1b Research plan submission

Thanks Hamish -
For any students who email me, Dr Anthony 'Skip' Basiel, with sample work - please have your study buddy proof read the document first.
When you do email me, please have this subject: 'mdxPartnership-yourname-student number' and the same file name convention. Remembe to use .doc '97.
yours, Anthony

Hi Hamish,

I have emailed you and uploaded my plan for the dissertation into my folder under Dissertation (my Action Enquiry work from last academic year is also in there.

Many thanks

Deborah

Thanks.....received Deborah.

We have had other students work emailed to us as once again the Plone system does seem tricky at first.....persevere please everybody...

Plan submitted. Any comments, peer or tutor, welcomed. Thanks, Amir Nathan.

Hi all,

Just to let you know that more materials on Needs Analysis have been uploaded at: http://www.mdxpartnership.org.uk/[…]/needs-analysis

Also, if you missed the introduction to research session you can find material at: http://www.mdxpartnership.org.uk/[…]/indtroduction-to-the-module

A programme of scheduled sessions can be found at: http://www.mdxpartnership.org.uk/[…]/core-support-programme-2011-2012

Hope this helps!

Dear all,

Reading about conflict management, resolution and prevention as main focus in my research, I found an interesting article, by Mullen Taylor, Informal Conflict Resolution: A Workplace Case Study, Sept 2000.
Until last decade, conflict resolution was seen as a ‘play’ happening in public, as if it was set on a theatre stage with an audience watching the interactions unfold. Kolb and Bartunek, editors of Hidden Conflict in Organizations reveal that the conflict is actually played out behind the scenes. ‘In this context, informal conflict resolution is defined as resolution facilitated by organizational members through other means than the formal processes of grievances, investigations and litigation’ (Kolb and Bartunek, 1992. p. 19). These informal conflict resolvers make a significant impact upon organizations either by resolving the conflict or channelling it to a formal mechanism.
Informal conflict resolution often takes a no rational approach (Kolb and Bartunek, 1992, p. 20). Kolb and Bartunek describe this approach as accenting "the unconscious or spontaneous aspects of disputing, ones that are driven by impulse and the feelings of participants and not simply their cognition" (1992, p. 20). Therefore, emotions are seen as a means of conflict management rather than a hindrance to conflict management (Kolb and Bartunek, 1992. p. 20). In essence, Kolb and Bartunek are attempting to reclaim emotion as a valid expression in conflict resolution, and that expressing emotion does not necessarily imply a loss of reason. Furthermore, they imply that the formal methods of conflict resolution favour the rational over the emotional.
I would like to attest the fact that in the organisation (primary school) I am currently working, there is a constant feeling of discomfort, a silent conflict which pulls everyone in. The causes are ambiguous and no one speaks about it. From time to time there are intense outbursts between members of staff, which deepens the relations between people in school. Being a new member (joined 2010), employed especially to take the lead of ICT and raise the standards in using ICT across curriculum, on many occasions I found myself unable to understand the tense atmosphere ruling the school. Teaching and support staff, confided that they are not happy and they feel pressured. This is why the school is facing high rates of recruitment every year. I would like to research the working environment in the school, found out the underlining causes of the interpersonal/ informal conflicts and offer possible suggestions in order to improve the teaching and learning environment.
I would like to thank everyone in advance for reading/ commenting on my notes.
Regards,
Alina Manda

Have you read Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott? I read it when doing the Leadership Module. It guides you to have the important conversations the right way.

Hi Alina, I agree with Helena (Hi Helena) and would also point you to Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, from which you may gain something. Also, a few questions to consider: is there a prevailing culture of the school (see Charles Handy)? Does the school have a 'vision' or 'statement'? Is everyone on board with this? How is it expressed? I know that it's particularly tough as a new member of staff entering into that sort of environment as I did it myself but it's much more common than you might think and not just in the education sector. Happy to continue conversing...

What I can see emerging from this Alina, Helena et al is a series of v interesting 'spin-offs' and literature lleads that may help you all in a day to day , week to week environment - in my time here this is the first time I've seen this subject / topic getting raised as research material for dissertation (A Good sign :-)

Goleman's emotional intelligence may be broad but still a good area to investigate too even along with such obvious others as DeBono's technique of 'how to argue' - Also could be a good area to look further into is NLP processes - a different tack but nonetheless worthwhile

Thanks for starting what I can see will be an interesting topic to explore

Hi,
I thought I had uploaded my plan but it doesn't seem to be in my folder anymore. It was there this morning!!
Any ideas about what I am doing wrong?

Thats strange....very strange.....I downloaded it from your area this morning after doing a quick search in the search box. I know it was there because I have a copy here

Uploaded again, and status changed to "Published"

Can I please ask all students to check and ensure that they change their own personal pages status to published and not private?

Once this has been donw other students may access your area and provide feedback and access to your material - until 'published' these areas remain locked only to admin and your self

Hi,

Uploaded and published the draft of the proposal but it says "pending review".
Regards,
Alina

This is fine, it changes to 'published' automatically (or Tarek does it, not sure which).

