CRODeL/About

Welcome to this research development Open, Educational Resource (OER). This OER is an interactive, multimedia, online ODeL research resource that aims to develop and enhance ODeL research capacity among emerging and developing researchers.

Purpose of the resource

The purpose of this OER is centred around developing either a draft article or a draft research proposal of an envisioned ODeL study. More widely, this OER aims to equip emerging researchers with the skills, attitudes and knowledge to conduct ODeL research.

Learning outcomes

In addition to a draft article or research proposal, upon completion of this OER, you will also be able to deepen your understanding of ODeL as an academic field; improve your scholarship of ODeL teaching and learning; enhance your ODeL research capacity; and improve your quality of context-specific and relevant ODeL research. Holistically, by the end of the OER, you should:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of ODeL as an academic field;
• Express knowledge of the main ODeL theories;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of conducting research in an ODeL environment, and in one's own teaching space (i.e. the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, SoTL);
• Demonstrate an understanding of the academic writing process and key features of academic language;
• Construct an ODeL research problem statement;
• Link research questions to your problem statement;
• Conduct a critical literature review;
• Demonstrate an understanding of ethical research processes;
• Understand the differences between the prominent research paradigms;
• Understand the link between research objectives and research methodologies; and
• Understand various qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques.

Structure of the resource

The resource is broken down into four (4) units. Each unit comprises an introduction to the unit content together with the learning outcomes, unit resources, and learning activities.

• Unit 1: Introduction to ODeL concepts, theories and scholarship
• Unit 2: The ODeL research process
• Unit 3: Research designs and methodologies
• Unit 4: The ODeL research project

Engagement

Your ongoing engagement is necessary to draft a research proposal or research article. In order to successfully engage with this resource, it is strongly recommended that you use an appropriate word processing software, such as Microsoft Word, to complete the crucial learning activities, all of which will culminate in the development of a draft research proposal/article. These crucial activities start in Unit 2. The other activities (i.e. those listed in Unit 1) can be completed in a personal / work journal. These activities (i.e. those listed in Unit 1) are for your own personal records and developmental purposes.