Oasis for Learning: Related items

The Daily PhD

Jon Dron — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:52:50 -0700

A useful site that aggregates a lot of news and information about PhDs, the PhD process and related issues.

Address of the bookmark: http://thedailyphd.com/#

MOOCs are so unambitious: introducing the MOOPhD

Jon Dron — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 14:03:30 -0700

My article proposing (only very slightly tongue-in-cheek) a massive open online PhD. It goes into some detail about ways this could be done, and the issues that might prevent it from happening. I wrote the article as an exercise to see whether the idea actually makes sense, partly to explore some of the troublesome issues about MOOCs in general, and partly to try to understand what is genuinely distinctive about a PhD process.

I think it does make sense as a supporting process for researchers (not really a course, more of a club) but there are some pretty big barriers and concerns that will make it hard for this kind of thing to replace a traditional PhD. There are some tricky concerns about things like ethics reviews and sustaining motivation, but it's interesting that the biggest barriers have little to do with pedagogy or process, and a lot to do with simpler things like finding a university to examine the thesis, getting access to closed research publications, and finding resources like labs and places to do your research.

Address of the bookmark: https://landing.athabascau.ca/blog/view/285554/moocs-are-so-unambitious-introducing-the-moophd

Surviving a PhD – 10 Top Tips

Jon Dron — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:03:56 -0700

A bunch of motivational tips by Alex Hope, with some useful advice for those struggling with the doctoral learning journey. Tip 10 (ignore tips 1-9) is particularly valuable: the take-home message is that every doctorate (or other large activity in which one learns to research) is different and everyone has different needs, hopes, interests and methods.

The Thesis Whisperer site on which this is featured, at http://thesiswhisperer.com, contains plenty more useful help to those trying to complete a thesis or dissertation.

Address of the bookmark: http://thesiswhisperer.com/2012/07/16/surviving-a-phd-10-top-tips/

Selecting a (Dissertation) Chair and Committee

Jon Dron — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 13:59:42 -0800

This is a useful article via Tomorrow's Professor for postgraduate students choosing their supervisory team, with a carefully thought-through set of criteria that includes expertise, accessibility, timeliness of feedback, previous success, personality and attitude to methodology. While the focus is on the rather peculiar North American PhD process that involves committees that both help and assess your PhD, chairs rather than lead supervisors found elsewhere, and talks about archaic practices like the tenure system, the principles all apply well across the board. If you've already chosen your team (or had it chosen for you) it might be interesting to see how your supervisor(s) match the criteria. Something that is not particularly highlighted in this article is that you don't always need all of these qualities in a single person. In fact, I think it is sometimes useful to have, say, one supervisor who loves your methodology and one that is sceptical, but it all depends on how you like to work.

Address of the bookmark: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~dept-ctl/cgi-bin/tomprof/enewsletterWithSurvey.php?msgno=1296

Getting research questions wrong - then right

Jon Dron — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:24:37 -0700

A nice simple explanation of how to come up with (and not come up with) research questions for a thesis. Distilled from Trowler's book (available cheaply at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctoral-Research-Higher-Education-ebook/dp/B007W57J5K )

Address of the bookmark: http://patthomson.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/getting-research-questions-wrong-then-right/

How not to write a PhD thesis

Jon Dron — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 01:35:07 -0700

Great article from the Times Higher Ed giving hints and tips on how not to write a PhD. Good stuff.

Address of the bookmark: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/how-not-to-write-a-phd-thesis/410208.article

Tips for giving constructive criticism on academic writing | Academicalism

Jon Dron — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 17:43:39 -0800

A straightforward and brief bit of common sense for those having to give feedback on someone else's writing. The key emphasis is on always looking for the good stuff, and always offering constructive ways to improve the bad stuff. I'd add to the 'good news first, bad news next' bullet point that you should always finish on some other good news.

Address of the bookmark: http://academicalism.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/tips-for-giving-constructive-criticism-on-academic-writing/

Control and Constraint in E-Learning: Choosing When to Choose

Jon Dron — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:40:16 -0700

Book by Jon Dron.

Abstract

Every learner is on a trajectory, an individual path that involves choices about what to do next in order to learn, choices that are bounded by intrinsic and extrinsic constraints. In some cases the learner controls those choices, sometimes they are made by someone or something else, sometimes control is negotiated, or it emerges from complex interactions of many agents. Control and Constraint in E-Learning: Choosing When to Choose pulls apart that simple dynamic, examines it in detail, and explores its consequences to provide a new, theoretically grounded approach to the design of e-learning systems, to the benefit of teachers, programmers, researchers and instructional designers alike. In addition to shedding new light on traditional e-learning systems, it demonstrates that the social technologies underpinning Web 2.0 are fundamentally different in their dynamics of control and, consequently, when designed and used with care, offer benefits that significantly exceed the promise of their forebears.

Address of the bookmark: http://www.igi-global.com/book/control-constraint-learning/205

Bloom's Taxonomy Wheel for Writing Learning Outcomes

Jon Dron — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:33:39 -0700

A very neat set of infographics providing assistance for those writing learning outcomes. Each of the wheels shown here contains lists of terms to use and some provide help with identifying grading criteria. While Benamin Bloom's taxonomy is a weakly founded armchair theory that is notably flawed from start to finish, devices like this remain useful in helping designers of learning experiences to reflect on what they are doing and what they hope to achieve.

Address of the bookmark: http://zaidlearn.blogspot.ca/2009/07/use-blooms-taxonomy-wheel-for-writing.html

Donald Clark Plan B

Jon Dron — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:39:12 -0700

Donald Clark's wonderful and often incendiary blog about learning and learning technologies. Check out the links down the side of the page to learning theorists for some great, concise and critical views of around 50 different learning theorists, including references. A great place to start learning about learning.

Address of the bookmark: http://donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.ca/