Breaking down your Topic
Planning requires breaking your topic down into manageable/researchable chunks that will lead to a satisfactory conclusion or output to your learning intention. Breaking your topic down into smaller parts, areas of inquiry or planning questions is important because these provide the 'skeleton' around which you will find information to answer your Learning Intention.
Good planning questions/areas of inquiry should:
Once you have identified your learning intention will need to determine 4-6 areas of inquiry or planning questions (as a starting point) that will help you focus your research by breaking it down into manageable sections. Do some general Google searching and refer back to your brainstorm and reflection of planning.
Good planning questions/areas of inquiry should:
- Be 'open' questions (This means that they cannot be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer. Usually this means starting the question with: who, what, when, where, why, or how)
- Break up your research into manageable pieces
- Make your research less daunting
Once you have identified your learning intention will need to determine 4-6 areas of inquiry or planning questions (as a starting point) that will help you focus your research by breaking it down into manageable sections. Do some general Google searching and refer back to your brainstorm and reflection of planning.
Here is an example:
Learning Intention: To develop and improve my knitting skills by creating a jumper. I intend to take photos at intervals and create reflections to demonstrate this development.
Good planning questions
Bad planning questions
Because they have no relevance to the learning intention.
Learning Intention: To develop and improve my knitting skills by creating a jumper. I intend to take photos at intervals and create reflections to demonstrate this development.
Good planning questions
- What needs to be considered when selecting a wool for the purpose of knitting a jumper?
- In addition to wool, what other equipment do I need?
- How do I plan to create a sweater to fit my individual dimensions? Do I need to purchase a pattern?
- What other design aspects do I need to Consider? (loose vs. tight fitting, length, sleeve type etc.)
- What are some of the essential stitches/skills that I should know prior to knitting a sweater? How can I learn these?
- What stitch/stitches should I utilise to knit the sweater?
- How can I effectively display my photos and reflections?
Bad planning questions
- What is the history of knitting?
- How does knitting a sweater compare to knitting a scarf?
- What brand designs the most patterns?
- Is Australian wool ethically and sustainably sourced?
Because they have no relevance to the learning intention.
Activity
Develop a set of questions or ideas that will break down your topic to help you achieve your research intention. SAVE these in your portfolio.