Folio+-+Initiating+and+Planning

The Learning Requirements
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** Planning **
P1 Consideration and identification of a research topic P2 Planning of research processes appropriate to the research topic
 * Exploration of the research topic within an area of interest
 * Refinement of a particular research topic.
 * identification, selection, and design of research processes appropriate to the research topic
 * Due attention to ethical and manageable research processes

** 1. Initiating and planning the research **
Students plan their research by making decisions, seeking help, responding to and creating opportunities, and solving problems. ** Students define a **** research topic ** Defining the topic helps students to focus their research. A research topic:
 * could be an idea or issue, a technical or practical challenge, an artefact, a problem, or a question
 * may be a new topic that is not related to a subject or course
 * may be a topic that is linked to an existing subject or course. Work that has been previously assessed for another subject or course cannot be used in this subject. However, information gained or ideas expressed in one assessment task can be extended in another assessment task. For example, a student can use the research data on a particular topic in another subject as part of his or her research project.

In choosing a research topic, students should identify the potential value of the research to themselves and, where applicable, to others. Students and teachers must ensure that the research topic and the research processes proposed do not compromise the principles of honest, safe, and ethical research. ** Students plan their research ** Students: (SACE SA, Subject Outline 2012) - This booklet was issued to you at the end of 2011. You should read through and complete any sections to help you generate ideas and develop focus questions. It will help you when you are writing your proposal. It contains copies of brainstorming templates such brainstorming graphic organisers such as the lotus diagram or mind maps. There are many other mind mapping tools and graphic organisers available online.
 * consider and select research processes that are appropriate to their research topic
 * investigate and propose safe and ethical research processes
 * identify knowledge and skills that are specific to their research topic
 * identify people with whom to work (e.g. their teacher, a community expert, or a peer group) and negotiate processes for working together

**Time and Project Management**
It is vital that you organise your time, actions and plans carefully and set yourself tasks and deadlines.

There are many time management/project management strategies available. You can either research your own or use an existing strategy (if it is successful!) or you could try one of the ones below. This is a simple task list. You could save and add your own column for notes or comments (evaluation). This is an example of what that could look like yours may, and probably will, look different to this.

The Gantt chart is a more complex time management tool. If you are not sure how it works this is an example (The dates may not be correct for this year, so only read it as an example and complete your own from the template). You may need to //right click// and //save// these documents.

There are many sources of information about Project Management - have a look at some of them and see if you can find your own sources to add to the ones here. (Use the moodle discussions to post links to blogs, forums and web pages)

5 Strategies for successful project management 5 strategies for successful project management

This is a free eBook about Project Management. Project Management Guidebook

Try the MindTools Project Management Quiz (only if you have scheduled it into your timetable!!!) Mind Tools Project Management Quiz

Mind Tools Strategies Tools Mind Tools Strategy tools

Initial Exploration of sources
Once you have started to consider your topic and the aspects of your chosen capability (and the compulsory learning capability), you should make a preliminary exploration of possible sources of information. This document will help you to consider some possible sources of information.

media type="custom" key="12726820"This is a collection of possible information sources. Some will be suitable for your particular topic.

Make an **evaluation** of the sources - how much information can you locate? how credible/relevant is this information? what is the bias of this information? what is the quality of the information? etc. At this point you need to make an **assessment** about the relationship between your chosen question, capability and sources of information. If it looks as if there is not enough information you need to reassess your research question, if there is too much information you need to narrow your focus.

The Proposal
The proposal is an important part of your folio. It should be approximately 500 words or 3 minutes of an oral or multimodal format. The proposal is the culmination of your initial ideas, planning, ethical considerations and chosen capabilities. This document, from the SACE website, outlines the possible content of your proposal. Remember that your proposal is a starting document. It sets out your initial ideas, thoughts, hypotheses on how you will proceed with your project and possible strategies and plans and how you may present your outcome. This is a starting document and should help you to start out on your research, however, things change and nothing is set in stone. You may, and probably will, change your focus or stray from your initial plan and that is ok, as long as you remember to record all details of your journey and give reasons for your decisions and choices. This document sets out a possible template for your proposal. If this does not suit your needs please look for an alternative way for presenting your proposal, it is only one way of presentation. The "preparing your proposal" document has links to information about constructing a research proposal which you may find useful.

For some of you this table template may be easier to work with.

Folio - Research Development