This module is about planning a research project/inquiry (that students will later carry out in module 3) that interests a student in a field that relate to their profession. Critical reflection on the course is to encourage student into self evolution of their work both in their professional and in their academic life.
Developing a Line of Inquiry
The module as well as the last module is continuations of learning tools I would need to achieve the ultimate goal. Before I conducted the inquiry I started with some rumination on what my past qualifications and experiences were and my future aspirations. The initial plan was heavily based as a marketing tool (it was meant to be a research tool) Appendix A with too broad and too vague of a subject Appendix B . After my feedback and much deliberation, I decided on the finalised inquiry plan. The targeted age groups for the inquiry are 14 and above.
Researching Ethics
The challenges that I faced during the project was tacking ethical issues that outlined what is required for a research. Initially my focus was on the ethical issues that affect Performing Arts studies and the safeguarding of working with children and young people. Once I gasped the understanding (through my feedback and self reflection techniques I learned from module 1) that it is the ethically issues that relates to conducting a research, I restarted the ethical research process. Once the research was conducted, I realised that I knew some of the ethical issues however; the explanations were not conducted in the correct manner. This was a new learning experience because of the lack of experience in planning and conducting a research and a research plan.
The Inquiry Tools
Original, questionnaire was one of the research tools that were going to be used in module 3. After my feedback and some contemplation; the questionnaire is now taken out as a research tool, simply because the line of inquiry as been modified and changed and it will not shield any new information to the inquiry. A sample questionnaire was conducted and some questions from the questionnaire are going to be used and altered for the focus group.
Conducting a sample of the focus group before module 3 would be too complex because writing, (planning a focus group) sending and receiving all the consents forms from parents will be rather impractical at such a short notice and sending all documents relating to the ethical issues about conducting a research will have to be verified by the university officials and the module would have to be passed by myself for this to go ahead. The telephone interview is another tool with many obstacles. The time of year it is in the academic calendar (February-May) is very difficult for academic staff to offer their free time because of exams, assignments and performances for current students and interviews and application process for prospected students.
