Setting out a reading plan
In preparation for the upcoming doctoral seminar, focussing on quantitative research methodologies, techniques, and analysis, I’ve taken the course syllabus and laid out a reading plan over the coming weeks, so I can minimize the stress during the four weeks I’ll spend in class. Since this is a condensed course, I feel it is reasonable to complete this work ahead of the course start date, as part of my self directed preparation. So, part of this plan is to complete all the required readings for the course by the start date of the course. Within this plan, I’ve also made a commitment to complete a four sentence summary for one of the daily readings, and use the hypothesis diagramming table for any empirical, quantitative research articles I’m reading [see Blog While You Are Reading]. So the next three weeks will be consumed with reading and subsequent summaries for each article. With this plan, I’ll be fully prepared when the course is set to start.
One goal for this reading plan is to manage the time in a realistic way, to find time to focus on other projects while maintaining a focus on academics. This may better prepare me for what needs to be done when working on my own through the dissertation process – taking a 3-4 hour block of time every day – to complete tasks that I’ve laid out to be completed. Using a reading plan will support my attempts to keep up-to-date in academic reading, with currency being an essential component in the topics I’ll be researching.
So what does this reading plan look like? It is a brief list of course ‘lessons’, with the required readings for each lesson, laid out in a day by day format. In future iterations, when I’m not in a course but planning for dissertation work, this could include a listing of articles that I need to read, need to find, or lists of articles where coding of information is required. I’ve done similar lists/plans with dates and checklist for writing work that I need to accomplish. Keeping a plan and checking it regularly will keep me organized and working toward my goals. What I learn and practice now will help me as I go deeper into this work.
