Summer is here!!! WOOT! This year has been especially difficult for me and I can't believe that it is over. Started the year fresh out of a very long and intense relationship, took on an extra class at work, started a new relationship, took a total of 5 grad classes, and stayed working with high school students everyday after school until 5:30. I am beyond ready to sit back, read a book, play on my PS3 (which I have not touched since last summer) and get back into shape.
This week we are narrowing down our research papers and I had a really hard time coming up with a topic. In fact, this is the first time that I seek out a professor's help to brainstorm ideas. I am still figuring it out and will have something chose by tomorrow. I have written so many research papers on so many different topics regarding technology and education that I find myself not knowing what else to do. I then come up with topics that are either too obvious and that there is tons of research already done OR pick a topic that is absolutely obscure that has little to no research done. Finding that topic that a) interests me, b) is not riddled with papers on it already, and c) has enough research to write about, is actually quite hard. I sometimes wish that instead of asking us to write yet another research paper, that we would have a massive project. I would find that more interesting and relevant.
Now that summer has began, I hope that I will be able to handle the work load a bit more and not get so stressed. Here is to hoping...
Santi,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it definitely is nice to have the summer off and be able to focus more on the classes that you take. It seems like you had a really busy year so I hope that you can find some time to relax! I too am still working on narrowing down my research paper topic and plan to have it posted by tomorrow hopefully. I think the good thing is we can still modify our topics if we need to. We just need to get our initial ideas posted tomorrow. I am still looking into either doing mine on Ipads with early childhood or elementary students or the SMARTtables, although I have a feeling I won't find enough research on SMARTtables. I will hopefully know by tomorrow and good luck on figuring out your topic!
Melissa
Santi-
ReplyDeleteAnother year done! It is a good feeling. I ended up settling on the interactive whiteboard idea. Like you, I find the most difficult thing about these papers is picking a topic and finding the right research for it. I also worry about running out of ideas, since there are still 5 courses left in this program! I saw your topic post in the forums and think you made a great choice!
~Kaelyn