The Worst Way to Approach a Research Project

by Timothy Howe

Start by gathering "enough" data
Research implies gathering data. One temptation to be resisted is thinking that there is such a thing as "enough" data. No amount of information will ever seem like enough. It is not even possible to determine what constitutes "enough" during the research stage. Certainly, gathering a large volume of data is important, but avoid determining in advance what amount will be sufficient. 


Expect the research to organize itself
A sure way to bog down in a project is to permit the data to dictate the research process. This will lead the researcher down whatever trail the research leads instead of gathering the most important information for the project. Instead, start with an outline and stick with the outline. Only veer off it when it proves untenable. Good organization will cause good research.


Don't worry about the context of your quotes
Quotations are important since they give authority to your work, whether in support of your argument or as an argument to counter. But ignoring the context of the quote could affect understanding. Each quote originates in  a field that gives it meaning. Be sure to not strip the quote out of that field without its reinforced meaning.  


Don't verify if you are quoting the author's idea correctly
More dire than ignoring context, the researcher could misrepresent the ideas of the original source. Not all information is easy to process and it is easy to misunderstand ideas. As one quotes experts, it is vitally important to get the facts right. Poor quality control at this stage could nullify a research project. 


Find the hidden "gems"
Research is about hard work. There are rarely moments when a researcher happens upon a special "gem" that fills in all the gaps. The end product comes about as the result of persistence and tenacity. Hope will never be a replacement for effort.


Research possesses a time element. Thus it is crucial to get the right data, get it into some order, verify it and get to hard work quickly. 

How to Choose Your Research Topic in 6 Steps

by Timothy Howe

All Academics research. It is a part of the job. If you are in academia you will need to research. Whether you are working on a research paper, thesis, dissertation, field project, or a new book, you will need to research. Many times research topics come easily. They are dictated by someone else, by pressing circumstances or are a particular passion. However, almost every writer comes to a point in his or her career when he or she is required to write without a lead. The writer knows that something must be written, but what? 


Six Steps to Choosing Your Topic
1. Work in an area of personal interest.
You will not want to research a topic that is dull to you. The larger the project, the more personal investment will be required to stay the course. So, from the beginning investigate topics that interest you. It is also likely to be the area where you already have some expertise. 


2. Consider if your interest matters.
Just because you like a topic does not mean it is either important or interesting to others. Since writers presumably research in order to be read, consider if your interest matters. If it does not, select a new one. If it does, your are on the right track. 


3. Identify what research already exists in your field of interest.
You do not want to expend a great deal of research effort only to find out that someone else has written your paper. Identity what topics are sufficiently covered and what topics have questions yet unanswered or conclusions yet unchallenged.


4. Brainstorm various possibilities.
Before researching, sit down and come up with as many ideas as you can concerning your interest. Among other things, brainstorming benefits you by leading you to something you never before considered, helping to establish the outline for when you begin writing, and by producing many future topics. 


5. Narrow your topic to a manageable size.
It does no good to choose a topic of gargantuan scale. You must narrow your topic as soon as possible to a size that is appropriate for your project. Research papers must be very narrow in focus; theses, dissertations and books can be a bit broader, but be careful to not let them grow unwieldy. 


6. Choose your topic. 
Sometimes the enemy is not the lack of a topic, but it is that you cannot decide between equally compelling topics. There comes a time when you must simply choose. Choose your topic and begin your research. Put your remaining other good topic ideas in your mental vault for future research.


Finally, once you have chosen your topic, start writing. 

Giving It Your All

By Steve Huerd

Having worked with high school students these past twenty-four years in professional youth ministry, I’ve seen thousands of students who have made incredible sacrifices to gain entrance into the colleges of their choice.

Students' Commitment to College

A friend of mine was telling me recently how his son (only now in "eighth" grade) decided that he wanted to attend an Ivy League school.  This goal pushed him to spend many Friday nights studying while his other friends were out having fun, so he could earn the highest GPA possible.  He also pushed hard in cross-country and track so he could be nominated for team captain.  He ventured into DECCA and other organizations that would shine on elite college applications.  After being turned down by several Ivy League institutions, he eventually wound up on the west coast at Stanford.

Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

Every year it seems that the stakes grow higher as high schools offer more and more AP courses as they seek to prepare their students for college.  With the rising cost of undergraduate tuition, well-meaning parents are constantly pushing their kids to take as many college prep, AP, and college-high school credit courses as possible resulting in even higher standards of performance.

Over and over again in high school counselors' offices the phrase, “If you want to go (there), you’ll have to do this and this” is repeated to youth who truly want to obtain the best that the next four years can give them.  And, year after year, in school after school, they pursue their dreams with intense fervor and discipline-- hoping that one day it will all be worth it.

