Conference with Dr. R July 2, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : RSH9101B , add a commentJust got off the phone from a conference with my mentor for RSH9101B, Dr. R. I initiated the call because I felt as though I needed a few words to encourage me and to get some clarity on some of the assignments. I am so very glad that I did this! Dr. R was very encouraging and provided useful insights into the dissertation process, as well as give me some direction on my topic. I had a few questions to ask, related to the topic as well as moving forward. She had written a comment on my paper that I really like:
I think it’s helpful to think of a dissertation research study as a hole in the ground that is 2 inches wide and 1 mile deep - that is narrowly defined, but deeply studied.
Excellent analogy! I am vascillating between thinking my topic is too broad, yet too narrow at the same time - go figure! My topic is very current and I am not finding a whole lot of scholarly literature exactly on the topic - only related to it. That’s OK, she said, because we will develop this as time goes on. She cautioned me not to do the whole dissertation now, but rather take it in stages and build it slowly.
I am very glad that Dr. R had some time for me tonight. Those 30 minutes really made a difference in my thinking about this project.
RSH9101B: Topic Selection June 27, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : RSH9101B , add a commentI’ve been working on my topic selection paper which is supposed to summarize my initial thinking on potential research areas of interest and potential research topics. I have been collecting journal articles on various topics. It’s really been a struggle deciding which direction to go because over time I have accumulated lots of ideas. So I finally narrowed it down to two topics, one of which I could find little information about. Maybe I will save this one for my first book.
The other topic, I found more information around it but not exactly it. For a research degree like the PhD, a dissertation must lead to knowledge creation or expansion. A professional degree like a DBA is a practical response to a problem. My PhD research must add to the community of learning. So its a good thing not to find exact information on my topic. I invented a term to describe the “problem” in the supply chain which I believe exactly identifies what is occurring.
After I receive this paper back from Dr. R., I will begin the Research Problem Statement assignment. While waiting, I will go ahead and collect references for the Annotated Bibliography, which is assignment 3. I plan to turn in my topic selection paper tomorrow morning, after I have allowed it to “cure” overnight. I will wake up tomorrow with fresh eyes and hopefully see and correct any issues.
No electricity = A day to catch up on reading June 20, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : Home , add a commentA big storm blew threw our area last night and knocked out the power. It finally came on at about 5PM today (Saturday). No electricity means no water at our house - we are on a well. So I couldn’t wash clothes or cook. I had a bunch of assignments to grade, too. But of course, none of those things can be done when we don’t have electricity.
So, I took the day to catch up on reading, both in the Creswell text (Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches) and several dissertations. It was good to get in some reading, but I admit that the house was so quiet that I did fall asleep while trudging through a particularly boring dissertation.
I am back online tonight and will dig into those assignments to grade. This GEN/200 class ends on Tuesday. I teach another section at the end of July. Now that I have the lesson plans for this course, my weekly planning should not take so long.
It’s good to have air conditioning, water, and the computer up and running again! Back to work!
Twitter - marketing tool or social networking? June 12, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : Miscellaneous , add a commentI am on Twitter, yes, I admit that. Find and follow me here. Everyone talks about Twitter being a social networking site, a “mini-blog.” But take another look…many use it as a marketing tool. More than half of tweets are related to something someone is selling. I even use it in this way. Here is a recent tweet:
Become a Lifelong Learner - http://bit.ly/8jLUJ AC#
It’s a link to one of my articles on Associated Content.
I want people to go and read my article! I get a lot of tweets asking me to buy something, or join something. I have lots of followers that I have no idea where they heard of me or why. Some seem to just want to accumulate followers as if it justifies the whole geekiness of the thing. How could anyone read tweets from thousands of people? Wow. I can’t even keep up with my own tweets.
So Twitter is really a marketing tool. I wonder if anyone has determined if it is effective or not. I know it drives traffic to linked sites; but is this simply random?
I’d like to know how my readers are using Twitter: do you use it to keep up with friends or a marketing tool or something else?
New Examiner Article: Will Brain-Twitter Interface breakthrough yield distance learning access? June 7, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : Examiner , add a commentI wrote an Examiner article today exploring the possibilities for using the Brain-Twitter technology for distance learning. What an exciting possibility! Individuals with locked-in syndrome could use this technology to take a class or participate in online forums! Those of us who can use various forms of communication often do not consider the frustration experienced by those who are unable to communicate effectively. As a student and professor, learning is something I just naturally do - it’s hard to imagine not being able to take a class or write a paper.
Kudos to the University of Wisconsin and the Brain-Twitter Research team!
You can read the entire article here.
Date Night: The New Star Trek Movie May 31, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : Home , add a commentHusband and I enjoyed a Date Night last night; we went to see the new Star Trek Movie! It was really a lot of fun - I recommend it!
I am a sci-fi lover from way back, having grown up on Heinlein, Herbert, Clarke, Vonnegut, Orwell, Bradbury, etc. We watched Star Trek when it came on once a week in the 1960s and on through each of the movies and spinoffs. Of course, the original Star Trek covered many social issues of the day, sometimes making it fall flat with today’s viewers. It’s the old, “you had to be there” to “get it.” We were exited to see that J.J. Abrams would direct the Star Trek prequel. I admit right here in public that I am a LOSTAHOLIC. We (husband, son, me) have seen every LOST and actually discuss it!
