Eight Tips for Researching Your Fellowship

Once you’ve chosen a fellowship idea, it can be hard to know where to begin your research. These eight tips will help you move from inspiration to action:

• Start with your students. Reflect on their interests, needs, and the lessons that engage them most. Consider how you can build on something you already teach and make it more meaningful.
• Tap into local expertise. Reach out to professionals, organizations, or community members who can offer real-world insights you won’t find online.
• Use online search tools strategically. Search for volunteer opportunities, professional networks, field experts, and organizations connected to your topic. Online communities can be valuable sources of guidance and partnerships.
• Be persistent. If someone doesn’t respond to your first message, follow up. Many Fellows are surprised by how willing experts around the world are to help—sometimes it just takes a second email or a phone call.
• Plan for active learning. Think about how students will interact with what you learn. Let your teaching goals guide your research into destinations, artifacts, and hands-on experiences you can bring back to the classroom.
• Go for depth, not breadth. It’s better to engage deeply with a few meaningful experiences than to overload your itinerary. Focus on quality over quantity.
• Involve others. Ask students, families, colleagues, and friends for ideas and connections. You never know who might have an unexpected resource or contact.
• Stay flexible. Be open to new directions as your research unfolds. Strong fellowship plans often evolve as ideas deepen and opportunities emerge.

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