Good work!

I met Elena yesterday after I finished my data analysis. She was happy and she said its a good work. Happy! Happy! Happy!

She had some more suggestions about analysis (playing with data). I like that! :)

I asked her about the way that I analysed my data, can we call it qualitative analysis and she was not sure!

We discussed about my questionnaire, but I thought I must spend more time on that and make it completely ready. I also told her that Ive found a paper which is very similar to the work that I want to do (supposed to send the paper to her). I was worried about the similarities and she said that I don't think that there is a problem.

We also discussed about Ethics. I said that I don't know how to do that and she asked me to email Ruth Gibbins!

Note: Later on when I sent the paper to her, she replied: "This paper is going to be very useful to inform the questions in your first survey and help you shape your interview." 

Its Monday again!

Its Monday again and I think Im buried in all my work! On Friday when I talked to my doctor, he said that you need to change your life style, you need more relaxation... So , I need to think first, then act. I try my best, and hopefully it works!

Today:

• Working on Computing Curricula categories
• Graphs and tables for curriculum document
• Start writing about my analysis
• Elena:  Discuss about Analysis  & Ethics & Questionnaire

When I write and look at it, it doesn't seem to be a big deal, but I don't know why I feel its a big mess in my mind!

Is that helped?

I did Yoga yesterday! My first time ever! It was good, however I couldn't follow the instruction completely!!!
Then I did my first barefoot running this morning. Early morning, very early, 5:45am. That was very cool, because it wasn't a fast run and there was a little rain...All good!
then I had a shower and coffee and start working. I don't feel headache as I did last few days! Is that helped me?

Back to programming!!

While I was working on importing data to Excel, I was thinking to make a from for entering data. It makes the job a bit easier and more structural. I spent the whole yesterday to make the form. Although, I could insert data to Excel manually, but making a form and working on programming gave me a good feeling. I backed to programming mode. I had forgot a lot, but it was a good recall...

Ill make it today!

Yesterday wasn't a productive day at all. I started making my Excel file, but I wasn't in a good mood. Today Im gone make it! Fingers crossed!

Cant sleep!

Recently, I cant sleep properly. I use my iPod to watch movie to go to sleep, but then it makes me more awake!!! Besides, I feel headache most of the time.
I think I had enough sleep last night, but I still have headache...

Im still puzzled!

I spent my whole day working on my coding in NVivo. First, I read through the course description and course objectives. I made the Nodes and assigning them. Then I thought its too messy. 

I changed to just working on course objectives. Again, another file, nodes and the same story. I was about to finish the whole program, then I thought why Im doing that? It seems it is useless. Why Im assigning a course objectives to a single node? If the aim is this, then why Im using NVivo. I easily could use Excel. Oh!!! 

I think I should start with Excel... I cant work properly as lots of things are bothering me:

• Assignment
• Coding
• Ethics application

I must be able to overcome. I need a plan:

I start my analysis on Excel. I try to work on it till tomorrow. Then tomorrow, I start writing for the assignment. On Monday while I see Elena. I can talk about my analysis and also ask her about ethics. I should be able to fix it. Im strong! Im strong! :)

Do I ever overcome!

How it was disappointing when I read the last line of Allyson's comment:

"Finally Please seek assistance on your writing skills  as none of your supervisors are in a good position to identify the key weaknesses that arise in your sentence construction". 

I don't feel upset because she said so. It made me disappointed because I know my weakness, but I don't know how to improve it!! Thats very annoying! :( 

Messy brain!

I couldn't come to the Uni yesterday as it was rainy. Today I feel I have a big loads of work which I don't know how to start!!!

I need to:

• Send my progress report part C
• Email to Allyson about task 2
• Email to Bill about computer
• Email Elena

Do I have to work on:

• My questions for questionnaire
• Data analysis 
• Assignment

Ethics application! Ghoul!

I started to fill ethics application, but still needs help. Its not clear, or at least its not clear to me. I thought its better to see what was the last year requirements. Based on last year application I know that I need the following parts:

• Project title
• Project Summary
• Brief description of project (including background, research questions, research design, significant of the study and references) 

Supervisor meeting! Happy me!

