Empowering Masters Students to become Researchers: An Australian Case Study

Abstract

This paper describes a case study in which Master students at an Australian university undertaking a subject on Research Issues in Technology and Language Learning (TELL) were involved in an interactive simulation of applying for a small Australian Research Council (ARC) grant in the area of TELL. Through participating in this research simulation students became aware of current research methodologies and issues in the field of TELL., as well as becoming conversant in a meaningful way with the relevant literature of this area. Students gained first class experience as potential candidates and assessors of one of Australia's major research grant schemes. The paper discusses the theoretical framework, method of implementation, outcomes and evaluation of using this type of learning experience in a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics.