Mala-2-2-bing Theses

2-2 bing= tutubi=dragonfly...an insect which would be a good metaphor to how my brain was operating yesterday as I was reworking my research proposal for this thing called thesis.

New questions, I now have:

AIMS OF THE STUDY:

• -to develop a model for curriculum development of Open High School Programs (OHSP) in the Philippines
• -to design curriculum and samples of online courses for students of OHSP
• -to draw out framework for curriculum planning and implementation ( =program management and monitoring) of proposed curriculum for the OHSP

RESEARCH QUESTIONS (revised_v2):

Which model of curriculum development when merged with existing theory and best practices from ODeL, would be appropriate to conceptualize and design curriculum for an Open High School program in the Philippine setting?

Q1: Which models of curriculum development would be appropriate to conceptualize curriculum for Open High School programs in the Philippine setting?

Q2: Which theory and best practice from the field of ODeL can be integrated into this model?
The above is to go back to square 1 of my initial thesis topic, but then howcome I am still missing something here.  Which is the theorizing part?

I ask because yesterday, precisely, I was like some dragonfly already seeing other parts of my thesis if this were to in fact happen:

-I've tried to visualize how I can use the COI framework to beef up on aspects of the curriculum design (product).

-I see how I can use 3 models of curriculum development (process) to come up with 3 frameworks of doing Open High School:
a) Walker model will be good for any higher educ institution intending to develop Yr 11 and 12 GenEd courses;
b) The Skillbeck model + School based curr dev't for private, small, alternative, progressive schools who may want to branch out to an Open HS (yr 7-10 only)  or academic support for homeschoolers who may want to get into OHS
c) the Print model for DepEd schools who may need a more prescriptive kind of curr dev process to ensure standards are met


Now at least as a dragonfly, I fly and now getting tickled with the scent of flowers from this thing called thesis.


 

Thesis...Anti-thesis, and so I go on this way

And so, grades are done. I have emptied myself of all university work-related worries and I only have 2 weeks left for the month before my mind gets filled up again with: report cards for Builders School, TP& LP study I plan to do for my ThaiTESOL conference.

These 2 weeks I badly need to reformulate my  topic proposal. I am now back to rethinking about my original topic. Now if only I can get rid of these: anger towards my adviser who did not respond to my first few emails about my topic, and instead told me to go for eLearning Readiness only to say again the I can actually go for curriculum dev for the Open HS and...get rid of anger at myself for having such a muddled brain which can never work for a sustained, and focused study on this thing called thesis.
Thesis work entails a disciplined mind which practically goes against the fiber of how my brain is wired. But because I still believe in the power of the mind and rational thinking, it goes to show that I just need to rewire ME.

I need to find meaning in all these. So what's the plan, aLeTa?
Or what WAS the original plan? Listen here...

If I were to develop curriculum for OpenHS to cater to students coming from nontraditional schools (such as the Builders' School), I already have a layman's formula in mind. These are what I'd do:

A. A Critical Look at Current VHS
-look at  standards and best practices in Virtual HS programs abroad
-examine common issues and challenges in VHS programs
-examine the current state of OpenHS in the Philippines
-analyze gaps/areas of concern
-revisit aims, goals and objectives of OpenHS
-identify gaps and key areas of concern

B. A New Lens for VHS=the OHSP Kind
-reformulate aims and goals of OpenHS programs to be more inclusive of all types of HS learners (not just for students in extraneous circumstances)
-propose a curriculum framework for OpenHS curriculum grounded on a position of online learning  NOT as an alternative but as the norm
-design sample courses which integrates core skills based on learning presence:   learner self regulation and self efficacy skills, independent learning and collaborative learning skills and attitudes, principles of networked learning)
-mount sample courses in blended online platforms: asynchronous and synchronous platforms

C. Laying the Ground for Success
-recommend teacher training and staff development schemes grounded on the COI framework (Communities of Inquiry)
-propose  curriculum management (monitoring and supervision)schemes
-propose management and maintenance of  CMS--knowledge bank of resources for instruction in the subject areas

The above may be valid if this were up to me.

