The last year has been somewhat challenging for a myriad of personal reasons, however I am ready to move forward with my disseration proposal. While I am due for a baby (the doc says any day now-but will be induced next friday on 10/3/08 if he hasn't made his debut) and I know life will become hectic. This is also opportune since I'll be on maternity leave from the Wellesley Centers for Women.
My goal for this course is to develop the theoretical and practical aspects of my dissertation proposal and have a finalized proposal ready for defense in the beginning of the Spring '09 semester. I have a draft of a proposal which I haven't touched very much since last May, however I know there are some wholes in my rationalle and approach which I hope all will be able to help me with.
My tentative title for the dissertation is "More than the clock: A case study of the initial implementation of an Expanded Learning Time Initiative through the students’ perspective" It seeks to understand the experience of middle school students transitioning to an expanded school day (20% more time). Most of my literature review centers around the following issues: 1) understanding the theoretical aspects of different types of time (allocated time, instructional time, engaged time, and academic learning time) and making sense of exisiting studies 2) policy implementation-understanding the policy as designed in relation to the policy as implented, 3) focusing on multiple perspectives--yet focusing on the one least recognized--student voices.
More than anything, I need re-engage my mind around the concepts and issues, situate them into a larger perspective, and be motivated to move forward with writing the proposal. As a first step, i need to meet with my advisor and find one last committee member.
5 comments:
Kris,
If the baby decides to come before class next Monday, good luck with the delivery! This is a great time to read. Just remember, with the right inflection, anything can sound like a story to a baby. I read the statistics book to my son in summer 2007 and he seemed to enjoy it.
From which campus does your committee member need to be?
Hi Kris,
I continue to be interested in your topic. Since becoming the principal at McCourt MS, we have taken great pains in "capturing" all of the time available (e.g. eliminating homeroom, reducing study halls). The dose effect that one might expect (more time in class = more learning) has not yet transpired. I still hold out hope that it will.
-Armand
Thanks for responding Roxanne and Armand,
I need another committee member from URI. i currently have Susan Gracia (major prof), Carolyn Panofosky, katie Branch (URI.
Related to the dosage issue, i agree that more time in itself does not equate with more learning. the literature indicates it is only academic learning time (ALT) which has an impact on students learning. So, class time and seat work may be "engaged time". but it may not be academic learning time-time where students are engaged in the conepts and thinking through issues.
Kris, even if you have been distracted lately from your research, you sound m ore refined this semester and your title says a lot. PLUS BABIES ARE EXCITING AND INSPIRING!
I agree, a new baby does upheave your life but your maternity leave can be a nice peaceful time where you can get alot done. My advice to all new mothers is to get up, take a shower, and get dressed as soon as you can - make it a priority! - otherwise it's dinner time and your still in your PJs and frustrated.
You'll just have to get good at doing your work in shorter spurts in between all of the other stuff going on.
I wish you all the best with the baby.
I hope that maybe I can help with some URI committee member suggestions.. I think Katie Branch is great. She is a very clear writer! I once used an article of hers as an example of how I would like to sound on paper. You can tell that evey decision she makes is a deliberate one!!
Post a Comment