The first of many countdowns

I’ve stopped counting how many weeks I’m into Module One of my structured PhD programme, preferring to focus on how many weeks until my first research paper draft is due for peer review (5 weeks) and final submission (another 4 weeks after that). It’s not long really if the first half of the module is anything to go by.

One of the highlights of the module so far was getting approval to move forward with my research proposal. It’s a small project, (only) 5,500 words, so a long way from the ‘big paper’ that will come in part 2 of the programme, but obtaining approval was an important milestone. I had originally thought that my topic would be something more aligned with my interest in digital divides but the process of selecting a research topic and all that goes with it resulted in something quite different. In part, I’m undertaking this programme of study because I want to be a better teacher, so why not use the module opportunity for a ‘small-scale autoethnography project‘ to help me figure out my online teaching journey? As a result, I have a working title that sounds nice but will reserve judgement until I complete the paper:

Understanding my journey as an online tutor:
towards development of an effective online teaching framework

I admit that while I was familiar with ethnography as a research strategy, autoethnography was a new term. Learning about it through a variety of prescribed readings, online discussions with my peers and tutor was an eye-opening experience. The role of self-reflection in a research strategy couldn’t be possible, could it? I was quickly convinced that this was something I would need to get on board with, and fast, since it was to be the research strategy for this module’s assessment. Some of my peers came up with wonderful proposal drafts, effortlessly it seemed, while I questioned every research question I drafted. Our tutor came to my rescue (as tutors do!) and helped me reframe them so that I feel comfortable that I can answer the research questions. Time will tell of course, and the quality, well, that remains to be seen.

On the topic of quality, I am reminded of the concept we use in project management called the PM Triangle or the Triple Constraint and it looks like this:

Applying this to my PhD studies I am concerned about the quality of my work, whether I can complete it on schedule and if not, the fact that this will have cost implications (on my budget). It was therefore heartening to see in recent times, a few students from Cohort 8 of this programme successfully defending their theses, meaning that they managed to complete the programme in the minimum 4 years allowed. Congratulations to those concerned, you have inspired me and given me hope that I too can follow in your shoes.

Next major milestone is on Monday, 1 April, when our class will meet for a 4-day on campus residential. While it feels like I know many of them already and we have formed a successful virtual team, there’s nothing like meeting face to face.

Observing my commitment to: “be regular, be useful, be short” and given that this post is at the midpoint of the 500-700 word count guideline, I’ll leave it here for now. What was the Meatloaf song about two out of three???

Until next time,
Sandra

Featured image courtesy of Gino Crescoli on Pixabay