Doctoral Seminar

Spring 2005

Erin Peters

Mid-Term Reflection

When I first applied to the doctoral program at George Mason University, I had a definite vision for my dissertation work, the relationship between child-centered classroom teachers and inquiry science. Attending the Doctoral Seminar has helped me understand that opportunities for research are broader than I had ever imagined. I have revised my possible topics for research to include the intersections of attitudes of teacher change, resource material availability, and the depth of teacher pedagogical content knowledge. My thinking has expanded because of the variety of presentations during the class and the array of views each member of the blackboard group contributes about the research presentations.

The class discussions have shown me that no matter what the topic for research, it can be related to policy. Previously I was not interested in educational policy, but I can clearly see the link between research and policy. The nature of conducting research cannot be removed from policy development because a progressive policy must be supported by knowledge which is discovered through research. One of the goals of research is to reveal new knowledge and one of the goals of policy is to be progressive. As I formulate possible research projects, I must also ensure that the outcome of the research impacts society in a progressive way. Doing research for the sake of solving a problem is one dimensional. A research project must also benefit society.

The blackboard discussions have helped me to see that meaning is made from research in a community. The topics discussed in class became more vibrant during the blackboard sessions, because I could see how each member viewed the issues through their lenses of experience. My discussion group has members from very different backgrounds which helped parse out the implications of research from various fields of expertise. The Doctoral Seminar has helped expand my thinking in two major ways, the class presentations helped me to see the vastness of research possibilities and their connection to policy, and the blackboard discussions have helped me to see the diverse thinking regarding implications for each particular type of research.