With the privilege to explore all kinds of research topics and learn about the LDT theories as a master's student, some research ideas become clearer to me, maybe still vague to a large extent. And they might change in the future the way they have been formed.   

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Current research idea:

            As I start to work with the Global IDD team, I tried to relate the theories I was reading to my learning experience in the project. I was talking about the management of cognitive load in this learning environment as the first thing I observed was the cognitive load experienced by both students and instructors., which was the idea presented during the incubation session in EDIT 8990  two moth ago. But at that time it was more like a revelation of my thoughts about constructivism, Cognitive Load Theory, and my own philosophy, less about a specific topic.

             It was also my proposed writing topic of Conceptual Framework, so I got some chances to talk with Janette, which helped me a lot. I started to look at the affective aspects in the two courses and learnt about self-determination theory. As the project went deeper, we were at a point to articulate the theories behind the technologies. I did literature review for a dual purpose, firstly, eliciting the theoretical foundations for the whole project, and secondly looking for inspirations for my own research topic. 

             By this point, I have shifted focus from cognitive load to collaborative learning, largely based on the Community of Inquiry model. How to make collaboration more active and productive? Cognitive load experienced by the students and instructors will still be one aspect during collaboration that I would like to investigate. I am wondering about the correlation of cognitive load, motivation (Self-Determination Theory perspective), and student performance in collaborative learning. 

             There are very rich data captured in the recordings of the class meetings. My next step is to look at the collaboration patterns during class by analyzing the recordings, collaboration outside of the class (including eLC and group projects). There is some data about cognitive load revealed in the the open-ended questions of the surveys we did. However, a careful plan need to be made to measure students' cognitive load and it would be impossible to collect those data these semester. I hope I could work on that if I could continue to work for the Global IDD project next school year.

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Future Research Idea: 

             At the beginning of this school year, I was not clear when asked where do you see yourself in 5-10 years or simply where do you want to be, in China or in America? I was fascinated by the idea that I should be able to work anywhere if I want to. But now I think I would like to focus more on educational issues in the context of China. This is just a direction as there are so many ill-structured problems out there. I don't really have a well-thought topic in mind yet. A topic in point would be transferring what I have learnt about collaborate learning into the context of China. I will take advantage of my trip back to China in the summer to talk with my teacher friends and find some inspirations. 

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