Crafting a research agenda (in memes)

George Veletsianos, PhD Canada Research Chair & Associate Professor

Royal Roads University

CSSHE PreConference, May 2016

Calgary, AB

What comes to mind when you hear the term “research agenda?”

Example

•  My research agenda focuses on understanding individuals’ experiences and practices with emerging forms of education and scholarship. I specialize on Networked Scholarship and digital learning.

•  Others?

What is it?

At its very basic: •  Research agenda = A program of study Beyond that: •  Research agenda = A plan and a tool •  To communicate your interests •  To help you focus

Try to stay away from research agendas that are unfocused and “too broad”

Examples of Research Agendas that are nebulous and unfocused -  “I research educational technology” -  “I study how universities use technology” -  “I aim to understand how people learn”

How do I define my Research Agenda?

What are you passionate about?

How do I define my Research Agenda?

What are some themes describing your interests?

Above all…

What does a “liberating” Research Agenda looks like?

It is specific, but flexible. It balances breadth, depth, and focus without being too broad or too narrow.

Refining your focus

A topic? A method? An approach? A participant group? Examples: For-profit higher education (within which one may study: adoption, impact, experiences, etc) Outdoor education (within which one may study: students, faculty, early adopters, etc)

Refining your focus

Improving STEM education (within which one may conduct design and development, gender issues, etc) Sidenote: Broad enough à e.g., Studying Engineering or Math fits within the research agenda

Refining your focus

A step-by-step example (broad à specific) “I study open access”

Refining your focus

A step-by-step example (broad à specific) “I study the impact of open access”

Refining your focus

A step-by-step example (broad à specific) “I study the impact of open access on higher education institutions”

Onlinelearning

Refining Exercises

#1 Venn diagram

Self-regulatedlearning

BigData

Refining Exercises

#2 Concept map

Some additional suggestions

•  Don’t focus your agenda on ephemeral objects (e.g., Twitter, specific policies, etc)

•  Refine, refine, refine

•  Share your research agenda with others

•  Consider defining research strands

Thankyou!

Researchavailableat:

h>p://www.veletsianos/publicaCons

ThispresentaCon:

www.slideshare.com/veletsianos

Contact:[email protected]@veletsianosonTwi>er

Crafting a research agenda (in memes)

Education

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