Frequently Asked
Questions Regarding ED 7999 in Elementary Education
1. What is ED 7999?
The
goal of this course is the completion of a masters research project.
In
this course students will be able to:
a) Identify
and refine a research question for investigation with children;
b) Conduct
a review of pertinent research studies that support this investigation;
c) Develop
an appropriate methodology for researching this question;
d) Collect
and analyze data in order to answer the question;
e) Describe
the results of the data and its implications for teaching and learning;
f)
Relate
findings to other research investigations;
g) Submit
a bibliography of at least 20-25 references that is written in APA style.
h) Submit
a final report that reflects APA style requirements.
2. Does the project involve children?
Yes, it is
an action-research project involving children. Teachers often use the children
whom they teach for this project.
3. Can I still complete this project if I
am not currently teaching?
Yes. You
would still need to work with children but teachers have used the classrooms of
friends, relatives or the sites where they did their student teaching. There
will be a way to find you some children!
4. How long do I have to complete this
project?
You have
one year from the end of the semester in which you enroll in ED 7999. If you do
not complete the project by that time you must reregister for the course (which
means paying for it again). If you do not finish in one semester (and many
students do not) you will receive an “I” (Incomplete). An “I” is not a punitive
grade. Once you complete the project
the “I” is removed from your transcript and you are given an “S”
(Satisfactory). You either receive an “S” or a “U” (Unsatisfactory) for this
course. There are no other grades given.
Be aware
that there is another deadline that you need to meet as well. You only have so
much time to complete your Masters degree (see your masters advisor about this
time frame). This deadline takes precedence over the one-year time period for
your ED 7999 course. Know your
deadlines so you don’t get caught at the end with a rush to finish.
5. Do most teachers complete this course
in one semester?
Most do
not. It is a project that requires a lot of time and effort (See “Course Objectives listed under
Question #1). However, it is not impossible to finish in one semester. Those
who do finish make the project their top priority and keep to a rigid
timetable.
6. Does this course meet like a regular
class?
No. It
meets only the first night. At that time you will complete a survey regarding
the kinds of topics you might want to pursue for your project. You will then be
matched to an advisor who has similar interests. You will work with that
advisor to complete your project.
7. How do I communicate with my advisor?
It is your
responsibility to call the appointment secretary at 313.577.0902 and make an
appointment to meet with your advisor.
Once you meet with your advisor face-to-face you can work out a schedule
for your next meetings. Students often communicate via email and the phone as
well. As you begin to do some writing you can email these drafts to your
advisor for his/her review.
8. Can my advisor work with me during the
spring/summer?
No. Your
advisor is assigned to work with you during the fall and winter semesters
only. However, you can see your advisor
during the winter term to get some guidance on what to work on during the
summer.
9. Where can I get some ideas for possible
topics for my project?
As you
begin to take your courses listen for possible topics. What areas of the
curriculum intrigue you? What instructional strategies do you want to look at
in more depth? Talk to your professors and fellow classmates and ask them about
potential topics and ideas. Keep a notebook of these possibilities. In this way
you will reach ED 7999 bursting with potential projects! Your advisor will help
you refine your ideas at that point so that you have a manageable project to
pursue.
Here is a
list of possible list of topics to get you started thinking. You are certainly
confined to this list.
·
In what
ways can email pen-pal experiences impact literacy development?
·
In what
ways do (read-alouds, literature study groups, Reader’s Theater, use of
technology, etc.) enhance reading comprehension?
·
What are
effective strategies to increase home-school communication (or family
involvement in the classroom)?
·
What
literacy experiences develop understanding and appreciation for diversity?
·
What are
effective strategies to encourage meaningful revision?
·
How can
teachers support children to spell accurately in the context of written work?
·
How can
technology support children’s understanding and use of the writing process?
·
How can
“writing to learn” experiences be used in the science (social studies,
mathematics) classroom?
·
How can
teachers foster productive classroom conversations?
·
In what
ways can teachers promote awareness of gender equity in classrooms?
·
How does
interactive writing develop students’ proficiency with grammatical / spelling
conventions?
·
How does
using trade books/a newspaper/ or cooperative groups improve social studies
learning?
·
What kind
of mathematical connections do children make when reading math-related
literature?
·
What is
the nature of the talk surrounding the reading of math-related literature?
·
How are
both Mathematical (NCTM) and Language Arts Standards (NCTE) met by reading and
exploring math-related literature?
·
What is
the teacher’s role in fostering exploratory conversations that involve
math-related literature?
·
How can
journals be an effective tool for children to express their mathematical
thinking?
·
How can
children be supported to invent their own algorithms?
·
How can
children express their understanding of geometry ideas through pattern blocks?
(or another geometry material)
·
How can
teachers use open-ended questioning to foster the exploration of mathematical
ideas?
·
How can
teachers support children to be critical interpreters of numerical information?
10. Can I still complete this project if I
move out of state?
Yes. Talk
to your advisor and make a plan on how you will communicate with each other.
11. How do I register for ED 7999?
When you
look online to register you will see many sections listed. You need to be sure
that you register for the Elementary Education section. Professor David
Whitin’s name is most often listed next to the Elementary section so look for
that name to guide you. If you do not see his name call 313.577.0902 and ask
the secretary to tell which section is the correct one for you to enroll in.
12. Are there any resources that can help me
get started?
Although
no textbook is required the following two books may be helpful to
you. They are good resources for
understanding classroom research. They
discuss ways to pose questions, develop an appropriate methodology, collect and
analyze data, and interpret the findings.
Both contain numerous examples from other teacher-researchers on this
investigative process. You may order them online.
Hubbard, Ruth and Power, Brenda. (1993). The art of classroom inquiry. Portsmouth,
NH: Heinemann.
Hopkins, David.
(1996). A teacher’s guide to classroom research. Buckingham, England: Open
University Press.
A helpful text
regarding APA style is:
American Psychological
Association. (2001). Publication
manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Become
familiar with the APA style of writing reports as you take your coursework at
Wayne. In this way you will be used to that format when it comes time for you
to work on ED 7999.