But since I am in this PhD mode, may as well theorize and do a thesis on this. I have a product and process in mind---how to get there using my thesis 2B?!? I can just do this on my own, but then I would be contradicting what I set myself out to do: to develop this curriculum scientifically and systematically because this is what it means to be part of the academe ergo a lover of research.

I need to make full use of my time whether I push for Plan A=stay in my home university or Plan B=go for a university in India.

So starting from scratch all over again, here goes:

Working Outline for Review of Lit:

I. ODeL and Virtual High School Programs

-definition
-current state, best practices and gains

II. Curriculum Issues in ODeL and  Virtual HS
-current issues and challenges
-current issues particularly related to curriculum development, implementation and management esp in developing countries

III. Research into Curriculum Development Models and Course Design  of VHS
-models which have worked
-conditions/context why models and designs work
-gaps in the models

-applicability in other contexts

IV. OHSP of the Philippines
-goals and aims
-needs and areas of concern;
-directions and gaps
-why a framework for curriculum development is needed

Aims:

• -to develop a framework for curriculum development of Open High School Programs (OHSP) in the Philippines
• -to design samples/models of online courses for students of OHSP
• -to draw out schemes to manage and monitor proposed curriculum for the OHSP

Research Questions:

• Which theory of curriculum development is best suited for Open High School Programs in the Philippines (OHSP)?
• Which existing model of curriculum in ODeL can be integrated into this theory of curriculum development for OHSP?
• What framework of curriculum development can be proposed for the OHSP?
• What sample online courses can be designed based on this framework for OHSP?
• What curriculum monitoring and supervision can be recommended for the OHSP?

With the above, I am only giving myself 1 month (January) to get myself out of this Anti-theses mode because clearly, I refuse to accept failure when I have not exhausted all possible means to make this f**king theses work. In the end, I cannot blame my adviser, nor the existing body of knowledge...I only have ME to deal with so I AM dealing with this shit, PHD (Piled Higher and Deeper).

Panel Says.....

So there I was feeling happier that I now have a set of focused research questions based on a topic suggested by my adviser. Prior to my topic defense, I submitted a draft to my adviser. In her opinion, I should be able to connect 2 topics--eLearning Readiness + Curriculum Dev framework. But after much brainstorming she suggested to focus on the basics which is  the eLearning Readiness. (See earlier blog with excerpts from my 10-page topic proposal)


Then came panel defense of my topic. General feedback are as follows:

Panel member 1=adviser:  I am still coming from the field of ODeL. My topic is framed according to ODeL. I must remove myself from UPOU=Open Unive and go back to the field of Curriculum Studies.

aleta's brain says: ok, perhaps I need 2 paragraphs devoted to the field of Curr Studies if embedded threads re Curr Studies in the paragraphs ain't enough.

Panel member 2=chair: He is seeing 4 themes and a bit confused whether I want to develop curriculum for OpenHS or not. He suggests that I redirect my theses towards: A Framework for Curriculum Development for Open HS programs. He wants me to go back to the basics which is to start with the Curr Dev instead of settling with eLearning Readiness

aleta's brain says: hmmm isn't eLearning Readiness the more basic step to take (or part of)  before getting into the whole cycle of CurrDev. And my questions never stated my research intends to dev curr right away for OpenHS...hence precisely it is about eLearning Readiness

Panel member 3=FIC: He was listening carefully and made mention of the works of SEAMEO Innotech project on eLearning modules.

aleta's brain says: Yes, I've seen that. In fact I'm looking for the process behind the product and how they  did their situational analysis before the modules and program were developed.


Clearly the panel is telling me, my current topic proposal is not there yet.

So how do I bend my brains to fit into their mould of how I should do my theses.  

Education, the UP kind,  is kinda tiring. It's an exercise of tolerance, humility, and patience.

A part of me feels frustrated because my first topic proposal was rejected--my panel says, it was into Social Studies and that there is no such thing as progressive education in the Philippines. Another one said that teachers are not curriculum designers.

Then this second topic which is into ODeL and not from my field of doctoral studies.

Looking back, I earned a Low Pass in my comprehensive examinations.

All the above are indicative of how my brains work:  I still draw a lot from my informal learning, on the job practices and prior experiences and hardly from my formal studies.

I guess Panel Says, that ain't acceptable....unless I leave Curr Studies, move on, start from scratch and get into ODeL.