Dissertation Funnel

I have a few things I need to bring together into the first paragraph of my dissertation:

• Qualitative Research for Learning
• Learner Choices
• Higher Education
• Faculty Members
• learning a new Technology

My committee member says the first paragraph of a dissertation should make me sound like a lawyer, stating all the facts up front, making a convincing case for the rationale for the research.  I need to beef up: rationale for the study, literature pertaining to choice in learning.  Why this is a good example of learning to study?

Current Funnel. 

• Education has been around a long time and we know a lot about how teaching and learning work.
• There have been many helpful studies in education that have made a difference in the classroom. (examples)
• "With all of the remarkable research that has been done, we still know very little about learning from the learner's perspective, in the learner's own words." 

Option 1. 

• Many universities are starting to use learning management systems.
• Good/bad ways to use LMS for instruction.
• Introducing these new technologies are learning experiences not only for students, but also for professors.
• Learners make many significant choices that affect their learning.
• We should ask professors about their learning experiences so we can know their stories and understand this learning experience.

Option 2. 

• One of the goals of universities is a desire for lifelong learning. 
• After university students graduate, it is hoped that they will choose to continue to learn in many different aspects of life.
• One opportunity to learn for BYU faculty members is the choice of whether or not to become familiar with the new Learning Suite.

Option 3. 

• "With all of the remarkable research that has been done, we still know very little about learning from the learner's perspective, in the learner's own words."
  We need to look at how a learner learns in an unstructured environment, on their own.
  We also need to look at adults.
  We should look at how university professors learn to use a new technology to teach their classes.

Option 4.

• A Technology adoption continues to be a major area of concern for education, including higher education. 
• While some universities provide formal technology professional development courses, many universities rely on faculty members' informal learning experiences to guide them to technology use. 
• Informal learning gives