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Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics and ScienceEducation

OrientationSeptember 2013

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Story Time

March 2000

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The Big Picture

KnowledgeBase

Mentoring

Opportunities

Supports

Preparing Faculty in Mathematics and Science Education

Research

Teaching

Service

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The Big Picture

KnowledgeBase

Mentoring

Opportunities

Supports

Preparing Faculty in Mathematics and Science Education

Research

Teaching

Service

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The MSE Research Myth

• MSE students are not allowed to engage in research until after they have completed their coursework.

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The MSE Research Myth Truth

• MSE students are not allowed to engage in their dissertation research until after they have completed their coursework.

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Why??

• MSE students are not allowed to engage in their dissertation research until after they have completed their coursework.

Dissertation =

Independent Research

Knowledge of Research Process

Knowledge of Methodological

Options

Knowledge of Analysis

Procedures

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Misinterpreting the Truth

I’m just going to take my classes and I’ll worry about research after that!

MSE Student

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Why this “won’t” work . . .

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Courses Courses Dissertation Proposal/Collection of Data

2 presentations2 manuscriptsDissertation Writing/Defense

Presentation Proposals Due

Job Applications

Is this feasible?

Dissertation Ideas??

ed. vs. non-ed

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The MSE Research Myth Truth

• MSE students are not allowed to engage in their dissertation research until after they have completed their coursework.

Before• With faculty• With fellow

students

After • It’s all you

Research

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A better plan . . .

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Courses Courses Dissertation Proposal/Collection of Data

Dissertation Writing/Defense

Start working with a faculty member – helping them with them with their research.

Proposal submissions and manuscript preparation

Presentations and second manuscript preparation

Presentations and another manuscript (maybe)

Research focus: faculty

Research focus: collaborative (student & faculty)

Research focus: student

Research focus: student

Job Applications

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The key to this plan . . .

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

Courses Courses Dissertation Proposal/Collection of Data

Dissertation Writing/Defense

Start working with a faculty member – helping them with them with their research.

Proposal submissions and manuscript preparation

Presentations and second manuscript preparation

Presentations and another manuscript (maybe)

Research focus: faculty

Research focus: collaborative (student & faculty)

Research focus: student

Research focus: student

Job Applications

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How do I get started??

• Talk to faculty • Take advantage of opportunities • Talk to the director

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But don’t get me wrong . . .

• MSE Students rock!!!• A Prize for one lucky individual • MSE Student• First Year Student• Collaboration with faculty member(s) on a research project• Manuscript submission• Manuscript acceptance• Manuscript revise and resubmit• Manuscript appeared in print• Presentation • Award• And the lucky winner is . . .

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Program Overview

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General Course Requirements

• Let’s take a look at the degree plan . . .

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General Course Requirements

Teaching Internship (pg. 2)• EVERYONE must complete the teaching

internship.• Work experience may NOT be substituted for

the teaching internship.• A student may NOT conduct internship

experiences within the student’s current work environment.

• The internship experience must occur in the K-12 classroom if the student has no K-12 teaching experience.

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Additional MINIMAL Program Requirements

• Two research presentations (p. 4)• Two manuscript submissions (p. 4)• Grant proposal (p. 5)• Residency requirement (p. 5)

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Preliminary Examination

• Lots of info in handbook (pg. 5 – 9)• Taken during last semester of coursework• Consists of three parts

1.MSE Core

2.Concentration Core: Content

3.Concentration Core: Discipline-based Education

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Preliminary Examination

“A question”• Write an essay . . .• Answer 4 out of the following 5 . . .• One question with multiple parts . . .

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Preliminary Examination

Part 1: MSE Core (p. 8)• Pool of questions• 2 randomly selected questions• Question 1: Educational Research Methodology

– PSY 7280, PSY 7290, SPSE 7010, SPSE 7180• Question 2: Psychology, Learning Theories, &

Technology– PSY 7190, SPSE 7170, SPSE 7220

• Study Guide

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Preliminary Examination

Part 2: Concentration Core: Content (p. 9)• Two questions• Each question from a course in the

concentration core• Student selects the course/faculty member

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Preliminary Examination

Part 3: Concentration Core: Discipline-based Education (p. 9)• Two questions• Based on reading list

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Preliminary Examination

Pass/Fail• must receive a Pass score on all three

components of the exam. • a second opportunity to complete unsatisfactory

component(s) during the next semester• If after the second attempt on the unsatisfactory

components the student has not received a Pass score on all three components of the preliminary examination, he/she will be released from the program.

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Preliminary Examination

TIPS:• Six weeks is not enough.• Six months is not enough.• Start preparing now.• Talk to those who came before you.• As you prepare, write.

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Dissertation Procedures

Prior to passing the preliminary exam:

Lit ReviewMajor

Professor

Research Question(s)

Committee Members

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Dissertation Procedures

Dissertation Committee• Officially formed after passing prelims• Major Professor (p. 9)

– Chair of your dissertation committee– Your course advisor does not automatically become

your major professor. – Must be a doctoral member of the graduate faculty

http://www.mtsu.edu/graduate/faculty/gradfaculty.shtml

• Five faculty members (p.10)

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Dissertation Procedures

After passing preliminary exams . . .

Formally form

Committee

Defend Prospectus/

Proposal

IRB Approval

Data Collection

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Dissertation Procedures

• Prospectus vs. Proposal (p. 11)• Traditional Format vs. Alternative Format

(p. 12 – 13)• TIP: Read a dissertation.• TIP: Get a book like Writing the Winning

Dissertation: A Step-by-step Guide. • TIP: Attend a dissertation defense.

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Forms

• Where are the forms?

www.mtsu.edu/msephd/MSE_forms2.php

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Q & A

You get out of it what you put into it!