Final entry...for now. :)

Apart from having a few more posts to type up from my thoughts scribbled whilst riding the subway, this will be my final journal entry. This has been such a helpful exercise; while we've not had as much time to devote to our projects this term, the journal has made us think about just how we'll be attacking it over the next two terms.

I learned that research does not have to be a tedious pursuit. It feels almost like searching for the puzzle pieces to then put together. Only thing is, there are a number of different ways to put the pieces together, and not just one. Qualitative or quantitative research, primary or secondary...we have different ways to bring our visions to fruition.

Here's to our ongoing research, and fighting the good fight. :)

Podcasting possibilities...

I'm starting to get new advice from a few of the professors on making my proposed project available online or through a podcast. I suppose "just" doing a show wouldn't be terribly innovative, even if it is what I'm truly interested in doing. So now, I'll be looking into learning about podcasting next semester, just to test the waters. Admittedly, I know nothing about it, but I am certainly intrigued. Next term, during Project Development class, I'll spend as much time as possible studying the possibilities.

Getting restless...

I really can't wait to start working on the project. We've been spending so much time in our other classes doing unrelated work that it almost feels as if we'll never have the time to devote to our thesis projects. I've been trying to read through more journals to ensure I didn't miss any literature related to production education. So far, nothing. I'm starting to understand just how important primary research is going to be in putting together my work. Thank goodness I have the people and the resources at my fingertips!

Our Cabbagetown project...

I am having such a great time working with Mark and Afzal on the Collaborative Research Project. It has been a really challenging assignment, but so nice to have the option to do an 8 - 10 minute doc in place of a paper. Nice to mix things up a bit. We've had the chance to put to use some of the learned documentary planning and research methods that we spent time on in short papers and in presentations. We have made contact with three Cabbagetown residents who are filmmakers, and each is wonderful on camera. What we've found challenging is how much we've had to refine our research question as we go, what with new information uncovering itself from day to day. There are so many different angles we could have taken, but with time an issue and the Ethics Review Board guidelines, we've felt a little held back. However, we've all been enjoying ourselves immensely, and it has been a true learning experience. We'll be taking what we've learned forward as we research our individual projects, that's for sure.

Seminar success...!

The seminar I did today was an overwhelming success, and the primary research I did really saved the day. I was able to talk to the class about the surveys I did, the interviews I conducted with members of the administration, and everyone seemed genuinely interested. My professor warned me from the start that primary research was not necessary and would, in fact, be a lot more work than he was expecting us to do. However, with the topic I chose, there really was no way around the primary research. No book or scholarly article would have given me the background necessary to doing the topic justice. Of course, I did find a number of articles and one very helpful book that aided in giving me background on foreign exchange programs in general. But, I learned the importance of doing primary research and how it can strengthen one's paper or presentation. I'm glad I had the chance to get my feet wet, and look forward to the research I'll need to do for my thesis project and paper!