An Introduction to Educational Research through Scholarly Bricolage

Abstract

A variety of different approaches, theories and philosophies can be used to engage in diverse range of projects through bricolage (Sharp, 2019). The use of bricolage employs difference in research methods and stimulates creativity (Kincheloe, 2011). Projects have spanned a range of scholarly activities and included learning about an assessment and evaluation research group and supporting KMB of research group activities through reporting and website design. Gathering information on awards, funding as well as activities and publications from our group members enables us to summarize key information and reflect comprehensive work in visual and written reports. We focused on the content, graphics, structure and navigation aspects of our website. Research within assessment and evaluation plays an important role in teaching and learning process. By conducting data analysis on testing student competency development in an evaluation course, we translated the research question into the language of statistical tests of hypotheses. Paired two-sample t-test and two-way ANOVA test are generated using statistical programming language R. After processing the data, we took authorship roles in a peer-reviewed publication and presentation to write the findings based on the results and interpret the ultimate impact. Our findings have identified the evaluator competencies are improved apparently through the evaluation course where the findings are supported by the data of pre- and post-course scores. Overall, this summer learning opportunity allowed us to piece together a different understanding that demonstrated the power of collaboration when diverse skill sets are brought together to advance and make visible educational ideas.
 References
 Kincheloe J. L. (2011). Describing the bricolage: Conceptualizing a new rigor in qualitative research. In Steinberg S. R., Kenneth T. (Eds.), Key works in critical pedagogy (pp. 177–189). Brill Sense. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6091-397-6_15
 Sharp, H. (2019). Bricolage research in history education as a scholarly mixed-methods design. History Education Research Journal, 16(1), 50-62. https://doi.org/10.18546/HERJ.16.1.05