I had a meeting with Bill on Friday morning (15 Nov) and it was a very productive meeting! I felt that Im more confident to talk to him and explain to him what Im going to do.

• About my coding, the only concern was that the Computing Curricula source was not up to date (I was thinking the same). 
• We decided that I work on both Computing Curricula items and items mine as well. 
• He was happy to help me finding a reliable desktop as I was annoyed by the old one. 
• I asked him if he goes to AAEE this year to company him and he said no. 
• Regarding progress report, he asked if Elena can fill it and send it to him. And he asked me to fill the part C and circulate it among all.
• He is not around most of next month. So, I must be very quick for Ethics application. 

Then, I had a meeting with Elena in the afternoon. It was an operative one. 

• I explained my plan to her and she started to revise at my questionnaire draft. It was good as I could see the questions in different angles . 
• I also told her about Bill and I concerns for not having an up-to-date document. She said that she has been in Regina's talk and she has used the same source and Regina also had mentioned that we don't have an up-to-date one. Good to know that our scholars are still using the same source. 
• She showed me how I can start Ethics Application.
• I explained to her about the email that I got from IGIP regarding membership and she seemed that she doesn't know. 
• She asked if I can start coding more quickly.
• I showed her my Section C of Progress Report and she agreed. 

A wet & sweet Sunday!

Its early in the morning and rainy outside. Im here at work. I have a lot to do, but Im not afraid. At least because I know what exactly Ive to do. Here is my to do list for today:

• IGIP membership
• Progress Report: part A
• Progress Report: Part B
• Writing Circle feedback
• Ethics application
• Instrument revision
• Summary meeting Bill
• Summary meeting Elena
• Appointment: Allyson
• Start Analysing

Serif vs Sans Serif!!

I was working on my questionnaire format and I thought its good if I pay attention to its font. I was learning about print font and online, but I needed a recall. I found it here: Serif Vs Sans Serif.

How do I have to see?

My first research question is : What are the key characteristics of computing curricula? 

But how I have to see the characteristics? 

First, I though I can compare with EA. Then I realised its not working, because:

It is not acceptable to compare the others curricula with EA competencies. 

Its already done for Australian Universities in a high level research

Then I decided to see the components of computing curricula. There are 5 different areas which is diverse in different computing curricula (computer engineering, software engineering, ...). I do not have any critiques for that so far. 

Finally, I thought it might be more valuable to see the curriculum by my own. There are different themes, but I could see few of them more frequently. 

EA Competencies

• Knowledge and skill base
• Engineering application ability
• Professional and personal attributes

Computing Curricula

• Organizational Issues and Information System
• Application Technologies
• Software Methods & Technologies
• System Infrastructure
• Computer Hardware & Architecture

Curriculum Document Itself

• Design & Development
• Computing Skills
• Theory & Practice
• Understanding (different levels)
• Fundamental Knowledge
• Analysis & Synthesis
• Problem Solving Skills
• Career Opportunities

No more FB at work!

Im very proud of myself that I could easily confront Facebooking!!

I looked through the data!!!

After I realised that I should look at the data first and then start coding, I ended up with a long list of items:

• Understanding and appreciation
• Analysis and designing application
• Theory and practical
• Fundamental technique
• Contemporary application ...

I think apart form obvious items such as Teaching Method (lecture, laboratory, tutorial, pbl learning) or Assessment Items (examination, laboratory, quiz/ class, project, essay/ written assignment), I could see the following items more frequently:

• Design & Development
• Computing Skills
• Theory & Practice
• Understanding (different levels)
• Fundamental Knowledge
• Analysis & Synthesis
• Problem Solving Skills
• Career Opportunities

:))

Supervisor meeting! Am I the most happiest?

I had a short meeting with Allyson. Seemed that Im in a right track :)

Her comment about my questionnaire:
Change to No Effect, Minor Effect, Moderate Effect and major Effect. And separate the Not Applicable form the others.
Also, put the questions first and then boxes for answers in front of them.

In order to start coding, she asked me to send her what I did so far.

She said that if I can see any of those factors in Curriculum document?

I told her that Im happy to work more with her (she has only 10% load) and she said its the expertise load!

After the meeting, I was so happy and I felt loads of energy were exploding inside mine. I felt very satisfy and I run  all the way to my office :).

