PD13: Research in the Workplace introduces the importance of research across disciplines and workplaces.
There's more to research than doing a few tests and writing about what happened: you must review other work in the field and understand its consequences, conduct your own research in a responsible way, and share your findings with audiences who may not understand your work. You'll also likely work with researchers from other disciplines who'll enrich your work with their expertise and alternative perspectives. Research literacy is critical for anyone interested in reading about ground-breaking studies in newspapers and online. PD13 gives you the tools you'll need to perform your own research and critically consume the work done by others.
What will you do in PD13?
- Design an infographic for a broad audience to communicate the results of a peer-reviewed research article.
- Gain an appreciation for a variety of commonly used research methods.
- Understand and utilize some essential research terminology.
- Critically evaluate research to determine validity of sources and practices.
Grading information
To pass PD13, you must satisfy both requirements below:
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earn an overall grade of at least 50% on Assignments 1 - 3 (plus any bonus opportunities)
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receive a minimum of 50% on the Major Reflective Report
If you have a question about grading in PD13, contact the course team.
Course instructor
Zara Rafferty
Zara is a continuing lecturer in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo. As an instructor, she promotes active student learning that emphasizes learning outcomes and instructional design best practices.
Zara has developed and delivered courses in face-to-face, blended and fully online environments, ranging from small senior seminars to 350-student lectures. Zara's aim is to create courses that are engaging and relevant for students. As the department’s teaching mentor, she supports the work of department sessionals and assists faculty members in developing and evaluating course content and teaching strategies.
Student testimonials
The professor was very helpful and kept connected throughout the term. The explanations in the lectures were clear and fully explained why the information would be useful to me. The units linking the content to real life scenarios was very helpful in helping me understand. Additionally, the assignments were not all just writeups which made the course better.
[Strengths of this course were] the quality of assignments and the feedback presented. The practical, self-led type of assignment was much more effective than a quiz or essay might have been. I feel like I'm leaving with some experience in defining a research problem, and with knowledge of how to begin the research process.
Other information
If you take PD13, you can also count the course towards the completion of the Co-op Research Certificate.