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Exploiting Rapid Change in Technology
Enhanced Learning
… for Post Graduate Education
All but Dissertation or Thesis . 1 What it takes to move on
Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. A. A. Milne
“Writing is learned by imitation. If anyone asked me how I learned to write, I’d say I learned by reading the mean and women who were doing the kind of writing I wanted to do and trying to figure out how they did it.”William Zinsser On Writing Well
Goals for this session
To kick start ABDs towards successGive out some useful toolsSet the stage for the rest of the ABD series
Agenda
1. Overview of what goes where and why2. Give out some useful tools3. Set the stage for the rest of the ABD series
What Goes Where and Why1. Chapter One
1. Purpose2. Structure
2. Chapter Two1. Purpose2. Structure
3. Chapter Three1. Purpose2. Structure
4. Results1. Purpose2. Structure
5. Discussion1. Purpose2. Structure
Want more detail? Here are video links to help…1. https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&vid
eo_id=4haOY_CS5i02. https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&vid
eo_id=gO14ACpdGO03. https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&vid
eo_id=c8VHTNxZIEA4. https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&vid
eo_id=WyYKiIRSQlQ5. https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&vid
eo_id=4S6KdwkUvDw
Exercise: Write the 1st 3 Chapters
Steps:1. Read finished dissertations/thesis & find models2. For each section – plot your style/course/headings/points to be made3. Take 3 weeks reading a section then writing, reading then writing
until the full draft is done.4. Rewrite5. Have someone else read/edit again – and again6. Expect – 1-2 months per chapter7. Expect – to have to learn to turn off your critical voice8. Expect – that editing will help you rearrange and learn from your
mistakes
INVESTIGATION & MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
Things to keep in mind
1. You may be able to read and design in spurts but writing is an everyday/everyday regular habit
2. There are a lot of tricks that will help you3. If in doubt, do the 30 day writing challenge4. Don’t let negative self talk get you down5. Have your cheerleaders handy – every page at first is
worth cheering6. Set deadlines with your supervisor and meet them – even
if you hate your results up to that time
PLOT THE COURSE
More Helpful Hints
1. When in the day can you sneak out 15-30 minutes at least 5 times a week?
2. Keep a writing journal3. Learn to use MS Word to its advantage4. If you haven’t already got all your refs in bibliographic
software do it now.5. Plan 2 months per chapter – 1-3 first draft and then the
same again for second or third drafts
Exercise: Data Analysis
Data collection takes longer than plannedSome who said yes are not availableSurveys do not come backAnalysis lacks power if quantitativeSeems confusing in qualitativeWhat you write is shot down Students despairAnd yet the light can be seen at the end of the tunnelBut how do you get there?
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
Exercise: Data Analysis
Quantitative:1. Think of all your options then don’t wait – implement them all – you
can’t have too much dataQualitative:1. Realize that reading, coding, analyzing and uncovering themes takes
time – plan for it and do a little all the timeFor both1. 30-45 minutes a day everyday2. Read before bed – consider in the morning3. Keep a journal – don’t disregard any thoughts4. Immerse yourselves in it- discuss – immerse some more
PLOT THE COURSE
More Helpful Hints
1. Life – what life? Segregate yourself and get it done2. 6 months and done is better than years and not done3. Find a coach – check in once a month minimum4. Set goals and keep them5. Celebrate every success6. Keep the perspective on where you have come as much
as where you are going.
Exercise: Reflective questions
1. What is your golden thread? DATA/ CLAIM2. How does this look in light of your field? LITERATURE3. What is important to you personally? DISCUSSION4. How do you sum it up? INTRO & ABSTRACT
Exercise – answer those 4 questions after listening today.
Further Links – WEAVING IT TOGETHER.1, and .2 and backward mapping .1 and .2 to plan getting it done.
Let’s list what we like in the best dissertations or thesis we have read…
1. Personally written2. Told a good story3. I could see why they wanted to study that – it
seemed important4. I could follow the research design5. The results documented what went well and what
didn’t6. The findings were credible and, even if I didn’t
agree with them, I saw where the author was coming from and took them on as new ideas.
Discuss the skills/mindset of Phase 1: Designing Your Research
1. “Student” mindset – looking to others to guide your thoughts and processes.
2. Skills – comprehensive reading3. Skills – logical orientation to ideas4. Skills - Synthesis
Discuss the skills/mindset of Phase 2: Beginning to Write
1. “Writer” mindset – you have a level of expertise and you have ideas you want to convey to others.
2. Skills – critical thinking3. Skills – logical orientation to ideas4. Skills - patience5. Skills – time management, routine
Discuss the skills/mindset of Phase 3: Beginning to Write
1. You really are the expert about this topic, at least as it pertains to you topic as delimited by you
2. You are also the expert on how this study ran –what worked and what didn’t and what you would do differently
3. You write with the smoothness of someone who has told your story over and over until it makes sense to people and you seem believable.
4. You remain passionate about what you did and letting people know about it.
Snags to Avoid – How to Avoid Them
1. Expect others to review and make comments on your ideas and analysis – practice until you are prepared to defend them.
2. Have your work edited and if you are unsure use a coach.3. Know your strengths and weaknesses – play to your
strengths (exercise next)4. Do a 3 minute thesis as a practice for your presentation
and then make sure your writing is as clean1. http://threeminutethesis.org/3mt-showcase2. http://www.u213mt.com/3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEFFPMmmXbE
Process: Choose a Few and OWN ThemOriginal and significant, ambitious, brilliant, clear, clever, coherent, compelling,
concise, creative, elegant, engaging, exciting, interesting, insightful, persuasive,
sophisticated, surprising, and thoughtful
Very well written and organized
Synthetic and interdisciplinary
Connects components in a seamless way
Exhibits mature, independent thinking
Has a point of view and a strong, confident, independent, and authoritative voice
Asks new questions or addresses an important question or problem
Clearly states the problem and why it is important
Displays a deep understanding of a massive amount of complicated literature
Exhibits command and authority over the material
Argument is focused, logical, rigorous, and sustained
Is theoretically sophisticated and shows a deep understanding of theory
Pushes the discipline's boundaries and opens new areas for research
Tools• All about MS Word
• 30 Day Writing Challenge
• 30 Day Work-Life Balance Challenge
• Academic Writing Boost
• Motivational Emails
• Test your design logic –yoursite.doctoralnet.com//logic-design-tool.html
1. App is coming in Sept for those who want notifications on their phones to
stay in touch and access all the non content tools.
Webinars August:
ABD series continues with
1. Lit + results = findings august 8th
2. Questions answered – August 15th
Other ongoing series…
Let’s get published (soon to be a boxed set)
Masters Series
What’s Up at DoctoralNet?
How did we do? Scale of 1-5 please
Did this…Kick start your work towards success?Give out some useful tools?Set the stage for the rest of the ABD series?
