Session 3- Addendum

Hello Everyone and Dr. Newberry,

Attached is a copy of my pre-thesis proposal, or it very well could be my pre-thesis. It is a document that Dr. Newberry is familiar with, because he edited it. I'm afraid I haven't gotten very far with it. I have lost my motivation, much like Austin Powers lost his mojo. I'm hoping to get it back. I'm also not sure if I want to continue with a thesis project, but rather maybe do the thesis instead. I'm still up in the air with this one. I just don't seem to have the time or the whereforall to accomplish the project end of this research. Anyone's input including Dr. Newberry's would be greatly appreciated.

Pre-thesis Proposal:

bridging the gap

Session 3

Hello Everyone,

Sorry for my absence. I've had some personal matters that I've had to deal with. But, it's time for this old boy to get back in the game. I haven't gotten much done this quarter, so I'm playing catchup.

What I've done so far is to re-organize my journal articles by the strands in my literature review.

I've also begun to re-read many of the journal articles to get more meat out of them for my literature review.

In addition I've been doing more research on the computer.

I'm still up in the air on whether I still want to do a thesis/project or a straight thesis. I'll definitely need some input from Dr. Newberry on this.

As it looks now, I don't know if I will be ready to take ETEC 699 next quarter. I would hate to wait a whole year to be able to take it again. Again, Dr. Newberry's input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Below is a tenative timeline my master's program:

Spring Quarter 2006: Complete rough draft of design/development project and IRB application.
July-September 2006: Revision/Editing.
October 2006: First reader.
November 2006: Second reader.
December-February 2007: Follow timeline for Winter 2007 timeline.
February 17, 2007: First format review deadline.
March 10, 2007: Thesis Defense format deadline.
June, 2007:
i. March 17: Final Format Review Deadline.
ii. March 24: Binding Payment Deadline.

It appears that I may already be off the mark. I don't know if I can recover in time.


My current thesis project that I am working on since ETEC 644 has to do with how can technology can bridge the gap in helping English Language Learners (ELL) become more proficient in English. I plan to create a multimedia platform using DVD technology to create a series of programs that will enable students practice and apply language skills in the areas of vocabulary, grammar, and context in everyday situations. These DVD modules would be supplemental and could be used for both home use or extra support in the classroom The three areas that I am looking at and focusing on are the particular emerging technologies that already address this problem, the barriers that prevent ELL students from becoming proficient in English, but also some of the benefits that new technologies could give. I will also look at why technology may not be the answer for these students. In addition I will show how my product will benefit ELL students, more so than other technologies already available.

I have already spent endless hours gathering journal articles. I currently have about half my literature review done. This has been a long, arduous process. I have nearly 50 journal articles. I am not so worried about the thesis part of this project as I am with the actual project. I am not very familiar with many presentation softwares like Dreamweaver or Flash, or others. The only presentation software that I know to some degree is PowerPoint. I don't feel that this would do my project justice. I would really like to have a quality product for my project. I never got a chance to take any of the electives on Flash or Dreamweaver. I wish I had. I don't know if I could get proficient enough to make it all happen. I was also thinking about making my project web-based, but again I am not familiar with web authoring or web page design per se. I sometimes feel that perhaps I should do the thesis instead of the thesis project. I am much better of a writer. I am beginning to feel that I am much more of a researcher than I first imagined. I enjoy looking up stuff, synthesizing the information, and then writing about what I have learned. Any suggestions on what I should do would be most helpful.

I apologize for the tardiness of this blog upfront. Due to some unforseen personal matters I was unable to post until today. I will have my timeline available on my next blog. Thanks for your patience and understanding.