A long way to go!

During the meeting with Elena on Tuesday we talked about the following issues:

Coding:

• We started with coding. She believed that my coding was similar with hers, only few differences: Quantum Mechanics, Software development and telecommunication.

• She said that I did prepared the data very well and so it was easy for her to do the coding. She said that she is happy to do that for the rest of the study.

• First, I need to do the comparison. If it was good then I can go further (More deep analysis. See the differences. Be more critically). If the result of comparison was not reasonable then I need to do the coding again.

• I need to start for other universities.

Questionnaire:

• I told her about Allyson's comment that I do not see the the reason to ask change agents about their views and philosophy. Elena was agreed with me.

• I need to complete the questionnaire and send it back to Elena.

Ethics:

• She had sent some comments. I need to fix those issues and also Elena told me that I need to work on 'Information Statement' part as well.

Why do I need to add more?

I was working on my questionnaire yesterday and I was tried to see the Allyson's point for asking change agents about their views. I feel that my questionnaire is not that much depp, but I don't think asking about change agents view can improve it!!!

I need to make a structure for my thesis.

Elena has sent the Ethics details plus her version of coding. I have an appointment at 11am.

Im tired!

Monday! Monday!

I have started my thesis writing since Friday! Its a good feeling! Its like a puzzle, bits and pieces along together. I liked it.

I read the reliability paper that Elena sent to me. I have few questions.

Today, I finished the Ethics' details, sent to Elena.

Now Im planning to work on my questionnaire, and probably write few sentences for my thesis. However, I think before continue for writing I must make an structure first!

I need to!

I need to:

• Work on my questionnaire based on Habermas as Allyson said.
• Finish Ethics
• Read about Reliability
• Start writing

Not in a good mode!

I was not in a good mode at all while I had a meeting with Allyson after a long time. Even, my eyes got wet when I was on the way, so tired and desperate...

She had a teleconference and I was waiting outside for few minutes.

I started with my coding categories:
Overall, she was happy about my coding category, but she gave some points:

• Creativity and innovations/ Innovative thinking (what components reflect creativity). I said that problem solving skills might be a reflective of innovative thinking. 

• Ethics and Health requirement might go to another category such as professional responsibilities, but I thought that I can shift health and safety requirement to Multidisciplinary (name can be Multidisciplinary knowledge) I think I also need a better definition for that. 

As I understood, she said that I need to work on cross of these. Like grouping. And I had my grouping in my mind (based on Habermas):
Technical: 

• Apply Knowledge
• Design & Development
• Computer Skills

Practical:

• Understanding
• Analysis and Synthesis
• Practical Implementation

Emancipatory: 

• Soft Skills
• Multidisciplinary Knowledge

Then we moved to questionnaire:
She said that each questions might be refer to:

• Students need
• Major problems
• ? Mobility (the persons who trained here are good enough for other places)

More comments:

• Student demands-> Student voice
• Students do not own attrition and retention
• Philosophy of assessment task: e.g. there must be an exam
• Pedagogical trends-> Novel pedagoy 
• Students background (TER or something like that refer to Entrance point)
• I also need to ask about their philosophy of curriculum. 

She also said I need to start writing!!

She said we can arrange a time for having Elena as well after 4th March.

Merge one or more nodes into an existing node!

Cut and paste!

Reference

Loads of work

• Revise Ethics
• Coding
• Reliability
• Email to Elena
• Email to Allyson

Reliability!

"An additional researcher coded a randomly chosen sub-set of the discussion posts to determine the level of inter-rater reliability for the coding process. After coding 50 discussion posts the percentage of agreement was 80%. This can be considered an excellent level of agreement and indicates a high degree of consistency for the coding process" (Fleiss, Levin, & Paik, 2003).

This pilot study used inter-rater reliability to examine to what extent both researchers are agreed in scoring data. In this case, both researchers scored the answers from pilot study and the Kappa inter-rater reliability was computed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 15.0 for Windows. The inter-rater reliability for the scoring rubric was Kappa = 0.75 (p < 0.01). This measure of agreement based on Landis (1977) interpretation for Kappa is substantial.

Good work!

I had a meeting with Elena.

Last time she suggested that she is happy to go through my document analysis and asked me to send her all the information in Excel and PDF format. It took time to do so, but I did and today I was expecting her to tell me how it was. Instead she said that first I need to tell her about inter-rater reliability!!! I felt that she hasn't done her job and she wants to convince me that she has done. I asked her why you didn't ask me before to tell you about inter-rater policy and she said your behavior is such an aggressive!!! Everytime that I tell something that she doesn't like to hear she says Im an aggressive. I told her and I emphasized Im not.

Coding category:
It is fine and no more revision is required, but I need to tell her about inter-rater reliability.

Questionnaire:
Again just few revision, but its very minor.

Ethics
Seems lots of work need to be done, but its in my first priority and I must finish it soon.

Interview
She went through my draft questions and revised them


At the end, I told her that I wasn't aggressive at all! We are supposed to meet next Monday 12pm if I can send the requirements till Thursday. She said good work at the goodbye time!!!

Monday again!

