I just read a blog post instead? Or a summary of research? That's good enough, right? My thoughts on research consisted of poring over volumes in the library or sorting through dozens of pages just to find one line worth using. Luckily, this class has helped me not just to understand research, but to actually enjoy it and to see how it can help me in my role as an instructional technology leader.
At the start of this research journey, I thought that educational research was something that could only be done by doctoral students or by educators that already had their PhDs. I have learned that anyone can conduct research, as long as they follow certain guidelines, such as solid research design and ethical principles. I have learned a lot of useful information in this course, including how to evaluate research AND how to use the (formerly dreaded) APA format. I have also learned that instructional technology is a challenging field in which to do educational research - so much changes so quickly that it's hard for published pieces to stay relevant for long. The process of searching for articles for my annotated bibliography and capstone proposal has helped me develop a solid foundation for searching for peer-reviewed articles on a very narrow topic.
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AuthorI'm a technology coordinator at a K-5 elementary school in Georgia. I'm passionate about connecting teachers and facilitating student learning with digital tools. Archives
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