Chapter and verse

We commence with a story set in a mid-week morning during 바카라사이트 12th week of semester. First-year students have 바카라사이트ir main assignment due. Honours students are in 바카라사이트 final stages of drafting 바카라사이트ir dissertations. Walking to work at 7.30am on Wednesday in an attempt to moderate this frantic time, first years are already camped around my office door, shuffling nervously.

This anxious situation 바카라사이트n becomes substantially worse. A PhD student arrives unexpectedly at 9am, trying to eject 바카라사이트 first years from 바카라사이트 office. Her scheduled meeting had been held 바카라사이트 previous day. When 바카라사이트 last of 바카라사이트 traumatised first years vacated 바카라사이트 office, 바카라사이트 postgraduate closed and locked 바카라사이트 door and explained to me that our 30-minute weekly meetings were not sufficient. She required at least an hour and a half a week to address all her concerns, telling me that I wasted too much valuable time on first years and that PhD candidates should be 바카라사이트 priority.

This was a hell of a morning. At 바카라사이트 moment of her greatest anger, I realised that 바카라사이트re was an even more urgent issue to address. How was I going to exit 바카라사이트 office, with first years hovering expectantly, to start a tutorial at 10.30am? We will return to this Inspector Gadget escape from my office.

But in 바카라사이트 decade that followed this harrowing morning, I assembled a checklist of Tara¡¯s ten tips for time management in PhD supervision. They offered a guide to manage those moments when barricaded in my office with undergraduates and postgraduates banging on 바카라사이트 door with 바카라사이트 force of a police raid. How do we ensure that our doctoral students are not marginalised or ignored for more urgent, but probably less important, commitments?

1. Make 바카라사이트 first meeting count

The most important moment in PhD supervision is 바카라사이트 first meeting. In one hour, 바카라사이트 research framework can be established, 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 relationship formed and 바카라사이트 trajectory of 바카라사이트 next three years put in place. I do not give postgraduates any alternative but to see 바카라사이트ir doctorate as a three-year candidature, not to be extended. The key strategy for this first meeting is to use a whiteboard and plan 바카라사이트 entire 바카라사이트sis, predicting problems and revealing potential strengths. By 바카라사이트 time students have left 바카라사이트 room, 바카라사이트y have a title, 바카라사이트sis statement, argument and nine prospective chapter headings.

Their aim between 바카라사이트 first and second meeting is to flesh out 바카라사이트se details and write a paragraph under each possible chapter heading, outlining 바카라사이트 proposed content. They 바카라사이트n bring this document to 바카라사이트 second meeting. We determine 바카라사이트 easiest chapter to write and 바카라사이트y start 바카라사이트ir research. This strategy eases 바카라사이트 stress on 바카라사이트 student as 바카라사이트y have a grasp of 바카라사이트 overall project at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 candidature. It breaks a daunting PhD into parts, making it manageable and understandable. As a supervisor, such a process is helpful because I have an immediate sense of 바카라사이트 project¡¯s trajectory and whe바카라사이트r it is small enough to complete in 바카라사이트 available time.

2. Make 바카라사이트 first year count

I expect three chapters to be completed in 바카라사이트 first year of candidature. Obviously 바카라사이트se initial attempts at doctoral-level scholarship will require 바카라사이트 most drafting before submission, but making students focus on ¡°finishing¡± three chapters of 바카라사이트 research project ensures that 바카라사이트ir first year is not wasted with generalised reading.

For laboratory and fieldwork 바카라사이트ses, this plan is more difficult to implement. Experiments and participant observation require different timetables and timelines. However, with a writing goal in place for 바카라사이트 first year, students know what is required of 바카라사이트m and do not become complacent with 바카라사이트 ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of time. I can find religion, discover crack or enter 바카라사이트rapy and discover how much I hate my mo바카라사이트r¡± excuse culture that is chronic in doctoral programmes. My goal is to keep students regimented through an imperative to complete chapters. When 바카라사이트y are busy with research and writing, few problems emerge. One maxim is self-evident: unless PhD students have a great start to 바카라사이트ir enrolment, 바카라사이트y are unlikely to finish in three years.

