Monday, May 01, 2006
Getting Ready for the Proposal Presentation
As the date for my proposal presentation approaches I’ve been going through a wide range of emotions. Am I really prepared? Have I done my readings close enough to the text, to the authors intentions? Do I really understand what I have to do?
On Saturday I was desperate. I wanted to find a reference I though I had, to a diagram that seemed so real in my mind. I went over my stack of articles and looked closely for diagrams, but nothing came up. I was lucky enough to get a call from a friend. We went for lunch and then for ice cream at Sweet Dreams, where I had wonderful chocolate ice cream! After, I went back to work. Getting away helped me calm down; taking my mind away and concentrating in other things allowed me to start reflecting, and to consider other alternatives.
So when Sunday came in, I decided to look at the articles again. This time I went over the specific section related to data analysis. I made a table and took notes, with page numbers, for further reference. And, I did not found the diagram I was looking for!!!
I realized the tree diagram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_structure ) I am using in my analysis is an application of Graph Theory. Something I have taught before, as part of the Discrete Mathematics course I used to teach. I love to teach this unit, and somehow it has become part of me. It helped me organize my data, and it allowed me to look at the postings in a discussion forum in a different way (Gee, 2005). I was able to use my knowledge about tree diagrams and apply it to the postings organization of a threaded discussion, finding mathematical stories. Gergen (1999) would say, that my “conventions, habits, or ways of life” were the basics and background of my current construction, what he has called discourse as structured (p. 64).
And so, tomorrow will be the big day! I feel good. It's not going to be perfect, but I will do my best.
On Saturday I was desperate. I wanted to find a reference I though I had, to a diagram that seemed so real in my mind. I went over my stack of articles and looked closely for diagrams, but nothing came up. I was lucky enough to get a call from a friend. We went for lunch and then for ice cream at Sweet Dreams, where I had wonderful chocolate ice cream! After, I went back to work. Getting away helped me calm down; taking my mind away and concentrating in other things allowed me to start reflecting, and to consider other alternatives.
So when Sunday came in, I decided to look at the articles again. This time I went over the specific section related to data analysis. I made a table and took notes, with page numbers, for further reference. And, I did not found the diagram I was looking for!!!
I realized the tree diagram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_structure ) I am using in my analysis is an application of Graph Theory. Something I have taught before, as part of the Discrete Mathematics course I used to teach. I love to teach this unit, and somehow it has become part of me. It helped me organize my data, and it allowed me to look at the postings in a discussion forum in a different way (Gee, 2005). I was able to use my knowledge about tree diagrams and apply it to the postings organization of a threaded discussion, finding mathematical stories. Gergen (1999) would say, that my “conventions, habits, or ways of life” were the basics and background of my current construction, what he has called discourse as structured (p. 64).
And so, tomorrow will be the big day! I feel good. It's not going to be perfect, but I will do my best.
