IES 492 Research Report
This research project is a part of the fieldwork portion of the IES capstone course and is centered around trialing a college readiness curriculum for middle school students. This involves creating a syllabus and curriculum outline containing slideshow presentations, activities, and other needed materials. This is an experimental study focusing on how first-generation student knowledge, interest, and preparedness can be increased through general college readiness curriculum. This is measured using a pre-and-post survey asking students about aspects of college they are aware of, stereotypes that exist for them, how they know these things, things they want to know, if they plan to attend college at this time and what reasons affect their answers. This report also utilizes a literature review that explores factors that uniquely affect first-generation students, first-generation student needs, and evaluating current college readiness programs that exist. This curriculum has been drafted based on previous research findings and support in addressing the barriers in college access and success that exists for first-generation college students.
This project embodies all areas of a facilitator and collaborator considering this project heavily relies on the effectiveness of the design and delivery of curriculum and its facilitation. This curriculum has been intentionally designed and presented to students through incorporating communication most suitable for this age group using situational and professional methods of communication such activities opposed to lectures, graphic slideshows, and interactive material. The use of previous research to inform the current curriculum content is an example of strategical design. Lastly, this curriculum also allows for a democratic classroom environment considering student input and interests are used to tailor the curriculum and inform discussion. This means editing the curriculum based on specific information students were interested in such as art and sports.
IES 499 Research Presentations
In addition to the research study that was completed and used as evidence in the advocate for inclusive communities’ section, this conference poster was used to present the study at numerous research conferences throughout the process. For details, the first conference was with the 2024 National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Long Beach CA. The conferences audience was majority fellow college aged researchers that were also presenting their studies during other time slots and a few professors that have accompanied those students. Additionally, this poster was presented at the 2024 Western Psychological Association Conference (WPA) in San Francisco CA. Everyone that was in attendance to this presentation were students, professors, and other psychology faculty. The final presentation was for the 2024 Chapman University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship presentation (SURF) and those presents consisted of Chapman professors and faculty.
The ability and opportunity to present research findings at conferences is an example of a facilitator and collaborator that engages with peers within a certain field. Making connections with fellow researchers, experienced researchers, educators and faculty within my field at these various conferences is an example of fostering and supporting work relationships. The creation of the poster, study overview and other presentation materials incorporates professional methods of communication and the use of active dialogue and networking during these presentations demonstrates effective facilitation. The poster material were also edited for each presentation Lastly, these presentation opportunities encourage a democratic climate through engaging in conversation about the topic and listening to the audiences’ personal experiences with the topic through their working lives.