Wednesday, October 29

Today we talked through the process for developing your research plan and for scheduling conferences and data collections sessions; we also reviewed what was due and when. This Blog is a summary of what we talked about, and for Blog 14 you will write any questions or confusions that still need to be resolved.

Writing to develop research question. Points 1, 2, & 3 on the handout for developing a research plan list the reading/thinking/writing activities you should go through to develop your research plan. The purpose of this writing is for you to communicate to me what you have read about your research question and information about how you plan to go about collecting data/gathering information to answer that question. I can then provide you with feedback so you can develop your formal research plan (point 4). This writing does not need to "polished" or formal as I will not be grading the form. It is supposed to show your in-depth thinking about your project - so I can respond to you and work with you on developing a strong plan for research. As you look for references - be sure to check out the journals listed at the foot of this blog.
Writing to develop research plan due: as a .doc sent in email on Monday, Nov.4.


Class Monday: We will meet at CAS on Monday. You will spend from 9:30-10:00 setting up your schedule for observing + tutoring, and from 10-11 you will have sessions either with students or with one another.

About observating tutoring sessions: You will need to observe a minimum of 5 sessions (not conducted with each other) to gather data for your projects. On Monday, Nov 3 we will check at the front desk for tutors who work at times when you are available to observe, and you should contact those individuals prior to observing any of their sessions. You should let them know they will need to sign a permission form, and let them know you will do nothing but sit there and take notes. Give them your name and information about the course, and ask where they usually tutor so you will know where to find them.

Scheduling your tutoring sessions: If we are unsuccessful scheduling sessions for Monday 10-11, you will need to arrange for 5 sessions when you work with students at CAS. You are required to create a reflective entry in your writing journal for each of these sessions. You cannot observe your own tutoring sessions (eg take notes as you tutor) but you are allowed to re-construct your experience in a very general way and may use information from your writing journal - so long it is not specific and does not identify particular students - as part of your research.

If it turns out that you need to schedule data collection + observations NOT during class time, we will reduce the number of class meetings to make sure you have enough time to do your observations. If we substitute time in CAS for Monday classes, I will always be available in CAS on Mondays to work with individuals on their data, on tutoring, or on writing.

Review of due dates and assignments
Blog 13: Comment on the "real" first 5 minutes as you experienced them / observed them in your sessions today - versus what Newkirk suggests. Are his ideas realistic? Could you use them? WHich parts of his essay applied to your session?

Blog 14 Post questions/requests for clarification - or confirmations that you know what is expected - in reply to this Blog.

Critique of Newkirk Due before class Monday, Nov. 3. As an attachment, by email.
Writing to develop your research question: Monday, Nov 3.

Annotated bibliography: Monday, Nov 10. In class, on Wednesday, Nov 5, we will work together to make sure each of you has references s/he needs for her/his project. Each of you will describe to the class what you will be researching and the references you have found so far. At that point your classmates and I will offer suggestions for additional references for your project.