Weekly Update 10

This week I attended continued work on my literature review, master project application, IRB review, and developed my project method prototype (posted below) although my thesis is not a project development I will still conduct an interview to collect the opinion of experts about the use of podcasting in higher education institutions.

Project Method Prototype

Weekly Update 9

This week I worked on updating my master proposal and IRB application based on Dr. Newberry's comments. I'm finalizing my literature review and continue working on my interview questions for my chapter 3 and IRB application.

Weekly Update 8

This week I finalized the IRB orientation and completed my IRB application. I have completed chapter 1 of my thesis and continue work finalizing chapter 2. This project has proven to be difficult, I have collected and organized all of my information, more than 40 articles, but the writing process has been slow, which is very uncommon for me.

Next week I plan to finish my instruments for chapter 3 which I'm still making final changes in order to conduct interviews with experts in podcasting in an effective manner.

IRB Application

Weekly Update 7

This week I worked on my master project proposal, the IRB application, and finalizing my literature review.
For my method section my first idea was to search for different podcasts and catalog their different qualities. One problem is that in order to protect the intelectual property of faculty's lectures many universities only allow access to files to students registered in a specific course.
Because of this I decided that for my method I would identify podcasting implementation projects. With this i'm able to collect information about an institution's decision to implement pdcasting, describe the implementation methods, courses selected, distribution strategies, and future uses for the technology. This way I can select three institutions and share my findings with experts in order to analyize how all of this contribute to the effective implementation of podcasting in higher education.

Here is my master project application

http://echabolla.tripod.com/masterprojectapplication.pdf

Weekly Update 6

This week I worked on better organization of my literature. I created an excel file with the articles and how each covered topics in my subsections, this helped me realize that I needed to collect more literature because I think that what I have right now cannot completely describe podcasting. This week I plan to have my introduction and more than half of of my literature review done.

Weekly Update 5

This week I spent a lot of time in the library searching for literature in regards to my other topics. I found literature in regards on effective learning with audio, as well as effective communication in education with use of different media, and finally literature that dealt directly with how to effectively select media for instruction. This is a new section I added to my research, as I feel is important to know what is the process of selecting the correct media to meet your goals and if the universities that have been implementing podcasting take this into account.

Also, I started to write the lit review but I'm still trying to orginize my literature. In reading the other blogs I found out that using excel to create a list is helpful, I have been working on that and hopefully it will make the writing process a bit more effective. Below is my updated thesis, it is not much but I'm almost done with organizing my literature and will be reposting before we meet on Thursday.

http://echabolla.tripod.com/thesis.htm

Weekly Update 4

During this week I conducted a specific search for better literature in regards to podcasting. Many of the articles showcase what universities are doing, but not many that include better research in regards to implementation of this technology. I have been trying to setup my thesis and have had trouble in regards to determining topics and subtopics.

Weekly Update 3

This week I have been continuing my research. I posted a link to my thesis. I started to work on it and it helped me to develop the structure of my research. Reading different articles have been giving me different ideas on how to setup my research, to be honest I'm quite confused. Hopefuly as I continue with my research it would give me a better idea on how to set this up.

This week I found some articles in regards on learning with audio and effective communication. After reading I hope they can help me with the overall structure of my thesis.

Weekly Update 2

This week the second part of research for my thesis. This weekend I focus on finding articles in regards to learning with audio in higher ed and also communication with audio. This articles will provide the foundation for cataloging different podcasts in iTunes U and other universities.

Also, I responded to some of the other blogs.

Weekly Update 1, Timeline

Weekly Update 1
Sunday Jan. 14
Created Blog
Posted Timeline
Posted Comments

Timeline
My plan is to finish my thesis by the end of the Spring quarter. I have completed some of the reseach, but there is still more to be done.

During Winter quarter from Jan to March I would like to complete the following
Pre-thesis and select readers
completing all research
prepare for interviews and surveys
submit all necessary documents for IRB
submit master application proposal
conduct some interviews with higher education students and faculty
prepare first draft
Spring quarter March to June
This is still tentative as I would like to take the spring brake to finish writing the thesis to be able to submit everything for full format review in June 1. Therefore I would need to have everything ready for my first reader in April and for the second reader in May.

Due to work and other duties this may be delayed, but I will like to have most of it done to take the opportunity of taking 699 during the spring quarter.