Purpose:

• To identify a problem of practice and form a researchable question based on that problem
  
• To conduct a literature-based research project
• To describe authentic problems of media practice
• To analyze research studies conducted regarding a problem and construct recommendations for practice based on them
  
• To share practical knowledge with fellow professionals
• To collaborate on a professional project
• To gain experience with professional presentations 
  

• Media Specialist Interview
• Researchable Question
• perhaps the Critique of Current Research Study
• Draft of Problem Project

• Research Design Idea
• Researcher's Notebook
• Reflection
  

Task

Prior to this point, you have chosen a problem and created a researchable question based on that problem. It is possible that the question may become more focused as this project proceeds.

Search the literature for background information and previous work regarding problem.  Have others faced this problem before?  What solutions failed or were successful?  What research addresses the issues involved?  Have imminent writers in our field expressed informed opinions on the topic?  It is likely that you will find some related material addressing the issue, although you may not necessarily find firm solutions. You may want to interview experienced media specialists who have faced this issue firsthand. Your final project should take one of two forms:

• Review the proposed solutions and their outcomes, as reported in empirical literature (rule of thumb: minimum of 10 sources*).  Add an action plan to address your problem, representing a choice among the solutions you found.  Provide a rationale for your choice.
• If the problem is new and no one has tried to solve it before, prepare a review of related issues; also, propose an action plan, and provide a rationale.

• description of the problem
• summary of what you learned
• suggested strategies or action plan
• one or more resources for further reading, including a full APA bibliography of 10* or more sources
• Suggestion for full bibliography: create a slide at the end of you presentation with the sources spelled out in tiny font. It's ok that we can't read them except up close; the good thing is that they will be with your presentation.
  
• a one-page handout for each member of the class
  

Submission Format 

• Materials are due in the dropbox one week after the presentation.
  
• Mount on each group member's assignment page (Hint: load it on someone's web site, and everybody else just link to it; each team member should keep their own e-copy.)
• Fill out the rubric as a team and submit with project. (Hint: the Googledoc-based rubric can be edited and downloaded as a Word document.  Or, you could copy/paste it into another document.)
  
• Use the normal file-handling guidelines, remembering to submit the smallest possible number of files. 
  

*The issue of "how many sources" is challenging.  In the past, this guideline has worked: there should be a minimum of 10 sources per project.  However, if these ten do not contain enough information to satisfy the overall needs of the Project, then professionalism will drive you to seek more.  You should list only sources that you specifically quote or reference in your Project (this is an APA rule).