Blog Assignment #1 SPRING 2017
Revisit your
research/project design within the context of the assigned readings. Using the
language of the assigned readings to explain your research/project design.
I initially had been
working towards deciding what type of design I wanted to utilize for answering
my research question. Early on I was not sure if mixed-methods or qualitative
reserach was where I wanted to base my data collection from. My research question was formerly based on my
unit plan execution in Spring and the results of its efficacy in providing a
body of knowledge that would allow students to have a good foundation of
understanding themselves, their environment and community before being given
more in depth learning into indigenous knowledge. My research question was posed as "What
topics within Native Hawaiian indigenous knowledge will build a firm foundation
for youth towards a clear understanding of self, environment and community in
Koʻolauloa, Oʻahu?"
Choosing one specific
research question was a little fuzzy in the beginning because of the various
avenues of study I could follow in relation to my project goals after
STEMS2. Everything I am producing out
now will be in one way or the other beneficial for my future projects after I
graduate in this program. However, I had to suss out (figure out) what avenue
can I vet right now that will be most beneficial directly after my program to
help me push my overall goals into becoming a reality.
Therefore, my decision for
research design was a qualitative approach being that I was relying heavily on
the experience students would have in their environment performing certain
activities. I also know with this design
my approach would incorporate open-ended questions to allow them to share their
perspectives and formulate for themselves what certain activities meant to them
via their cultural, economical, social or political backgrounds. Therefore, I specifically chose a social
constructivist worldview where the research is more focused on "the
complexity of views rather than narrowing meanings into a few categories or
ideas."
Fast-forward to a week ago
and I have now decided to not do a research design or answer a research
question but instead focus on creating a curriculum design for my plan B. Answering a question about the content of my
unit’s applicability and efficacy on having students feel connected to
themselves and others in their community is still very important to me. However, for my immediate goals of project
set up in the future, having a specific curriculum design that honors the
collective perspective of our future program is crucial in developing. It will also be great in getting community
feedback and involvement in the services myself and others hope to provide on a
community level.
Therefore, based on the 3
categories I placed lessons into from my unit plan, I am going to be focusing
on developing a curriculum design specifically for the Hānau Ka ʻĀina portion
and creating those lessons on a full extent. The effort will be to create a
specific curriculum for this portion and present it to community at
neighborhood meetings as a part of a larger proposal for a non-profit program in
Koʻolauloa. This will serve as a
template for development of the other two categories of ʻike and the lessons
that are expressed under each.
