Throughout this module I am constantly referring to areas that I claim to know about and it is difficult to explain how or why. Tacit Knowledge was mentioned in Module 1, which is a theory that explains that we can claim to know something without being to able or required explain it using words - similar to a gut-feeling. This has inspired me to further investigate the study of Epistemology.
There is a section in the module handbook that has got me thinking and has actually really helped while assembling this proposal. It reads:
What do we mean by research?
Like you, many students carry out small research projects as a part of their degrees. The professional inquiry approach to practitioner research introduces a process of determining knowledge that is valuable to individual learners and their professional networks. The process of designing the inquiry in ACI3622 and carrying it our in ACI3633 are there the learning happens. This is not about finding an answer at the end, it is about reflecting on what the experience of planning and doing the inquiry has taught you personal and professionally.
Research is an exploration of:
- What you recognise you know.
- What you recognise you don't know (this is the least important of the four because it will change).
- What you did not recognise you don't know (often when you feel the most uncomfortable, which is why discomfort can be a good sign).
- What you do not recognise you know (which has most to do with the activity of ACI3611 area of learning, where you were asked to look more closely at your experiences and challenge yourself to recognise and articulate your prior learning and your Professional Practice).
These four philosophical exploration points have been highly useful throughout the second module, and challenged the way that I view the industry as a whole. They question the very nature of my professional practice and the experiences (or lack of experience) that I have had.
Conducting the literature review, in particular, is helping to uncover areas that I had failed to recognise that I already know, which I had taken for granted. It is also helping me to develop an understanding of the areas that I had failed to recognise that I don't know. This is giving me more of a scope toward my professional inquiry (potentially too much for 2500 words) and has actually convinced me to change the focus of the inquiry slightly.
I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the reading, but I must persevere with the project and remind myself that it is useful for this exciting project.
