Independent Learning Project

ILP

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Innovation

• The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscape but in having new eyes.

~Marcel Proust

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Choosing a topic

• Choose a topic that interests you

• Choose a topic that is researchable

• Choose a topic this is of a manageable size

• Choose a topic that relates to your course of study

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A problem statement is not:

• A promise or statement of purpose. • A topic or subject by itself. • A question. • A few words added to title but not

forming a complete sentence.

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A Problem Statement is Specific• If your ideas are vague, there

is an excellent chance that your ILP proposal will be confusing.

• A good thesis/problem statement supplies a specific subject and a clear direction for your paper.

• The specific facts, details and examples that you use will help to clarify the idea that you are trying to express.

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Samples

• Poor: Creativity is good for innovation.

• Better: Collaborative work practices enhances creativity and leads to innovation in companies being impacted by change and turbulence.

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A problem statement is restrictive

• A good problem statement deals with restricted "bite-sized" issues, issues that would otherwise require a lifetime of writing.

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Samples

• Poor: There are many advantages to deregulating local telephone service.

• Better: Deregulating local telephone service has political, social and economic advantages.

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• An ILP is unified document and expresses one major idea about a specific subject

• A good thesis may sometimes include a secondary idea if it is strictly subordinated to the major one. It is wise to write your thesis statement before you begin an outline and definitely before you begin writing your paper.

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Use the problem solving logic of some Nobel Prize Winners

Steps to come up with “new knowledge” – our research question

1. Identify what is KNOWN2. Identify what is UNKNOWN3. Do the KNOWNS tell us anything about

the UNKNOWNS? (make a list)4. COMBINE the KNOWNS with UNKOWNS

to see if there is a “new” and important research question that is worth developing

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What is Brain Storming?

• A sudden clever plan or idea, creative disturbance of the mind

• Source: (http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/b/b0449500.html)

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Ways to create effective Brainstorming cont

Three Rules of Brainstorming1. Stress quantity over quality2. Freewheeling should be

encouraged 3. Suspend judgment

Source: Brainstorming (Organizational Behavior, Fifth Edition, by Robert Kreitner and Angelo Kiniki, pp 361-362)

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Mind-Mapping

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Main Sections of ILP• Title Page• Abstract• Introduction/Includes Problem

Statement and rationale• Literature Review• Methodology for Research• Body of Research/Analysis and Discussion• Conclusion/Statement of Learning• References• Appendix – any additional supporting data

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Glatthorn (Writing the Winning Dissertation) makes some useful points

Make a Personal Assessment about the problem you want to investigate – need to look at:

Professional SignificancePersonal InterestCareer Advancement PossibilitiesLikely SupportTime RequiredProfessional Knowledge, Experience, and Skills

Glatthorn (1998) "Ch. 2: Finding a Research Problem," Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press (A Sage Publication)

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Think of process as an hour glass

Source: http://trochim.human.cornell.edu/kb/strucres.htm

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Resources/www.inforesearching.com

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Always…follow your passion!