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Independent Learning Module Proposal

CB230996S

SID Number: 0715159

My Proposed Title: By introducing a time management system, can household chores become less time consuming?

Rationale: Being a single full-time working parent with two children, I sometimes struggle with everyday household chores which can lead to frustration and stress. This in turn can have a negative effect on my moods, personality and motivation. I would like to improve my home management skills with the aim of becoming more effective with time so as to make a day during the weekend free for my family to do pleasurable things together. My aim is to build a structured routine that is achievable within my family home.

Although my children help with certain household chores, these are limited and not structured. I simply ask them to do something if I feel it needs doing. As Forsyth (2007) points out, this is not without problems.

“There is one potential snag, however, simply that the people to whom you delegate must have the necessary skill and aptitude to take on delegated tasks and make a good job of them. What their skill level actually is depends largely on you. You recruit and select them, and one of your responsibilities is helping them to develop”.

After my initial research – Cycle 1 – with the collated data showing me which chores take up the most time, I hope to initiate and implement a planned schedule for my children. I plan to invest some time teaching them the necessary skills appropriate with their ages.

By initiating an Action Inquiry, I hope to find answers by asking the questions:

Which chores consume the most time?

By changing my sleep patterns, will I increase my energy and motivation levels?

Can I reduce chores by proactive measures?

One problem I have is being constantly tired. This, I assume is due to lack of sleep as I usually sleep about 5 hours a night. I feel this is counter-productive as my energy levels are constantly low and this effects my motivation.

“According to the Henry Ford Hospital Sleep Research Center in Detroit, the nation’s top sleep research center, if most adults sleep just one hour longer than they do now they would boost their awareness by 25 percent. If you’re severely sleep deprived and add even more time to your sleep, you could see an even larger increase— up to 50 percent”. (Panella 2001)

Methodology: I have chosen an Action Inquiry that allows me to record my research in several forms; quantitative and qualitative, meaning facts and figures but also people’s views and feelings on the subject.

Cycle 1: I plan to time all my household tasks for a two week period. I will do this honestly and not omit things that could effect the outcome of the research. This research is not structured in any way and will be carried out as I perform the tasks. I will also log my irregular sleep pattern.

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Using Gibb’s reflective model and the data collected from Cycle 1, I will inform Cycle 2.

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Cycle 2: This Cycle will be more structured than Cycle 1 assuming my theories are correct and certain chores can be stream-lined. I plan to go to bed at 11:00PM every night for a two week period. I also hope to focus on one household task that could be reduced. I am assuming this could be the household laundry. I hope to reduce the time, amount and costs of this chore.

Proposed Data Collection Methods.

What	Where/Who	How
Observe.	Forms – Myself.	Quantitative data collection of tasks.
Observe.	Journal – Myself.	Qualitative notes on ideas to reduce task times.
Observe	Forms – Myself.	Quantitative data collection of my sleeping patterns.

Table 1 – Proposed Data Collection Methods. 0715159 (2009)

Proposed Data Analyse Techniques.

I will use charts and graphs to show the results of the quantitative data that I have collected and incorporate qualitative quotes and ideas that are relevant. I plan to present this using a slide-show and/or short video incorporating photos as evidence of data collection methods.

Ethical Considerations.

This Action Inquiry is based mainly on myself, however I hope to include my children in Cycle 2. I will inform them of my intentions and ask them – without duress – to participate. I will respect and cohere to their decisions. Any parties that may eventually take part in this research will be treated with the same respect.

Audience.

Fellow cohort members have already shown an interest in this Action Inquiry, I plan to share my findings with them. I also intent to share my finding on my own blog and a single parent website.

Learning Activities and Timeline.

Date – Week Beginning	What	How
02/02/09	Choose research topic.	Think about an issue/problem.
09/02/09	Begin drafting proposal plan. Consider data collection methods.	Start template – Find problems/issues. Begin drafting forms for data collection.
15/02/09	Begin Cycle 1 – Time tasks. Begin Cycle 1 – Note sleep patterns.	Note and time tasks. Note amount of time slept and feelings.
23/02/09	Continue Cycle 1	As above.
02/03/09	Begin analysing results from Cycle 1	Using graphs and charts draw conclusions to inform Cycle 2.
09/03/09	Begin Cycle 2 – Time tasks. Begin Cycle 2 – Regulate sleep patterns	Note and time amended tasks. Bedtime at 11:00 PM.
23/03/09	Continue Cycle 2	As above.
30/03/09	Begin analysing results from Cycle 2	Using graphs and charts draw conclusions. Using Gibbs Reflective model analyse feelings and emotions retaining to sleep patterns.
05/04/09	Begin drafting all data and findings.	Begin presentation of data analyse using a slide-show and or short video.
13/04/09	Include feedback and peer reviews. Final word count and checks.	Listen and inform feed-back from peers. Include relevant information.

Table 2 – Learning Activities and Timeline. 0715159 (2009)

Resources.

Item	Use
Google Calender.	To plan and track this module.
Stopwatch.	To time tasks.
Journal.	To record ideas and make notes.
Forms.	To note times, tasks and sleep patterns.
Blog.	To post slideshow.
Camera.	To take photos and short videos.
My children’s participation.	Cohere to ethics.