Whether you agree or disagree with the current state of affairs regarding this phenomenon, the reality is that there is an ever-increasing class of eager students pushing themselves to achieve their dreams and aspirations.  They come naïve and somewhat open-handed to us, the learned and the educated of society, to prepare them for what lies ahead.  Along with their parents they pay small fortunes in order to sit at our feet, to read the books of our choosing, and to complete the coursework we deem appropriate.

Our Corresponding Responsibility As Professors

Knowing this truth, how should we feel as professors of these students?  While we are instinctively aware that we simply cannot give them "all" that they need-- knowing them and seeing their hearts should motivate us to be the absolute best we can be.  In every class, we become stewards of their sacrifices, hope for their dreams, and wisdom for that which they seek.  And while the mileage of this truth varies from student to student, the overall stewardship and responsibility of imparting knowledge and training to them continually remains in our court as professors.  Teaching at this level to such impressionable and eager minds is truly a high calling worthy of the stricter judgment God requires (James 3:1).  Being aware of the generational impact of our teaching upon the church and the society as a whole ought to cause us to give it our best.  May God, in his mercy, grant us continued steadfastness showing us His approval, making our efforts successful.

ePortfolios for Assessment and Professional Job Opportunities

Promote Yourself As a Job Candidate Using an ePortfolio

  

Overview of 4 ePortfolio Platforms 

for Educators & Doctoral Students 

These below are used primarily for academic assessment

·         

     They also have limited application for professional purposes, which is also important (students may need to set those up separately if they used these educational tools, rather than using the resources listed in a recent Academii blog on Virtual CVs and similar resources)

1. Live Text

www.livetext.com   OFFICIAL SITE

https://www.livetext.com/overview/faculty-overview.html  FROM FACULTY’S PERSPECTIVE

https://www.livetext.com/overview/student-overview.html FROM STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJJZNexRAiM&feature=related VIDEO

2. Mahara Open Source e-Portfolios

www.mahara.org  OFFICIAL SITE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y32NoAgN9Ik VIDEO, INFORMAL but INFORMATIVE

http://demo.mahara.org/ Demo/Try It Out

3. Task Stream

https://www.taskstream.com/pub/SubscriptionRates.asp INFO

http://www.5min.com/Video/TaskStream-Portfolio-Interview-Explained-247682672  USE

4. Nuventive Web Folio

http://www.nuventive.com/products_iwebfolio.html

http://www.uc.edu/honors/eportfolios/tutorials.html Example of university using iwebfolio

http://www.gonzaga.edu/academics/libraries/foley-library/ATASupport/iWebfolioSupport/iWebfolioFAQ.asp Example 2 of university using iwebfolio

 _________________________________________________________________

Analyzing and Evaluating ePortfolio Products 

(designed by iwebfolio, but still good)

http://www.nuventive.com/ElectronicPortfolioAnalysisTool.pdf

 

Additional Resources: 

Also see pages 27-31 in the WASC Resource Fair Guide at http://db.tt/dFpiS76J

Sales reps are willing to come to your academic campus if you’re interested in a test drive

Digital Tools for Promoting Your Curriculum Vitae, Part 1 of 2

Tools for Promoting Your CV in the Digital Age

As I work with scholars interested in advancing their careers in academe through the Academii service (www.academii.net), we seek out tools that help provide doctoral students and scholars with the horsepower to ensure their name can become known by colleagues in their respective academic field.  

In this two part series, a total of 10 Digital Tools for Promoting One's Curriculum Vitae (CV) are explored and highlighted by Academii Mentor, Dr. Freddy Cardoza. 

Digital Tools for Enhancing and Distributing Your CV

Freddy Cardoza

SLIDEROCKET 

This is my current favorite, even though it lacks some of the resources that LeadYou and GoogleSites has.  I would suggest using it WITH one of those two for a strong online presence.  I opened a full professional membership with them which isn't cheap, but I wanted what I think is the best.  Check out  Peter Richter's “Presume” at http://www.sliderocket.com/blog/2011/11/presentation-resume/.   That shows you the quality of this tool.  It's one of the ones I will suggest we all check into when we get to that point of our process.  You'll love it.