Now that your nerd-ar (like radar) has been activated, let me tell you about the new Star Trek movie. It was a lot of fun, seeing how they developed the characters and kept them true to not only the original characters, but also the nuances of the original actors. You could almost see younger versions of William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, George Takei, and Nichelle Nichols. The actors did a grand job channelling these icons’ personalities and idiosyncrasies. As the story unfolds, things make sense (if you know the Star Trek legacy).
I wrote a review of the movie, here’s a link: The New Star Trek Movie Captures the Essence of Our Favorite Characters
Be cautioned - lots of spoilers in the review! So if you haven’t seen the movie you might want to let it unfold without reading the review. But come back and re-read my review and let me know if I captured it right.
So after the movie, pizza and a beer. And of course a visit over at GameStop for a used PS3 game for Husband. We had a great time, taking a break from life, school, teaching, writing, etc.
I’m refreshed and this morning settling down to write lesson plans for week 2 of GEN200 at the University of Phoenix (Richmond). But still thinking about Star Trek - it’s one of those movies that you walk out of and say, I want to see that one again!
Distance learning educators can network by joining a DL group on LinkedIn May 23, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : Teaching , add a commentIf you are a distance learning educator, consider joining some of the DL groups on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a networking site for professionals across many fields. You can find others with similar interests or in the same career field and collaborate through messaging and group membership.
After joining, create a profile by posting your resume, summarizing your professional accomplishments and job history. You determine how much information you want to show in this very public manner. You can then begin to build your network and link to others by contacting them through the website.
Joining a LinkedIn group is one way to extend your professional network by making contacts with individuals outside of your first level of contacts (people you know personally). LinkedIn Groups have a forum in which members can post questions or comments. Forum discussions are private as group membership is required.
After setting up your profile, use the “search groups” drop down box at the top right side of the page. Try the word “adjunct” in the search box and 26 groups are found with this term in the group description. The search term “distance learning” returned 69 results, “e-learning” returned 247 results, “online education” returned 161 results, and “distance education” returned 40 results. Of course, you may want to find groups closer to your specific subject interest, university alma mater, or employer.
It is easy to join or un-join a group if you discover the update emails are too frequent or if you do not sense a good fit. LinkedIn does not permit solicitation emails from groups, so do not be concerned that you will be asked to join other groups if you join one group. You may even create your own group to stay in touch with your colleagues.
Distance learning educators and professionals can build their professional network simply by creating a profile and joining groups on LinkedIn. DL educators understand the connecting power of the internet. Using sites like LinkedIn to find like-minded individuals and using groups to discuss current topics is an effective way to network and build your professional profile.
LinkedIn Home Page (to sign up)
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thinkPhD’s LinkedIn profile
Books in Hand May 16, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : RSH9101B , 2 commentsI have the texts for RSH9101B, which will officially start on June 1st and end on August 24th. Here are the titles:
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN: 9781412965576
Zikmund, W. (2003). Business research methods. Mason,OH: Thomson/South-Western ISBN: 9780030350849
I did not want to take a chance on used books so I ordered new from Barnes & Noble. The Creswell text was $44.95 and the Zikmund text was $163.96, and shipping was free. I have purchased mostly used books up until now.
It’s daunting to think that I am truly at this point in my education. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to work on a PhD because of my life circumstances. It’s my birthday this month, so I suppose that beginning the research phase on my 50th birthday ought to be a celebration of my life. My family has been such an encouragement to me to continue this path. As a mother, I hope that my children can see the rewards of my efforts. I hope that one day, they will also choose to continue their education as far as possible.
Next: (drum roll please) RSH9101B May 5, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : RSH9101B , add a commentI am finally at the RSH phase of my journey. I will begin RSH9101B on June 1st, and have been assigned Dr. R for the course. It’s time to reflect back on this journey and place a marker in the ground…yes, I was here! I am nervous about this next step because of all the horror stories I have heard. I am also concerned because I have several ideas for a dissertation, but nothing has gelled yet. I am hoping to find direction in this course. I need focus and so far have not found it.
While I am waiting for the course to begin, I am reading dissertations to understand more about how they are constructed. It seems there is a lot of variability in the scope and subject matter difficulty. Some are very technical and others are weak, to say the least. I will continue to read and may highlight some here. I may start taking off a few days each month to work on my papers. I work best when I can work all day on a project rather than start and stop.
This week we are going to visit relatives and so my reading and writing will suffer. However, I will jump back in next week!
FreeRice: Make a Difference in the Fight Against World Hunger April 26, 2009
Posted by thinkphd in : Associated Content Articles , add a commentDoes FreeRice really make a difference? Rice donated through the quizzes on FreeRice is distributed by the WFP. FreeRice rice fed 750,000 Mynamar citizens after the cyclone, 13,500 pregnant and nursing women in Cambodia for two months, 66,000 schoolchildren in Uganda for a week, and 108,000 Bhutanese refuges in Nepal for three days. It takes about 19,200 grains of rice to equal 400 grams, which is enough for two meals per day per person.
See more at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1684958/freerice_make_a_difference_in_the_fight.html