Pending review usually occurs when it has been sent to publish but.....I thought we could bypass this (Tarek can't we) and send straight to publish.

The advantage of this being as we (well you as students) upload files for peer review within your future learning sets.....you have the ability to comment on files published - if (and I hope this isnt the case) the files remain in an unpublished and pending review state , they are still invisible to others (students and peers) until that pending review option is lifted or acknowledged.

Tarek.....just a question? Can students not go straight to publish from 'private' status.
Hope that makes sense all ?

oh and also please remember that if you are wishing others to see your work it really helps if you can create a sign post (URL is perfect) in the conversation to allow others to click and go straight to your file of page etc.

This way it really helps us all and quickens up the process of finding work in the labyrinth :-)

How do we create a link to our work? I am happy to share my work but I don't know how to create a signpost to it.
Can anyone advise in very simple steps please.

Hi Hamish and all,

I look into this and post a comment about the process of publishing. Hopefully we can simplify things.

Hello everyone -
Thanks to those students who have sent me drafts of their plans or better yet - posted them online for peer review. Here are some 'global issues' to think about that may or may not apply to your plan:
> Title - keep it short. Key words - and is it something you would want to read if you were walking by the shelf at the bookshop? Who will read this document? Keep the reader in mind as you write.
> Needs analysis - give a good context to your research question(s) so we know the main factors involved
> Research Methods - Try to identify a major approach that fits with your project. For example - a smaller pilot study may take a Case Study approach and recognise the limitations.
> Data collection / analysis - detail and back up: if you say survey HOW will it be done? Paper, online? If you don't get a big enough sample - what is the back up plan? e.g. - interview?
And.... data triangulation? Link that data to other areas e.g. learning journal, observations, Lit review, etc.
> Ethics - mention the school, LA and UK policy that links to your study.
> Gantt chart - action plan: write up is not just at the end.

Best skill, keep in touch with your tutor.
yours
Dr Anthony Basiel

Thanks for this Dr Basiel. Just a quick comment, I thought that the Needs Analysis will be a separate assignment/ document, not included in the plan. Should I be working on that now, without any feedback from my plan?

Thanks, Amir.

Hi Amir
Check with your advisor for specifics. My comments are meant to be general.
The needs analysis is a different assignment, but the concept should be included in the plan of action.
yours
Anthony

The Needs analysis is part of your main assignment and not part of the plan although it will be mentioned in the plan outline - remember too that the plan is merely a plan......not counted as part of the assignment as can be overlooked sometimes.

Hi,
I appreciate that I need to get writing the needs analysis but would appreciate some feedback on my plan first. It would be useful to have a chat with a supervisor as I don't want to invest too much time doing something that is going to head in the wrong direction.

Hi Helena
I understand. Good to get feedback from your advisor. The comments here are meant to be general and generic in nature. But keep in mind the plan is just that, an outline and it will be flexible and adapt as we get more info as we move along.
yours
Dr Basiel

Thanks, my main worry is that there is not enough substance to make it a suitable project. I would like to know so that if I am on the wrong track completely I can find another topic before I invest too much on this one.

Hello Helena
The usual problem with projects is that the topic is too broad or general.
Then by doing the plan and needs analysis, etc your narrow and hone the research questions to 'funnel' or focus on some specifics that you can deliver in the short time you have to do it.
This is also true for the literature review.
Keep moving forward now - we can adapt as we progress.
yours
Dr. Basiel

Thanks for the advice.

Just to double check, we don't have a supervisor yet do we? Hope I haven't missed anything. Also shall attempt to 'publish' my proposal. Wish me luck!
Cathy.

Hello Cathy
All students have been assigned advisers. Please look on this website for your module code and start date to get the list of tutors. If you can't find it you may wish to email "Hamish Scott Brown" <hscottbrown@gmail.com>, who oversees the website.
In the meantime do put your draft work in the conversation area online or upload the file and add the link address in your discussions.
One of the best things you can do is get a study partner. Get someone from the group or your workplace to check your drafts before you send it to the tutor.
Do more work each day to get the next deadline (Jan 12).
Anthony Basiel

I have updated and allocated students to their appointed supervisors and you should all have had a short email from either Skip, myself or Maggie over the last couple of days.
The list of who has been allocated to who is here :

http://mdxpartnership.org.uk/[…]/file

so please check that your mailbox has contact - those students based in schools and who have school based tutors will already have been working and allocated a tutor / supervisor and I'll create a separate list for those but if you have not had a supervisor email could you please email me or leave a message underneath here please ?

Hi all,
I am joining the conversations quite late but reading through the different comments, I've come across quite a lot of useful info which is of great help for me.
Mahendra

Hi Mahendra
So good to hear from you. Now to make the most of this online system of communication....
Please give us a short summary of your analysis and conclusions to share with the group so
we can all learn together.
Try to see if you can find at least one study partner to get some feedback from before you send your drafts to your adviser. The Jan '12 deadline approaches....
yours
Dr Anthony Basiel