Monday, 6 February 2012

Kinaesthetic learning

Kinaesthetic learning is process carried out by someone physically to interpret and understand information rather then listen or watch a demonstration. Whilst looking back or revising on specific information a kinaesthetic learner may move around physically using there hands and body to emphasise certain facts and get there brain working.
It is also common for kinaesthetic learners to listen to music whilst studying, this can be seen in environments such as classrooms as the kinaesthetic learners are usually more aloud and active, moving around frequently , the signs of impatient quality's leading them to fidget.   
The best approach to use when teaching a kinaesthetic learner is to allow them participating in psychical experiments, using there hands and body's to explore the possibilities which there brain will relay at a later time allowing information to run thoroughly. 

Time management

                                                      Above: proposed plan
Above: Current average time management 

Life goals

Short term- Practice my weaknesses in the course


Mid term- Exhibit photographic images
                   Gain more industry experience

 Long term- Gain entry to teaching photography

Sunday, 5 February 2012

Effective Recording of Research Data

In order to process information correctly and in future to recollect the data previously seen, one must find an effective way to interpret it. Effective recording of research data or note taking is incredibly important when initialising memory recollection, this is to say in order to correctly remember facts or data previously told one must correctly record the information hence effective recording of research data.
There are two styles by which a person operates and that is either through passive learning or active learning.
Passive learning  is the most inactive as it weighs down a great responsibility of a persons character, they become unmotivated, unchanged by what they have learnt and have no end goal to what path they are currently on in life.
Active learning is quite the opposite by which a person understands fully their reasons for studying and will go the extra mile to ensure they get as much as they can out of the course though extra studying and using outside resources.
These styles of learning are influenced heavily by note taking and the correlation between both is key, taking notes focuses attention, expands upon the memory and ensures a person is prepared for work or assignments.  The correct structure of notes is also key indefinitely identifying when the notes were taken such as recording by date, a logical structure to the notes is key and also highlighted words and specific phrases help the mind understand what is what.
Finally all notes should be fully revised and re read to ensure the memory stores the information and allows the person to recollect what they need.

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Mixed research methods

Mixed research methods or multi-methodology is an approach to the collection data combining both quantitive and qualitative research theories. In theory this technique looks valuable and effective in collecting information providing details of both numerical and statistical foreground and also providing a backbone of human behaviour.
It provides a complete conclusion on the research data gathered and gives a more complete view and is used when either quantitive or qualitative don't provide a complete aim of which you were first attaining for prior to testing, it can identify a list of strengths and weaknesses when as a solo quantitative or qualitative method would be unseen.
It may also offer a route along which you can follow into deeper understanding as you have evidence from these two varying sources and may go beyond the single approach of quantitive or qualitative.   
In conclusion I believe that this method of mixed research is effective when one wants to gain a deeper understanding and a more specific identifiable response not attainable through quantitative or qualitative alone. 

Quantitive research

Quantitive research is a bi-polar opposite of qualitative research and involves the collection of data in numerical form and is more about a mathematical understanding to social science. Percentages and statistics are its preferred form of data collection giving an insight on numerical information behind a persons behaviour.
A huge part of quantitive research is based around creating models and hypothesis which in conclusion interpret the varying forms of data into an output of meaning and understanding.
These statistics gathered through quantitive research offer a varying different reality to information collected through qualitative research, offering results and information effective for statistical evaluation rather than behavioural understanding.



Methods of data collection in quantitative research include:
  •  surveys (questionnaires)
  •  structured interviewing
  •  structured observation
  •  secondary analysis and official statistics
  • content analysis according to a coding system
  • quasi-experiments (studies that have some of the characteristics of experimental design)
  •  classic experiments (studies that have control groups and experimental groups).



(http://www.col.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/A5.pdf, Module A5 mixed research methods, Practitioner research and evaluation skills training in open and distance learning)



In conclusion quantitive research is an opposite data collection process that can in certain circumstances complement information gathered through qualitative research but offers a more mathematical statistical flow of information.

Qualitative research

Qualitative research is the term for collected information gathered as a research method based on the intended target to isolate humna behaviour and understand reasons and responses that govern so much of our everyday lives. Reasons as to how and why are all explored through this research method giving an overall map of responses human behaviour releases through social interaction.
Qualitative research is collected through field work based upon shadowing a small yet focused sample of people and can verify itself in forms of discussion, observations and collecting field notes. Again qualitive ressearch is more about understanding why, why do people behave and react the way they do to certain situations when faced with questions, what envelops and ultimately control them to make an informed decision, how is it diffrent to how someone else may do the same exact situation.  
This allows a deeper insight into the persons behavioural response that other methods may miss, focus groups aimed at indetifying a small group of people and listening and recording response to later analyse is very common.
Of course as with any other research method being utilised to explore social science qualitative research has its downfalls, being so focused on such a small group means this process is very labour intensive and can inflict a sense of bias among the pool of selected individuals.

Below is an itinerary of qualitative research methods:


 observation

• unstructured

•Structured 

•participant

 interviews (face-to-face, or through various technologies)

•unstructured (everyday conversation, life history narrative of key
informants; projective techniques)

•semi-structured (using an interview guide)

•individual     (an     in-depth        inter view)

•group (focus group)

 life history narrative focused on selected topics

• critical incidents

 structured (using an interview schedule)

 questionnaires given in meetings

 concept mapping

 recordings - audio and video with structured or unstructured analysis,
content analysis of talk and interaction

 case study

 action research

 documentary analysis.




(http://www.col.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/A5.pdf, Common wealth of learning, Unit 1: What are mixed methods)  




In summary qualitative research is effective in gaining realistic human response but due to its adversity and the level of man power needed to gain an insight for selected research component it may not be the correct way of approaching an understanding.

Brief

For this project i am going to research on several areas of interest within the study skills sector including; qualitative methods, quantitive research methods, mixed research methods and effective recording of research data such as note taking. I will also develop my own personal development plan that includes short, mid, long term goals and a time management plan together with my personal effective learning style.
Finally when all of this information has been collected and prepared i will present to the class.