Right. Final Year Project, Day One.
I need to decide on a topic – a “Research Question” – if you will.
There are several ideas floating around in my head at the moment, some of which are clearly more viable than others.
Maybe a list would help:
- Choose a topic in the LC chemistry syllabus, and design a few classes in the “inquiry” based style.
- Write a JC science textbook “as Gaeilge”.
- Develop an IT-related something, maybe a website, for either JC science, or LC chemistry.
- Create a DVD of the LC chemistry experiments.
- Translate one of the LC chemistry books into Irish.
So, I think that is all the ideas I had.
Clearly, numbers 2 and 5 are out – I might get a chapter or two done of each, which doesn’t seem like an awful lot. Unless I looked into writing a chapter or two in irish, in an enquiry-based method. Hmmm…
Number 4 is definitely out – there is already one of these floating about somewhere.
Numbers 1 and 3 are therefore the likely runners.
1. It would be interesting to look at one or two smaller topics in the LC chemistry curriculum, develop a series of maybe 6 classes based on the “Physics by Inquiry” method, and try them out in one or two schools over the next few weeks. A bit of thought is needed when it comes to the actual topic, but that bridge can be crossed when we come to it.
3. I really like the idea of doing something IT related. Perhaps making a website, or learning how to use Moodle properly, and setting up a Moodle site. I’m not really sure how this would work when it comes to actually being used in a classroom setting – it is definitely not something that most teachers would feel comfortable in using themselves.
I think that it would really come into it’s own if it was being used for distance education, for those students who are being home-schooled, that kind of area, as well as for students who are trying to do homework, and need a bit of extra help.
What do I do?
So, there are the two ideas I have narrowed it down to.
I need to go to the library tomorrow and get some books – and pay the fine I owe.
