INTRODUCTION TO THE “DISSERTATION OF PRACTICE” EDUC 888 FALL, 2012.

INTR

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“DIS

SERTAT

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EDUC 888

FALL

, 2012

SCALING T

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COMPLET

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SERTA

TION

PURPOSES OF THE ED.D.

The key proficiencies that we expect students to attain:

Problem solving • Framing problems of practice that are concrete, significant,

solvable, and tied to the mission and priorities of the organization• Determining and verifying underlying causes

Inquiry• Understanding and critically evaluating evidence related to a

problem of practice• Appropriately investigating problems of practice, their causes and

possible solutions

Developing testable solutions

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Professional and Content Knowledge:• the ability to know, understand, and apply key concepts, theories, terms and

ideas in urban school reform and national school reform initiatives; to the problems of practice within the school system

Research Competence:• the ability to perform a literature review and synthesis, identify seminal works in

the school reform movement, identify relevant district data that inform the problems of practice, formulate research questions that lead to potential solutions and conduct pilot studies to test and evaluate the results

Professional Competence:• the ability to effectively and efficiently communicate the rationales,

methodological decisions, and analysis of results relevant to students’ own research as well as the research projects of others, both orally and in writing. It further includes the ability to present students’ research in a formal public setting.

HOW WILL THE OUTCOMES BE ASSESSED?Professional and Content Knowledge Students show competence in this area by demonstrating the ability to:• Identify important system level problems of practice• Identify strengths and limitations of current research in the field• Identify system level data that inform problems of practice within

the district• Propose studies to identify potential solutions to the problems of

practice within the district.• Produce the following products:

o Integrative review of literatureoLiterature review used for pre-candidacy examinationoLiterature review for dissertation-in-practice electronic portfolio

HOW WILL THE OUTCOMES BE ASSESSED?Research Competence Students show competence in this area by demonstrating the

ability to:• Identify critical Problems of Practice and a set of inquiry

questions to address the problem based on an understanding of foundational literature and other pertinent documents• Develop a design for analyzing the problem of practice • Select and implement specific research methods to address

the problem of practice• Identify, collect and analyze information and data which

correspond to the problem• Develop conclusions and recommendations for solutions to

the problem of practice • Produce the following:

o “White Paper”oSuccessful completion and defense of dissertation in practiceoFormal presentation of findings and recommendations to the

local Board of Education, Superintendent’s Cabinet, or other district level group deemed appropriate by the Superintendent and the Advisors Group

HOW WILL THE OUTCOMES BE ASSESSED?Professional CompetenceStudents show competence in this area by demonstrating the

ability to:

• Effectively communicate - in both oral and written language - a clear understanding of a problem of practice affecting the district

• Present a white paper on the selected problem of practice with viable recommendations for addressing the problem

OUR PROGRAM GOAL: WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE?

We aspire to develop Scholarly Practitioners.

•Scholarly Practitioners blend practical wisdom with professional skills and knowledge to name, frame, and solve problems of practice. They use practical research and applied theories as tools for developing solutions to “wicked problems.”

•Scholarly Practitioners disseminate their work in multiple ways, and they have an obligation to resolve problems of practice by collaborating with key stakeholders, including the university, the educational institution, the community, and individuals.” (adapted from CPED website)

INQUIRY: THE SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE NEEDED FOR PROBLEM-SOLVING

Inquiry is the process of posing significant questions that focus on complex problems of practice. By using research, theories, and professional knowledge; scholarly practitioners design innovative solutions to address the problems of practice.

As such, Inquiry of Practice requires the ability to gather, organize, judge, aggregate, analyze situations, literature, and data with a critical lens.

INQUIRY AS COMMON GROUND

It is an oversimplification to say that the Ph.D. is a research degree and the Ed.D. is a practice degree. Inquiry is important in both• Inquiry in the service of generating new generalizable knowledge and theory development (Ph.D.)

• Inquiry in the service of addressing or solving a significant problem of practice (Ed.D.)

  Ed.D. Ph.D.

Goal Preparation of leaders in practice Preparation of researchers and research scientists

Research focus Application of research to practice, innovations in educational practice

Discovery of new knowledge

Outcome Leadership in practice Careers in academia and other research-intensive environments

Hallmark of educational program

Mentorship in leadership to include understanding and responding to problems in the practice

Mentorship in research

Final program product Practice-oriented scholarly project based on a real problem of practice

Dissertation based on original research

HOW DO THE ED.D. AND PH.D. DEGREES DIFFER?

WHAT IS THE DISSERTATION OF PRACTICE?

A Dissertation of Practice is a scholarly product that demonstrates a student’s mastery of ability to frame and critically inquire into a significant educational problem of practice and to develop defensible recommendations to solve the problem of practice.

NOTE: SOME INFORMATION IN THE FOLLOWING SLIDES HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM CPED WEBSITE

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN DEGREES

  New Knowledge Research (Ph. D. Model) Problem Solving Research (Ed. D.)

Purpose Generalizable/Transferable Knowledge Improvement of Practice; Identify promising practice

Theory Explanatory or Interpretive Theory of ActionOrigin of a Problem Scientific Literature Published Literature; PracticeResearcher’s Role Expert Expert observerPractitioner’s Role Consumer of Research Producer of ResearchBenefit to Participants Minimal to moderate YesMethodology Qualitative or Quantitative Mixed Level Individual(s) or Organization (s) OrganizationalClient Scholars in Like Disciplines Scholars, Leaders, Practitioners, CommunityPerspective Outsider Insider or ParticipantResearch Sample Random or Purposeful PurposefulCollaboration None or a Few Other Experts Few to Many Collaborators Generalizability Defining Characteristic Transferable to similar settingsStandard for Judging Intellectual Rigor Credibility and actionable outcomes in a

Local SettingGoal Publishable Article Documents, processes, products that lead

to improvement at organizational level Dissemination Refereed Paper or Article Oral or Written Report (s)Need IRB Approval? Yes Yes

Individual Study

PH.D. - SINGLE CHAIR, INDIVIDUAL STUDY

Single Chair

Individual research

question 1

THEMATIC GROUP – SINGLE CHAIR, COMMON THEME, DIFFERENT RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Product = single author dissertation

Common Theme

Single Chair

Individual research

question 2

Individual research

question 5

Individual research

question 3

Individual research

question 4

Individual study 1

SINGLE CHAIR, SINGLE TOPIC, COMMON QUESTIONS & METHODOLOGY, INDIVIDUAL STUDIES

Product = single author dissertation

Common Questions & Methodology

Single Chair

Individual study 2

Individual study 5

Individual study 3 Individual study 4

Single Topic

NON-NEGOTIABLE ELEMENTS FOR DISSERTATION OF PRACTICE The dissertation of practice includes a problem statement

and framing of the approach, which establishes the rationale and significance of the problem and proposed inquiry

The literature is used as a foundation for the inquiry at key points: framing the problem, synthesizing what is known about the problem, investigating the problem and informing the solutions and implications of the dissertation of practice

The dissertation work contributes to educational practice

NON-NEGOTIABLE ELEMENTS FOR DISSERTATION OF PRACTICE CONTINUED The dissertation is rigorous and demonstrates an

individual’s ability to apply theory and research to solving or informing an educational problem

The dissertation demonstrates an individual’s ability to present ideas, arguments and evidence in a logical, systematic, and coherent fashion in both written and oral formats