Aboriginal Studies
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Research and Inquiry Methods: Major Project
The project log
The Log is a compulsory element of the Project. It must be completed by all students, and is weighted at 15 of the 40 available marks for this section of the course assessment.
The purpose of the Log is to allow students to demonstrate the process of their Project. This will allow students who have problems receiving responses or finding appropriate information to still receive marks for their efforts. It also shows the knowledge and skills learned in the Research and Inquiry Methods section of the course have been put to practical use.
The log must be an accurate and ongoing record of all work done on the Project. It will include copies of all correspondence, records of phone calls, interviews,research,and the time and date they took place.The log is also a place for students to reflect upon their research, and consider adjustments to how their Project will finally be presented.
Students could submit their log in stages for the process of ongoing assessment and as a basis for discussing the progress of the project.
For example stages could be:
1) Project proposal
2) Early term one: correspondence and research update
3) End term one (approximately one month prior to Major Project
completion): progress reportThe log is also a record to show that genuine community consultation has taken place.
The log does not need to consist only of text.Students producing artwork, music or other creative works can include sketches, song lyrics or other thoughts as part of their log.
The log should be not only an account of community fieldwork,but also the student's reflection on the process of their learning and what they have gained from completing the Project.
Below is an example of how students may organise their log.
Sample project log
Below is an example of some log entries written by a student doing their project on Aboriginal Health Issues in Western Sydney. This form is designed to help you keep a record of your research.It can be used to help you formulate the final log you will submit with your Project. It also gives you the opportunity to write about what didn't work and any changes made in the emphasis or focus of your project.
Date and activity
People involved
Progress
Reflection
30 November 2000 Phone Call to Darug Medical Centre
Myself and Anthie O'Reilly, Director of Darug Medical Centre
Anthie spoke to me about the facilities the
medical centre has, and invited me to visit her. I
have made an
appointment for 3pm next Tuesday.I'll need to make a list of questions and send them to Anthie before
the visit.
It was great to finally get some solid information. I will have to remember to take some money in
case they have some information I can photocopy.Anthie has also given me the phone number of Connie Wellington who might be willing to talk to me. She
had otitis media when she was a girl.
2 December 2000 Phone call to Connie Wellington to arrange a time for our first meeting
Connie Wellington and
myself
I explained to Connie who I was and that Anthie had given me her phone number. I told her about my project on
Aboriginal health issues, and she said I could come to her house tomorrow afternoon to talk to her about my
project.This is my first interview, so I'm a bit nervous, but
Connie sounded really nice on the phone.I will take my project proposal to show her,and also a copy of the Participation
Agreement to leave with her to read later.
3 December 2000 First meeting with
Connie Wellington
Myself and Connie
Wellington
I explained to Connie what my project was all
about, and that I would like to talk to her sometime about otitis
media. She asked me about what we do in
Aboriginal Studies, and
we talked about that for quite a while.I asked Connie if she would mind me taping our
discussion next time so I had a record in case I
forgot something. I told
her this would only be used by me for this project.
I explained the
Participation Agreement to Connie and left it with her to read through. She
has agreed to talk to me again next Thursday.
Connie said its ok for me to tape the interview, so
I'll need to remember the
tape recorder.I also need to make up a few
questions. I don't want the interview to just be questions and answers. It will be good just to listen to Connie ís life
story and find out how otitis media had affected
her life.
All material on this page reproduced with the kind permission of the Board of Studies NSW
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