Too Many Shiny Boxes

Thesis? Research Paper? Thesis? Research Paper? Thesis? Research Paper?

Many thoughts are swirling around my head regarding my research plans and where I hope to go in this master’s program. Elizabeth, our amazing and inspiring instructor, told us that once we have decided on our thesis/ research topic to be wary of shiny boxes (big ideas, big plans, ways to solve the worlds problems) that are inevitably going to appear. She told us that we need to put those boxes away, and save them. But right now, with no shiny box at all, I feel like I am in Tiffany’s and I want one of everything, but I can only choose one. There are too many shiny boxes to choose from! And with every new reading, every new search, more boxes appear trying to tickle my fancy. When the time comes, and I am ready, I want to make sure the box I choose is super duper shiny, at least to me. Because I know that the box I pick is going to get lugged around with me everywhere I go for a long time. It is going to get tossed around and maybe even thrown at a few walls. It will likely become dented and have a few scratches. It will become worn and lose some of its lustre. But what I hope, is at the end of all this, I can still see the shine through all the wear and tear it has gone through. Which brings me right back to the beginning.

Any time I think that my concerns and anxieties are mine alone, I need only to read my fellow cohorts blogs to remind myself that I we are all in the same tippy boat called grad school. Reading Sarah’s blog (see link on other blogs page) showed me how we are thinking on very similar wave lengths. I feel like I am just beginning to scratch the surface of all these new ideas, theories, theorists, pedagogies, emerging theoretical frameworks, advances in technology, and yet need to narrow down my research topic sooner rather than later. I am reminded of the song ‘Do-Re-Mi’ by Rogers and Hammerstein from the movie Sound of Music (1965). It talks about how you  have to learn each note before you can start putting them all together to make a tune. And then you can finally add words so that it means something. I feel like I am just learning the notes but already need to know the name of my final song.

So many ideas and different paths, which one do I choose? I just finished reading 6 articles for the last assignment in ‘Introduction to Research Theory’ and was energized and inspired by many of the articles I  read and they have given me many ideas and I think I have at least narrowed down my topic selections. The topics I am thinking of are:

Gaming in elementary education and the benefits/ barriers/ impact on student learning.

Project based learning and, again, the benefits/ barriers/ impact on student learning.

Reggio Emilia approach and how integrating technology fits into the philosophy.

Teacher barriers to implementing project based learning/ global collaboration/ 21st century competencies

I also struggle with the notion of uniqueness. How can I do something new and different and something that will matter?

I am still a ways away from figuring all of this out, but I do feel that I am getting a little closer. In connectivist fashion, I think I will turn to my network and see what information I  can gather and what advice they can give. Wish me luck!

References:

Rodgers, R. & Hammerstein II, O. (1965). Do Re Mi [Recorded by Andrews, J. et al.]. On The sound of music [Youtube] Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ps52qEFiLbg?list=RDps52qEFiLbg

Picture Retrieved from: http://yourweddingbling.com/?p=80