Chapter 8 Conducting Your Research
Conducting your research involves prioritizing, scaffolding and organizing your research as you progress towards a final poster presentation. To help you conduct your research in an organized and efficient manner, and with feedback and review from both, peers and instructors, several key aspects of conducting research will be a part of your resech work. They include round table updates, written check-ins, advisory meetings, and peer reviews. During the Project Work phase, you will be documenting, summarizing and updating relevant documenents which will fall under 3 categories:
1. Round Table Data & Troubleshooting** - Reviewed and discussed as a community In-Class
2. Written Check-Ins** - Group-specific write-ups checked by instructor(s)
3. Advisory Meetings** - Group-specific in-person meetings between individual groups and instructor(s)8.0.1 Project Work Organizer
Research lab meetings are great forums to receive community analysis and feedback. Many classes going forward will be spent discussing your project progress, alternating between data results and troubleshooting methods. Refer to this organizer to see what we’ll discuss on a given day and find the appropriate slidedeck.
Use this organizer to find instructions and track documents.
8.0.1.1 Round Table Data & Troubleshooting
Research lab meetings are great forums to receive community analysis and feedback. In-class round table data and troubleshooting sessions and slidedecks will be used to report on and get feedback on your ongoing research. Consider these in-class project work updates your research lab meetings!
1. Track and share your work and progress using Slidedecks
Instructor will create a single Slidedeck - Round Table Data for all groups
Instructor will create a single Slidedeck - Round Table Troubleshooting for all groups
Instructor will create a single Slidedeck - Poster for all groups
Instructor will create a single Slidedeck - Final Presentation for all groups
2. Use the following (sample) project Work organizer for your In-class Project Work updates.
| Course Week | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Round Table Data | Round Table Troubleshooting |
| 7 | Round Table Data | Science Talks |
| 8 | Round Table Troubleshooting | Round Table Data |
| 9 | Round Table Data | Round Table Troubleshooting |
| 10 | Round Table Data | Round Table Troubleshooting |
| 11 | Round Table Poster Review | Round Table Poster Review |
| 12 | Science Talks | Round Table Poster Review |
| 13 | Final Poster Presentations | Wrap-up |
8.0.1.2 Written check-ins
Written check-ins encompass a written document for groups-instructor interaction, and will also be used for peer reviews.
1. Track and share your work and progress using test document
For each group, instructor will create a text document Doc which will include the following sections:
a. Written Check-in (Doc) - Progress will be assessed through several written check-ins. These documents will allow you to summarize the work you’ve done, receive feedback from colleagues, and provide another opportunity to ask for help. Your check-in should be concise but complete (full sentences) and include the following information:
- New progress since last submission (15 pts)
- How you’ve addressed prior feedback (15 pts)
- Poster organization (10 pts)
- Struggles you are encountering and questions you would like advice on (10 pts)
b. Written Check-in (Poster) - The second written check-in will focus on starting your poster using material you developed for your Round Table updates. Posters should be 30 inches wide and we have provided a template with example two and three column formats. You can make your own design by selecting the Blank layout. Kickstart your poster by adding the following details:
- Title and authors (10 pts)
- Hypothesis along with diagram or figure (10 pts)
- Dataset table with sample metadata including accession ID, collection method, etc. (10 pts)
- Methods in the form of details and figure (10 pts)
- Results (10 pts)
c. Peer Review - Each person will work individually to peer review two separate projects. Review the poster associated with each project and provide feedback in group’s Check-in document on the following:
- Aspects of the project that you find fascinating
- Questions you have about the approach or results
- Suggestions on next steps, poster organization, etc.
8.0.1.3 Advisory Meetings
Advisory Meeting - Each group will schedule a meeting with the instructors to discuss their progress. These meetings will take place outside of class and should be scheduled before the deadline. A link to the when2meet schedule can be found in the Group Information section.
8.0.2 Sample project work doc organizer
With your instructor, during your Project Work, fill out the Project Work organizer below.
| Group | Check-in | Poster | Meeting #1 | Meeting # 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | Doc | Slides | Date 1 | Date 2 |
| Group B | Doc | Slides | Date 1 | Date 2 |
| Group C | Doc | Slides | Date 1 | Date 2 |
| Group D | Doc | Slides | Date 1 | Date 2 |
8.0.3 Project Work Sample Schedule
February 25 | Session 1
- Round Table Data (slidedeck)
February 27 | Session 2
- Round Table Troubleshooting (slidedeck)
March 4 | Session 3
- Round Table Data (slidedeck)
Homework: Work on Written Check-in #1 (Doc) (Due day before next class, March 5)
March 6 | Professional Development
- Science Talks: Guest Lecture and Q&A
Homework: Work on Written Check-in #2 (Doc) (Due day before next class, March 10)
March 11 | Session 4
- Round Table Troubleshooting (slidedeck)
Homework: Work on Written Check-in #3 (Poster) (Due day before next class, March 12)
March 13 | Session 5
- Round Table Data (slidedeck)
Advisory Meeting #1(Due next day, March 14)`
March 18
- Spring Break
March 20
- Spring Break
March 25 | Session 6
- Round Table Data (slidedeck)
March 27 | Sessison 7
- Round Table Troubleshooting (slidedeck)
Homework: Work on Written Check-in #4 (Doc) (Due day before next class, March 31)
April 1 | Session 8
- Round Table Data (slidedeck)
Homework: Work on Peer-review #1 (Doc) (Due day before next class, April 2)
April 3 | Session 9
- Round Table Troubleshooting (slidedeck)
Advisory Meeting #1(Due next day, April 4)`Homework: Work on Written Check-in #5 (Doc) (Due day before next class, April 7)
April 8 | Professional Development
- Round Table Poster Review (slidedeck)
Homework: Work on Peer-review #2 (Doc) (Due day before next class, April 9)
April 10 | Session 10
- Round Table Poster Review (slidedeck)
April 15 | Session 11
- Science Talks: Guest Lecture and Q&A
April 17 | Professional Development
- Round Table Poster Review (slidedeck)
- Finalize Poster for printing
- In class activity: Scientific Communication
April 22 | Professional Development
- Project Work Final Poster Presentation
April 24 | Wrap-Up: Professional Development
- Last Session
- Lecture: Next Steps
- In class activity: Next Steps