Help

[Earthquake]

Someone with a graduate degree - HELP.

I don't know how to begin my thesis project. Since I'm doing this via distance by special permission, I don't have the benefit of an advisor or instructor to guide me. And I suck. I can do general research on scientific topics very well, but I'm lost here. Education isn't science. Science is warm and cozy for me. And I'm lost in a sea of unscientific speculation, drowning.

Someone throw me a boat.

[GreatScot]

I have no idea. I'm a lowly CC student.

Write about ME, about how wonderful and witty and creative I am! :love

[Hootie McBoob]

I'm a grad student with a Master's, but I can't figure out what you need. What is your project topic? What is your hypothesis? Are you required to do primary data collection or can you do a secondary analysis? I need more specifics about your thesis requirements before I can be more helpful...

[indymom]

Agree with Boob. I'm getting my masters, but I teach English. I can help get you started if you give more specifics.

[Earthquake]

My topic is Alternative Educational Methods for At Risk Students. I intend to focus on educating kids who are substance abusers, either active or in rehab.

My hypothesis is that children who are substance abusers and being educated in an unrestrictive environment such as public schools will continue to be at risk. I'm proposing that these children receive alternative methods of education such as an interactive homebound program.

When my sister was in rehab - inpatient 7mo - they had a tutor come in and do their instruction. It was very poorly done. With the availability of technology today I think a better option could be designed and implemented for kids like her. I will probably focus on online learning, such as what I teach.

My handbook says that my guidelines are:

1. A plan to assess, develop, or revise a school curriculum or program; OR

2. An application of supervisory or adminsitrative theory; OR

3. An application of educational theories; OR

4. A plan, implementation, and evaluation of original action research; OR

5. A proposal of practical worth in improving education.

I'm looking at #4 or #5. Probably 5.

I'm lost, confused, and frustrated. I don't know precisely what they want of me and my advisor isn't very responsive.

Do I call rehabs? Do I interview people? I can't find ANY peer reviewed literature on the subject so far, so I'm looking at a trip to UofM to hang around in the library.

I feel pretty much overwhelmed. Did I choose a dumbass topic? I want to help the kids. I know for a fact that public schools are BAD for these kids.

[Hootie McBoob]

I'm confused about your definition of education. Do you mean basic education or education regarding changing behaviors related to substance abuse?

Next, I think you need to narrow your topic. Select either children in-rehab or within the public school system. The more variables you have to consider, the more difficult it will be to focus your thesis. Decide how you want to define your variables. How will you define "substance abusers" for your intervention? Any substance abuse, long-term abuse, current or former abuser? What do you mean by "at risk"? How will you define at risk? How long will the risk period be? Is this program for all children or ages 15-19? If you can't operationalize your variables, you can't measure them and if you can't measure them, how will you determine the relative success/ failure of your proposed program?

Any program proposal needs to consider baseline assessments of need for such a program, a plan for implementation and design, an interactive system of feedback for program modificiation, and a well-designed evaluation plan to assess the impact of the program. If you can provide such information, the practical worth of the progam should be evident.

I think you need to do a more exhaustive search of the literature. I would think that some information regarding the education of adolescent substance abusers exists. It will be extremely difficult to write your background section if you do not have any scientific basis for your proposal. That is where I would start.

[Earthquake]

I'm focusing on children ages 11-18 as that is the ages where substance abuse is most prevalent. By "substance-abusers" I planned on encompassing those who are current abusers and those who are in rehab (or jail). I may narrow it to just kids in rehab and target the facilities with inpatient care. I'm focusing on curricular delivery more than I am on methodology. Many of the students I work with are homebound or in rehab (some are even in jail). I live close to a boys detention center so perhaps I will focus on that. Many of them are drug offenders.

I plan to model my ideas after my current job, sort of. I think I can do better. I know there is a need for this - I see it in my students and I have the unfortunate experience of dealing with rehabs and the limited availability of educational options for the kids living in them.

The program I'm wanting to design is elective for homebound, non-institutionalized children. I would like to see it as a standard for educating children who are incarcerated. None of my kids would be in a public school setting.

I know I need to narrow my scope. I'm headed to the UofM library this weekend to do some major research and I'm collecting names and phone numbers for interviews. I may end up narrowing it to kids who are incarcerated/institutionalized instead, then allow for apllication to homebound kids as well.

I appreciate your response very much. It got me thinking effectively, which is what I needed.

Thank you, Hootie.