4. How are you organizing yourself to engage with research about educational technology?

I must confess, I am struggling a bit to organize myself and focus.  The last post-secondary work I did was in 1996, this last year of school, was the first year that I had internet in my home. My lack of focus is likely due to anxiety and feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome.  It was nice you hear earlier in the course that I am not the only one who struggles with this problem.  Switching between work, and school, discussion posts such as this, and group work has been challenging.  I have had difficulty with my short-term memory.  Learning the basic technology that many take for granted has been difficult as well.  I have been a shop teacher in a blue-collar town for many years.  The focus of the classes was hands-on, in the shop, fixing and building things.  I seldom used even simple tech that most teachers use, like PowerPoint and MS Word, except for basic tasks.

So how am I organizing myself?  I have set up Zotero and have been downloading articles about social media and mental health.  I have made folders in the cloud for my courses, and their textbooks, although it needs to be cleaned up and organized better.  I should do that this weekend I think.  (done 😊 )  The readings in the Edci 515 textbook have been helpful in determining what I have to do.  It has outlined the things that need to be done to start engaging in our research questions.  The steps are as follows:

Determine my focus:

I will need to decide what my research topic will be.  I am thinking of either a developmental project like building an online Mechanics 9/10 course as I am a shop teacher at heart, or a Mixed Research project, such as studying the Mental Health effects of Social Media.  I would prefer to build a course as this would be extremely useful for me to learn how to do it.  Eventually, I would like to build several online courses, that are shop-related as well as others, that I can teach during my time at Ebus, where I work.  Eventually, I would like to work for an online university, writing courses and teaching as well.

Set Clear Goals:

Is what I want to do achievable in the time frame I have?  What do I want to discover?  I believe I will have the time to build the course, and I also believe I will have time to do research into the Effects of Social Media, but since I have not done either one, I am not absolutely certain I can accomplish these things in the allotted time.

Review the Existing Literature

                The 515 textbook says that ideas originate from four different sources, everyday life, practical issues, past research, and theory.  Depending on what I wish to do (and what is approved), my sources will be either past research or practical issues. The sources of information will likely be in the form of books, computer databases, and journals for the Social Media and Mental Health topic, or personal knowledge, intent and other teacher sources, for the course building.

Create a research proposal/hypothesis

I will need to create a research proposal.  I believe there is a form to fill out for that.  This document summarizes the existing literature outlining my research questions, objectives, procedures, and design.  My entire project will revolve around these decisions. This will serve as a roadmap for the research.

Data Analysis:

I will need to identify the resources I will need, such as access to academic databases, books, and software and analyze the information already available.   I will need to ensure that I have the necessary tools and materials to support my research or project. At this point I will need to write an Abstract describing how I am going to collect data or information.  I am definitely going to need to register for some online tutorials through Bright Space to learn how to do what I want to do if I create a course.

Establish a Research Schedule:

Something I have difficulty with is scheduling my time.  I am a busy person who spends time volunteering at local ski hills doing first aid, as well as a myriad of other outdoor activities I like to participate in.  It is crucial that I continue these activities to maintain positive mental health throughout the winter, as the lack of sunlight can affect my mental health.  I will need to balance this need and create a timeline with milestones and deadlines to help me stay on track and manage my time effectively.

Data \ information Collection and Analysis:

I will need a plan how on how I will collect or information and analyze information/data. This may involve surveys, interviews, experiments, or content analysis.  It could also include resource materials of how to do various tasks.

Stay Informed:

To stay informed, I am going to have to look at the most current research I can and subscribe to relevant academic journals and educational technology news sources. Staying current is essential for understanding the latest developments in the field.

Collaborate and Network:

Collaboration with other researchers, educators, and professionals in the field.  This is a difficult process for me, and I can see a need for extensive growth.  Collaborative efforts can lead to valuable insights and opportunities.  At this point, I am hoping I can find a mentor to guide me as I begin work on my research project.

Ethical Considerations:

“There are three basic approaches—deontology, ethical skepticism, and Utilitarianism,” “Johnson and Christensen, Educational Research.” that I will need to take into consideration.  Ensure that my research adheres to ethical guidelines and obtains the necessary approvals, especially if human subjects are involved.  Areas of ethical concern are as follows: “1) the relationship between society and science, (2) professional issues, and (3) the treatment of research participants.”  “Johnson and Christensen, Educational Research.” Depending on my plans I will need to run my research idea through the Institutional Review Board.

Data Management:

I am going to need to implement a system for managing my research data. This includes data storage (this cannot be outside Canada), organization, and backup.  My school district has a server for storage that I will likely use as well as saving to my hard drive and possibly a thumb drive.

Write and hand in the Assignment/research:

I am uncertain at this point if I need to write a research paper for this project. Consider submitting your work to academic journals or presenting at conferences to share your findings with the academic community.

Peer Review and Revision:

I am hoping that if we go through a peer review process it will help me to improve the work I do.  I believe peer review is an important part of the research process.

Continuous Learning:

I believe that Educational Technology is an ever-changing field of study. I am going to do my best to stay open to new ideas and try to adapt my research if new technologies and ways of doing things occur.

Stay Organized:

I plan to stay organized by using the existing technologies I already use, such as OneNote and Zotero to stay organized and track my progress.

Seek Mentorship:

I will do my best to find a mentor or advisor in the field who can provide guidance and support while I do my assignment.  I have a difficult time asking for help and trying to do things on my own.  This is an area I hope to improve during this learning journey.

The Podcast below has a bunch of ideas on research in Educational Technology, including organizing.  😊