CONNECT Research Applications

We will be offering one Graduate Student Research Award for the 2009-10 academic year.

The fellow will be expected to carry out and complete the data collection and analysis of the proposed project by the end of the 2009-2010 academic year.

Applicants may apply under one of three themes:

Discourse and interaction are at the heart of teaching and learning. In recognition of the critical role that talk and interaction play in learning and development, fellowships are offered in the area of discourse studies–including classroom discourse, informal discourse and issues related to bilingual education and language learning.

UCLA Lab School strives to be a leader in technological innovation. Additionally, the influence of Dewey and Reggio Emilia on UCLA Lab School teaching practices have led to a rich but under-studied learning environment where children learn by constructing representations. Fellowships are offered to conduct design-based research or descriptive studies of the role of technology and representations in learning and development.

In recognition that innovation and groundbreaking research is driven by the passions and insight of practitioners and researchers in the field, applicants my also suggest their own line of research unrelated to the two themes listed above.

The three areas (Discourse, Technology/Representation and Field Initiated Studies) are weighed equally. Proposed projects will be evaluated on the individual merits and feasibility of the study. Priority will, however, be given to projects that demonstrate a) collaboration or involvement of UCLA Lab School faculty and/or staff, and b) active involvement of the applicant's faculty advisor.

• Project plan and milestones
• CONNECTIONS newsletter article
• Oral presentation to participants and/or UCLA Lab School community
• Final Report (due by September 2010)

You will be awarded $15,000, plus in-state fee remission, to carry out the proposed project. You will be expected to be at UCLA Lab School 10 hours per week to plan and carry out your project.

Mentoring. You will benefit from close mentoring in the areas of research design, strategies for data collection and analysis, and reporting findings through a newsletter article, a research report, and a presentation reporting findings to participants and/or the Lab School community.

Follow-up Conference Presentation Funds. In the year after your award you are highly encouraged to submit proposals to present your research at a professional conference of your choice., although it is not a requirement. You will be reimbursed for up to $250 in conference-related costs (travel, hotel accommodations, registration fees, etc.) for presenting your work.

Please submit 3 copies of an application packet that includes:

• Applicant Information Sheet
• Personal Statement. This should be a 3-5 page statement that describes the proposed project, including the significance of the project, the supporting research base, study design, methods and analysis plan. Please also indicate the research theme under which you are applying and if you have been in contact with any UCLA Lab School faculty or staff regarding this project.
• A letter of recommendation from your advisor or professor.

Applications will be reviewed beginning Wednesday, June 3 and continue until filled.

Additional queries about the CONNECT Research Fellowship and/or the application process should be directed to Amanda Getty, Assistant to the Director of CONNECT at ajgetty@ucla.edu.

Applications may be submitted via email or in hard copy format. Please submit applications to:

Amanda Getty
ajgetty@ucla.edu
CONNECT
UCLA Box 951619
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Campus Mail Code: 161906

Click here for application information sheet.