Research Study

Aims of the session: Review initial research ideas & wider reading Development planning – an initial look

Research Study timeline Sept/Oct Methodology (How to) sessions Oct Peer Review of project ideas Oct – Dec Complete intro and literature review Jan Design & complete primary research Jan – March Complete research March – April Complete presentation and analysis of data April Presentation of results to peers 8 May Assignment deadline

Project planning & methods sessions Date Topic/Activity 19/9/13 Year 2 Induction Recap on requirements & project timescales Development planning 2/9/13 Background research & supporting evidence. Literature Review 3/10/13 Methodology & ethical research 10/10/13 Data collection techniques 17/10/13 Peer review of project ideas Reflection and amendments

Effective Development Planning

Effective plans: Have SMART targets Clearly set out what needs to be done to achieve the targets

SMART targets S M A R T Specifc Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-bound

SMART targets Specifc: setting out exactly what needs to be done rather than vague ideas Measurable: how you will know that you have met the targets + what evidence will show this? Achievable: capable of being completed Realistic: capable of being completed given the resources and time available Time-bound: there should be a clear finish time or date. You are also likely to set interim deadlines to help you to see if you are on target to complete by the final deadline.

Contingency Always have a contingency or back up plan to make sure that you do not miss interim deadlines e.g. will work for an extra hour on Tuesday instead of watching EastEnders if needed!

Which of these are SMART targets? Everyone will like me Write a 1000 word report within the next 24hrs Find a 3 month placement in a retail industry before the end of next term Improve my fitness levels from October onwards Increase my marks by 5% for all assignments during this term

Managing time Plan ahead Make a realistic estimate of how long a particular task will take Prioritise tasks Get started! Work to deadlines Minimise distractions

Estimating time taken How long will it take you to: Go to the cash machine? Complete your weekly shop? Complete a reading log entry? Find background material for your latest assignment? Write a development plan for your improving practice project?

Prioritising Priority 1 Urgent and important – Do it now! Priority 2: Urgent but not important – Do it as soon as you have time Priority 3: Important but not urgent – Start before it becomes urgent Priority 4: Not important & not urgent – Leave for another day

Gantt chart Helps to identify and plan milestones & deadlines: Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plan Project Research background theories & concepts Talk to school to check feasibility Complete draft planning proposal + success criteria Complete Development Plan

Starting your Development Plan Development Plans usually contain: Key Areas / Outcomes Details of activities to be undertaken Outcomes / targets Criteria for success ….in other words how do you know if it has succeeded? Priorities Responsibility…….by whom? Target dates, including any interim milestones Cost (if any)

Example of a Development Plan Key development areas / activities Details of the development/activities/ actions Outcomes/Targets By whom Priority (H/M/L) By when Cost

Getting started… Mark Twain “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into smaller manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” Mark Twain

Exercise Complete Project proposal for your research project Complete a Development Plan for your project, including the preparation and planning stages