The purpose of this section is to help you begin selecting a topic that addresses a real issue, opportunity, or innovation gap in your professional setting. Your topic will guide every part of your SRP, so it must be practical, research-informed, and connected to your field of study. Your topic must align with both: One of the ten interdisciplinary themes listed below, and Your Ed.D. concentration area (for example: Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Teaching, Instructional Technology, Organizational Leadership, Special Education, etc.). Interdisciplinary Themes The SRP is grounded in an interdisciplinary approach that connects scholarly inquiry with professional practice; therefore, each student must select one interdisciplinary theme from the list below and clearly align the project topic, problem of practice, and proposed initiative with that theme throughout the SRP. 1. Innovative Practices in Teaching, Learning, and Training 2. Assessment, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement 3. Strategic Leadership and Organizational Change 4. Technology Integration and Digital Innovation 5. Professional Development and Talent Management 6. Policy Development and Implementation 7. Community Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement 8. Crisis Management and Strategic Preparedness 9. Organizational Effectiveness and Performance Improvement 10. Global Trends and Internationalization 11. Other (with instructor approval) By completing this assignment, you will be able to… Identify, rationalize, and align an evidence-based SRP topic (Part 1A) with both an interdisciplinary theme and Ed.D. concentration for formal approval. 1. Review the interdisciplinary themes and their descriptions Download interdisciplinary themes and their descriptions. These descriptions show how each theme connects to different Ed.D. concentrations. For a list of example themes per concentration, click here Download click here. 2. Identify an issue, opportunity, or innovation gap that is meaningful to you and fits under one of these themes. Choose something that connects directly to your workplace or professional role. 3. Check alignment with your Ed.D. concentration. Make sure your topic advances knowledge or practice within your field (e.g., a leadership challenge for educational leadership or a curriculum issue for the Curriculum & Teaching concentration). 4. Evaluate topic feasibility. Your topic must be: o Manageable within the timeframe and structure of the SRP, o Supported by scholarly research (peer-reviewed studies and credible reports), and o Significant enough to make a meaningful contribution to your organization or community. 5. Obtain instructor approval before you begin Part 1A. Example: If your concentration is Instructional Technology and Distance Education, and you choose the theme of technology integration and digital innovation, your SRP might focus on designing a faculty development program to improve the use of AI tools in online courses. This topic aligns with the theme by emphasizing innovation and focusing on instructional technology practice, a key area of concentration. In this assignment, you will only need to submit the 1. Complete the Topic and Problem Approval Form Download Topic and Problem Approval Form(this will be Appendix A of your SRP). This form contains the following sections: a. Proposed Project Title: A concise, descriptive working title (12 words or fewer). This title may change as you make progress in the SRP. b. Issue, Problem, or Opportunity Statement: Describe the problem or opportunity you want to address. Support your description with at least one scholarly source that demonstrates this is a real, documented issue. Example: The problem of this project is the lack of professional development in implementing interactive assessment practices in undergraduate courses. c. Rationale for Topic Selection: In one to two paragraphs (5-6 sentences), explain why this issue is important in your professional setting. Support your rationale with 12 current (past 5-7 years) scholarly sources. d. Alignment to Concentration and Theme: Identify one of the 10 interdisciplinary themes and your Ed.D. concentration. In one paragraph, explain how your topic fits both. e. Preliminary References: List at least two scholarly references (APA 7th edition format) related to your topic. Submit your document to Canvas for instructor feedback and approval. You must receive written approval before beginning Part 1A. Format Requirements Use the Topic and Problem Approval FormDownload Topic and Problem Approval Form References: Minimum of two current, scholarly sources Style: APA 7th edition; 12-point Times New Roman Tone: Professional academic writingno bullet points or incomplete sentences