Research Proposals

1. Research Proposals PGCE Secondary SS

2. The Research Proposal • A document in which you provide a detailed plan of a research project you wish to carry out. • Provides a Context or overview for the research by way of locating the research within a field of study • Provides a cogent plan of action with respect to the research paradigm to be used, data collection methods and the validation of the findings

3. Diagramatic representation Based on research into the use of IWBs in a secondary classroom in the UK

4. Context • Locates your area of research within the discipline • I would provide an overview of the development of the use of computers as educational tools and provide a brief overview thereof... introduced nearly 30 years ago, increasing accessibility in (especially) developed world, but no clear evidence of their use having impacted on learning.

5. Introduction • Narrow focus to the UK • Use of computers supported by (especially) Labour and numbers of computers in UK secondary schools grown (provide figures). • ICT a discrete subject but also supposed to be used as cross-curricular tools in subject teaching. However, this has proved problematic due to lack of equipment in classes, lack of training for staff... Some believe that IWBs can solve problem

6. The Interactive Whiteboard • Describe what an IWB is and what it does Detailed discussion of academic literature on use of IWBs in schools, focused on UK and secondary schools

7. Methodology • Which research paradigm (quantitative, qualitative) and why, highlighting strengths of paradigm chosen • Data collection method, justifying method chosen • Issues with design of data collection instrument – bias – and how to overcome

8. Methodology • Describe what you wish to do • Look at use of IWB in a specific class/classes The issue of validity... triangulation and steps taken to ensure validity of data and interpretation thereof