J.L.Lemke On-line Office

Suggested ResearchTopics

Master's in Education (U.S.)

The following topic areas and topics are representative of current issues of importance in research in education. A good research topic should narrow these suggestions further to examine the issues in the context of particular subject areas, grade levels, and local conditions, and/or the needs of specific populations of students. The focus here is on issues of special interest in urban secondary education for mainstream student populations.

Broad Topic Areas

• Computers, software, internet access, on-line resources for teachers and students

• Multicultural and inclusive curriculum; learning by non-native speakers of English and speakers of all dialects

• Gender issues in education, including issues of sexual orientation, masculinism

• Alternative assessment, including use of portfolios, interviews, and other non-traditional means

• Cooperative and collaborative learning methods, in the classroom and computer-mediated

• Conflict resolution programs,

Specific Topic Areas

• Language Arts: Teaching of writing, non-literary genres of writing, rhetoric, popular literature, computer-assisted writing and editing, collaborative writing, writing journals, ESL education
• Social Studies: Inter-disciplinary curriculum, teaching of economics and politics, oral history and community research projects, reasoning about statistical data and using maps, tables, graphs, diagrams
• Mathematics: Use of manipulatives and hands-on activities, collaborative problem-solving, authentic and challenging problems, use of visual representations, use of computer software
• Science: Human biology curricula, Science Society and Technology approaches, laboratory and hands-on learning activities, computer simulation models, multimedia resources, science in everyday life
• Foreign Language: Conversational competence, situational registers, popular materials, group activities
• Music: Multicultural music, popular music, choral music programs, integrating music in other subject areas
• Art: Multicultural art, popular art forms, discipline-based art education, studio art techniques, group projects
• Health Science: AIDS education curricula, sex and sexuality education, drug education, urban hazards
• Physical Education: Adaptive P.E., cultural diversity in sports, fitness and weight-training, athlete motivation
• Speech and Communication: Pragmatic-functional methods, life skills, multi-sensory approaches, assistive technologies

Links for Special Education, Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Bilingual Education and ESL to be added.