Applicants often find that once they have their fellowship idea decided, they don’t quite know where to begin when it comes to researching options for executing their plans. Here are eight tips get your research started:
- Reflect on your students’ interests and the lessons and units that excited them. Think about taking something you already teach and making it better.
- Connect with local experts. They have insights you won’t get from internet reviews.
- Google is your best friend! Use it to search out volunteer opportunities, find and join online communities, and find contact information for experts and groups to work with.
- Be persistent! If an expert does not respond to your email, write them again, or give them a call. FFT Fellows are always amazed at how much experts all over the world want to help.
- Research for active learning: Think about the ways that your students will represent the concepts you are learning. Build these ideas into your research not only on destinations, but also on the artifacts and experiences that you want to bring back.
- Depth not breadth: Every Fellow will tell you – it is better to do fewer things and dive deeply into your topic, rather than trying to pack too many activities into every day of your fellowship.
- Involve everyone in your research. Ask students, their families, colleagues and friends for ideas, contacts, and connections.
- Be open to the fact that your idea will grow and expand. Be ready to embrace it wholeheartedly!
Looking for more? Read how six Fellows approached their research process.
BONUS: While Fund for Teachers is not a travel grant, many applicants choose to use travel as form of learning. Listen to travel expert, Mike Ballard, share his money-saving travel tips that can help you see and learn more while on your fellowship.
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