LEADYOU

LeadYou has a little ways to go, but has many of the e-portfolio enhancements that are needed for a strong digital presence.  It allows for different templates, includes CV like content, but also allows for audio (podcast-like clips), video embeds of speaking samples, etc., document linking (like teaching philosophy statements, etc.) and a host of other resources that make it has some value.  Examples are here: http://www.leadyou.com/main.php?action=plan_samples.  I need to work with it more and it can be a little overpowering with some of its colors, but it may be one that can be really useful.  www.leadyou.com

VISUAL CV

The Visual CV uses technology to deploy a digital version of one's CV, so in that sense it's "like" the Media Kit idea.  Most media kits include items that the Visual CV (VCV) platform may or may not be able to handle-- I haven't learned all of its capabilities yet.  I think I'd rank it as #3 or 4?? among the tools I've either used or am aware of. That doesn't mean not to have one-- it just means that there are limitations to it.  I think it's good to have it.  Here are some examples of it: http://www.visualcv.com/www/examples/#exec 

GIGTIDE

Gigtide is similar to VCV only it has some additional analytical tools that I "don't think" VCV has-- though, again, I've not fully researched VCV yet. You can take a look at it here: http://www.gigtide.com/tour/

GOOGLE SITES

Google Sites is a web-page based concept that allows you to essentially build a Table of Contents and different pages for various elements of a portfolio.  I think it has some advantages over some of these, because it is more diverse.  It's not perfect though and we would need to explore some of the pros and cons about it.  Though I'm not yet completely SOLD on it, I have used it some and think it has promise for media rich content. Simply go to www.google.com, log in, and go to "sites"

For more information on our organization, see www.academii.net or check out our free training videos at www.youtube.com/theacademii

Introducing The Academii Blogging Team

The Blogging Team of Academii represents a group of sharp leader-scholars that include representatives from:

• People Living in Two Continents (Africa, North America)

• People Living in Two Countries (United States, Kenya)  

• People Living in Several States (California, Washington, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, New York)

• People holding numerous degrees including several doctorates

• People who study or have studied and graduated from 8 different doctoral programs

• People from many diverse nationalities, ethnicities, and cultures 

• Several are also currently teaching in higher education, but are using Academii to sharpen their axe.  

Each of these leaders will introduce themselves with a brief bio, along with some links to their professional networking sites and will then begin blogging in the months to come in order to help you with greater impact in your own career.

Welcome Scholars!

Introducing Academii: From the Founder and Mentor, Dr. Freddy Cardoza

At The Academii's You Tube Channel, you will get brief 2-4 minute pithy rants from Academii Mentor Freddy Cardoza, each of which is designed to help you quickly move to the top of the deck in academic job searches.

As a university administrator, department chair, and professor of 15 years, Freddy is a reliable guide to help you find your way through the labyrinth of expectations and pitfalls and make it through the maze and the haze to career success and impact.

Check it out!

Subscribe to our free videos at The Academii YouTube Channel.   
New content produced regularly!

Welcome to The Academii Blog

Academii is the new standard for academic career coaching.  

Through a sophisticated matrix of live video conferencing, asynchronous video training, digital and print resources, public discussion groups, blogs, wikis, portfolio projects, online classroom, and a national conference, Academii prepares scholars for positions in higher educational administration and teaching. 

The program of Academii is built on the foundation of excellence. It rests on four pillars of preparation presented in four phases of equipping and training.

Each of the four phases are 6 month intensives (January-June, then July-December).  The complete program of professional (not "academic" but professional) preparation, position candidating, and career acceleration lasts two years.  These two years provide enough time to build the necessary items of one's professional portfolio and to develop the credibility for strong recommendations while also providing the support group and mentoring needed for the arduous process of candidating for academic positions.  

The four preparation phases of Academii are as follows:

Phase 1: Embark 

• Month 1: Guru Status Masterminding for Exponential Impact
• Month 2: Institutional Types and Personal Best-Fit Analysis
• Month 3: Digital Media Strategy and Digital Blitzkrieg
• Month 4: Neo-Social Networking Strategy
• Month 5: Transformational Learning and CV/Resume Building Activities
• Month 6: Development of Philosophy of Teaching and Education

Phase 2: Emerge

• Month 1: Power Vitae Development
• Month 2: Power Vitae Completion
• Month 3: Killer Cover Letter and Recommendations
• Month 4: Doctrinal Statement Workshop
• Month 5: Media Kit Compilation
• Month 6: Sample Lectures Development

Phase 3: Ascend

• Month 1: Double-Down Comprehensive Search Strategy
• Month 2: Developing Your Professional Prowess
• Month 3: 'Eye of the Tiger' Interview Preparation
• Month 4: Academic Lecture Teaching Prep
• Month 5: Syllabus Design Theory and Praxis 
• Month 6: Syllabus Completion

Phase 4: Summit

• Month 1: The 90 Day Launch Document
• Month 2: Course Prep Planning Procedure
• Month 3: Orientation to the Academy
• Month 4: Career Contingency and Reboot
• Month 5: Leadership & World Domination Plan 
• Month 6: Networking Revisited

Through this process, our Academii Scholars-- already strong leaders in their own right-- are being built into powerful "knowers-doers" ready for the challenge of leadership in your institution.  

Consider subscribing to The Academii Blog below.

 Learn more Visit the Academii.