ETD Guide/Introduction/Helping students be original

Originality is a defining feature of academic research. Using new media can empower you to conduct research in new ways. As suggested by the Exemplary ETDs, you can incorporate streaming video, interviews of subjects and settings, which readers can then view, which could be particularly useful for a case study or ethnographically informed research. You can provide different reading pathways for multiple audiences. For example, inexperienced lay audiences can have a more simplified version of your study, whereas more technical audiences can have more detailed analysis and citations. The technology allows you to present your work in new and different ways. For example, in your research you can include audio, video, and animations. You can add spreadsheets, databases, and simulations. You can even create virtual reality worlds.


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