Ive sent an email to Elena on Thursday after I finished all the actions she wanted. So, Im waiting for her respond today:

Dear Elena,

As we agreed last time, I briefly described each of my coding category (just objectives part) and designed a table including courses and coding categories. As you asked it is in an Excel file (Coding 00. xlsx) including 2 sheets of Coding Explanationand Coding Table. As you asked the program handbook in a pdf format is attached as well.

I revised the questionnaire based on our last discussion. However, I think I need to change the instruction a little bit. Because when I was working on my questionnaire, the aim was to ask change agents to answer the questions. Now the research design is changed and Id ask all the lecturers (who are involved in computer engineering) to answer the questions. So, they are not change agents to ask them "how much do you think these factors affect the way you shape the curriculum"? So, I think I need to change it. The questionnaire is attached. 

I was also working on the Ethics application. It requires some information about the research including Title, Summary, and Details. Can you please check these in the attached file (Details 02.docx). 

{comment: Project summary: Why is being done and why. 

                 Project details:  Background                                 (Max 250 words)

                                         Aims                                          (Max 150 words)

                                         Research design                          (Max 250 words)

                                         Significance of the research          (Max 250 words)

}

Please let me know if I need to do an action!

See you on Monday! 

Thank you! 

Couldn't work productively on Friday, but today I started again. I finished the conference paper for HDR UNSW. Its not in an excellent condition, but at list all the parts seem complete. I sent it to Carol for proof reading. Today is the deadline and I must finish it.

Now, its time to start working on others universities documents.

Questionnaire change!

I need to change!

When I was working on my questionnaire, the aim was to ask change agents to answer the questions.

Now Ive changed my research design and Id like to ask all the lecturers (who are involved in computer engineering) to answer the questions.

So, they are not change agents any more to ask them "how much do you think these factors affect the way you shape the curriculum"? So, i need to make a change here!

Idea!!!

Instead of just lecturer, I might even go further and ask all the staff who works in computer engineering department to fill the questionnaire. 

Convert a webpage to pdf!

I found that there is no way to save a web page file in pdf format. I tried to use capture files, the NVivo features but didn't work.
Then I used 'print' and changed it to save a pdf file!!! Worked fine!

Big day!

It was a big day yesterday! Finally we submitted all the requested documents for immigration. It was really a big project! Done now!! Couldn't spend much time on my study yesterday. I need to make it today.

• Write the definitions for my coding category
• Make a pdf file from the program handbook
• Complete the questionnaire
• UNSW Conference
• Working on other universities documents
• Sending to Elena:
• Questionnaire
• Ethics summary and details
• Interview questions
• Coding definitions and pdf formats
• Zumba
• Swimming

Horrible Morning!

I had a horrible morning, arguing with Majid and Youka! How much I contributed in that? 40%, 50%, 100%. Don't know!! I only know sometimes I really don't like the way Majid treat me!!

Its not like other days that I start very early, its 10am! I need to:

• Write a brief explanation about my coding category
• Checking Carol's comments
• Working on UNSW Conference
• Start working on other universities' document

"You can't change if you don't acknowledge"

A sentence by Dr. Phil. I think my view is changed since I follow Dr. phil's show.

I decided to make a change as the current situation was not my intention: going to bed early in the evening, not watching dr. Phil show while Im in bed, waking up early in the morning, going to gym and ... Its worked so far!

I finished the analysis table for my document analysis, the one that Elena asked me. The only part that I need to do is to give a brief explanation for each category.

I also finished the Ethics summary and details, sent to Carol for proof reading and I think I can send all to Elena by tomorrow.

I need to work on UNSW's conference.

Happy Monday!

Again I feel Ive lost the chain, chain of my thoughts. I know its a while to get back to the path.

I was thinking on the way to Uni this morning that Im not in stress any more. I try my best and I work hard (However, I still can improve my time management). Then the outcome should be something that Im looking for.

At the moment for today I need to:

1. Finish Ethics Application and send it for Elena (the details and summary part) 
2. Working on Document analysis
3. Finish the conference paper
4. Check the form 80
5. Copy the policies
6. Gym

Meeting! After a long time!

After Elena asked me about my progress, I asked her if we can have a meeting (Monday, 3rd Feb).

We started working on the questionnaire. I believe its going to shape soon. It was just a slight change in last part (content-related category). She suggested to include few more items. 

I explained about my research design. She agreed and she said I might start to work on other universities document: if I could  fit the features in my category then its fine, otherwise we can report whatever it is. 

I asked about Ethics and she thought its better I go for all the 3 arts: document analysis, survey and interview. I also think its better to go this way, however, its not the way that I will do it actually. 

She asked me to explain briefly about each category and then make an Excel file to show the result.

I think it was good to see her and talk to her. I didn't feel the way as it is in this pic :)

My Research Sample!

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

University of Melbourne (Computing & Software Systems)

The University of Queensland (Electrical & Computer Engineering)

The University of Sydney (Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Computer) 

University of Newcastle (Bachelor of Engineering, Computer).

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

Lecturers at the above-mentioned universities (or even other universities)

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

Change agents at the above-mentioned universities