I stop paying too much attention!

Why Should I care? I told you that it bothers me and I also told you that Im in a very critical situation. Why should I care when you don't!
Life is too short to pay too much attention! I enjoy my life! Ill try and you will see! :)

New update!

I decided to make a little change in my previous plan. I had ignored the influence of mandatory change, but then I thought why not! Here is the update:

What are the key characteristics of contemporary Computing curricula? (Document Analysis) 

I decided  not to use EA competencies for several reasons:

1. Its already done as I remember Dr. McBride told that every year EA go to universities and examine the documents. 
2. It doesn't work for universities outside of Australia. 

According to Computing Curricula (available: http://www.computer.org/portal/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=2814020&folderId=3111026&name=DLFE-57601.pdf), Computing discipline includes a mixture of following factors: 

• Organizational Issues and Information System
• Application Technologies
• Software Methods & Technologies
• System Infrastructure
• Computer Hardware & Architecture

I can do my analysis based on these. This is helpful, because the program is not same for all universities (Computer Engineering- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science- Computing and Software Systems-...). So it can show that each university has focused on which area. 

What factors shape the curriculum and what is the relative influence of mandatory requirements in Computing discipline? (Survey & Interview) 

1) External Factors (Factors outside the organization)

• International 
• National
• Societal

2) Internal Factors (Factors inside the organization)

• Institution
• Department
• Students
• Current curriculum

What is the role of academics as change agents in curriculum change in Computing discipline? (Interview) 

I thought that I can do the survey and interview in parallel and then based on the result of both I go for the second round of interview. 

Day #2 without Facebook!

Instrument! First Draft!

Factors Affecting Curriculum Reform

Can you please rate how much the following factors affect shaping curriculum from 1 (Minor Effect) to 3 (Major Effect) If you think the factor is not applicable please mark Not Applicable. 

External

• International : q5
• National: q7, q14, q15, q21, q28
• Societal: q4, q6, q24

Internal

• Institutional: q13, q17, q19
• Department: q2, q3, q9,q10, q11, q12, q16, q18, q22, q23, q25, q26, q29.
• Students: q1, q8, q20, q27, q30. 

Interview (First phase)

Can you please tell me a little bit about yourself?

• The journey of your professional career
• When did you start?
• How did you start?
• Your career stage
• Your experience in this position?
• How do you see yourself in this career?

What is the major challenge in your professional career?

• Why do you think this is so?
• Any other challenges that you have noticed?
• Can any of those challenges be overcome? How?

What influenced you to work in this career?

• What do you like about this?
• What do you don’t like?
• What needs to be changed?

Is there any committee in your institution for curriculum revision?

• How it works?
• Any regular meeting?
• Your relationship with other colleagues

What makes the Computing discipline different from others?

• Emerging technology
• Equipments & safe environment
• Mandatory requirements 

Coding party!

Yesterday meeting was very helpful and knowledge constructive. Looking at other's data was interesting and also the way that we looked at it was different depends on our perception and understanding. "Coding is breaking down...[and] seeing wahts there" by Allyson.

I realised that in order to start coding, the very first round is just capturing some terms.
Then, conceptualise those terms and turned to some themes. This process can be repeated for few iterations.

Day #1 without Facebook!

Today, I decided not to open my FB until Im at the Uni. Im fine and still alive! :)

An updated plan! Research questions!

Today, before I started working, I started thinking! I ended up with this plan:

What are the key characteristics of computing curricula? (Document Analysis) 
I decided  not to use EA competencies for several reasons:

1. Its already done as I remember Dr. McBride told that every year EA go to universities and examine the documents. 
2. It doesn't work for universities outside of Australia. 

According to Computing Curricula (available: http://www.computer.org/portal/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=2814020&folderId=3111026&name=DLFE-57601.pdf), Computing discipline includes a mixture of following factors: 

• Organizational Issues and Information System
• Application Technologies
• Software Methods & Technologies
• System Infrastructure
• Computer Hardware & Architecture

I can do my analysis based on these. This is helpful, because the program is not same for all universities (Computer Engineering- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science- Computing and Software Systems-...). So it can show that each university has focused on which area. 

