Overview
Indigenous Studies 493: Individual Directed Research in Government and Laws is a student-initiated course that is based on a contracted study arrangement worked out among an individual student, an approved research project supervisor, and Athabasca University. This is an advanced course, intended for students who have completed one or more of the foundation courses (INST 348, 377, and 426).
Many adults who wish to improve or upgrade their education find that regular university courses are too restrictive in their content, pacing, or grading. Directed research courses are more flexible. In directed research courses, students may learn what they want to learn; such courses may allow students to do things that no one else has done before. Directed research courses let students learn using their own learning styles, and working at their own pace. They allow students to continue at their jobs, and may even encourage them to pursue their jobs in their learning activities. Directed research courses encourage development of both intellectual and technical skills.
Outline
A Directed Research in Government and Laws project may involve any combination of library or field research, as agreed to by the student and the project supervisor in a learning contract among the student, the supervisor, and Athabasca University. The learning contract states what is to be done in the Directed Research in Government and Laws project, how and when it will be done, how it will be evaluated, and the credits to be awarded (each research project course is a three credit course). Although the University may provide some help, students are expected to obtain and pay for all of the materials used in their research project.
Students may enroll at any time during the year, but before enrolling, they must submit an acceptable directed research project proposal to the course coordinator. The research project proposal is, in effect, the first stage in the preparation of a learning contract and the determination of a suitable supervisor.
For more information, please read the Indigenous Studies 493: Individual Directed Research in Government and Laws Course Description.
Evaluation
In Individual Directed Research in Government and Laws, students prepare a learning contract in conjunction with their research project supervisor. The learning contract is a written agreement that states the learning objectives, activities to be undertaken, timelines, and criteria for evaluating the research project proposed.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
Once the directed research project proposal is approved by the course coordinator, the student will be given access to the course website, which includes a course guide that details how to create a learning contract and how to write a directed research project report, and various resources to help with research and writing.