What factors shape the curriculum in Computing discipline? (Survey) 

1) External Factors (Factors outside the organization)

• International 
• National
• Societal

2) Internal Factors (Factors inside the organization)

• Institution
• Department
• Students
• Current curriculum

What is the role of academics as change agents in curriculum change in Computing discipline? (Interview) 

I thought that I can do the survey and interview in parallel and then based on the result of both I go for the second round of interview. 

Calm down! Think! Act!

I realised that Im not comfortable again! I do a lot, but without any result. So, I need to calm down, think and then act!

The issues that Im concern:

Bill
Tell him what Im doing. If he does have any other suggestion?
If he does have any computer?
Progress report?
AAEE


Allyson
Tell her about my coding. If its correct.
Ask her about the next step.
How ethics application has to be done!

Elena
?

Surely, Ill be fine! :)

Uncomfortable again!

Its Sunday and Im working. Again, I feel confused. I don't know whats the next step!! Thats very annoying. I tried to start Ethics application, but it does seem that its very complicated or at least it doesn't seem clear to me.

I don't have a good feeling asking Elena! Don't know why! Am I very selfish? Don't know!!!

Do I need to have a meeting with Allyson? Bill? Don't know!!!

I started doing coding, but not sure what to do next. Allyson told us that data will guide us, but maybe Im not smart enough to be guided by data!!

Oh, I feel uncomfortable!!

Annual Higher Degree research Student-led Conference

Great opportunity!! It was all good to attend to this conference:

• It was free.
• It had friendly environment and all organised by students (at least it seems to).
• The first keynote was brilliant.
• Good opportunity for networking.
• Meet different Ed students form other Australian universities.
• I could visit Sydney.
• I could visit UNSW as a real university.

I personally was not prepared very well, but I was keen to attend. And at the end I was happy. I presented my work and few students were interested in my topic (Theory of Change). However, it was all observed by students, not by experts to get feedback. 

Again, I felt like an orphan, specially when I saw a student form my university had came with her supervisor. I didn't tell my supervisors, because I thought they are not interested. 

I didn't tell Allyson, because I thought its not in her level (actually, I told her one time about the conference and she said its good to attend). 

I didn't tell Elena, because I didn't feel comfortable. What was the point? 

I didn't tell Bill, because I thought its not his field.

Anyway, I might do a research later about students who study interdisciplinary research. they are really in pain I believe!!!

The first keynote speaker was very nice. Actually the topic was very interesting: 

Lessons from the literature: What can we learn from the research that is helpful to thesis writer? 

She acknowledged Allyson Holbrook few times: A PhD is 3 years of solid work, not a Nobel prize!

One of the presentation was about teacher preparation and the presenter (Colette Alexander) seems to have an interesting knowledge about Grounded Theory. Ive asked her contact detail and Ive already asked her to send me her resources. 

Here is the link to my presentation:
http://www.mindmeister.com/345031800/theory-of-change-in-the-process-of-curriculum-development-work-in-progress

I need a change!

I feel guilty as I realised that Youka is not ready for music test. Her teacher had told Majid that she has not predicted enough! Shame! I wasn't restrict enough to her recently. Such a miserable mum I am. We haven't talked properly recently. And I didn't spend much time with her. My little ducky! :(

I need to change my way. Life is too short. PhD is not that much worthwhile.

5 days break!

I was on a long break since last Friday. I also did not much work on Thursday. Narges and Ali came and left. It was a real fun for all of us. I feel that Im living in another planet when I came to work today. I had emails form Allyson which was very important to me to answer. She had suggested 3 research questions which look very nice to me. I think they are similar to mine but more close to academic and PhD level.

1. What are the key characteristics of contemporary computer engineering curriculum (document curric analysis)
2. What factors (internal and external) shape the curriculum and what is the relative influence of mandatory requirements (policy docs and interviews & Lit) in the area of computer engineering
3. What is the role of academics as change agents in curriculum change in computer engineering (survey/interviews)

Now, I must back to my normal routine and start working. There few things that I can start with:

• Coding
• Filling ethics application
• Shaping interview questions

I think I need to work more and more before the end of this year and I also think that this coming Christmas time is going to be a perfect break as I feel I need it.