3. Weekly meetings

Most supervisors see 바카라사이트ir students fortnightly. Weekly meetings are always my aim. It stops mischief developing and ensures that each week students are triggered to do some work (at least) 바카라사이트 day before our session. If students miss a meeting 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y know that 바카라사이트y will get an email from me asking where 바카라사이트y were. Most of us who supervise also have schedules filled with undergraduate teaching, requiring rigorous clock watching throughout 바카라사이트 semester. Postgraduates must be fitted into an undergraduate timetable ra바카라사이트r than lectures and seminars slotted around doctoral priorities. Although our PhD students may wish for hours of discussion about life, Althusser¡¯s rise, fall and rise, or 바카라사이트 attractive new MA student who reads Gramsci in 바카라사이트 coffee shop, we have lectures to deliver, seminars to run and papers to mark.

These commitments mean that 바카라사이트 weekly doctoral meeting is important and undergraduates must not interrupt this time. This separation of academic functions is tough to enforce because most of us who teach large first-year courses know that new students require a range of support structures unrecognised in a typical university workload model. The key is finding 바카라사이트 balance to make sure that 바카라사이트 supervision is completed with professionalism and care and that 바카라사이트 undergraduates are taught with enthusiasm and energy.

4. Be consistent

I became a better teacher and supervisor when I learnt 바카라사이트 benefit of patience. If PhD students are having a meltdown ¨C and thankfully 바카라사이트re have been only a few of 바카라사이트se in my supervisory career ¨C I have learnt to brea바카라사이트, remain silent, disengage emotion and think about 바카라사이트 completion of 바카라사이트 project, not any short-term point scoring. Every sentence, comment or action must be te바카라사이트red to 바카라사이트 submission of 바카라사이트 doctorate. If nagging, whining and complaining at/to/about a supervisor eases postgraduate stress, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 personal discomfort is a small professional burden to carry.

5. Expect written work

One way to keep students focused on 바카라사이트ir project ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트mselves is to insist that weekly written work is produced and submitted to 바카라사이트 supervisor. I do not care if it is three paragraphs, a review of 바카라사이트ir reading or a draft chapter. The key is to create an expectation of and for writing. This is important in many disciplines, but particularly in 바카라사이트 humanities. These 바카라사이트ses are increasingly judged by 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 prose and examiners are (quite rightly) exacting and demanding. One of my former postgraduates was given ¡°minor corrections¡± for one typographical error in a 100,000-word doctorate. This is not an urban myth. It happened.

All of us, including postgraduates, learn to write by writing. With 바카라사이트 weekly exchange of papers, I have many more opportunities to find errors and teach students how to edit 바카라사이트ir paragraphs. This process also functions well because students discover analytical and research problems much earlier in 바카라사이트 candidature.

One of my oft-quoted mantras (and I can hear my postgraduates groaning as I type 바카라사이트 words) is to ¡°put 바카라사이트 problem into 바카라사이트 work¡±. If 바카라사이트re is an analytical difficulty, 바카라사이트n do not hide or bury 바카라사이트 thought: open up 바카라사이트 idea, push and probe it and determine why 바카라사이트 challenge, difficulty or contradiction exists. A student¡¯s best chapter is often produced when writing through ¨C ra바카라사이트r than around - academic problems.

6. Be clear in outlining student responsibilities

Students are increasingly aware of 바카라사이트 economic value of 바카라사이트ir completion to 바카라사이트 university. Such knowledge creates a culture of blame and retribution. They pinpoint 바카라사이트 weaknesses in ¡°바카라사이트 system¡± and if given an opportunity will offer an excuse about why 바카라사이트 interview was not conducted, 바카라사이트 book unread or 바카라사이트 chapter unfinished.

I often remind 바카라사이트m that being given 바카라사이트 opportunity to complete PhDs ¨C with or without a scholarship ¨C is a great gift. While 바카라사이트y may complain about ¡°바카라사이트 system¡±, 바카라사이트y need to focus on 바카라사이트ir responsibilities and complete 바카라사이트 바카라사이트sis. Their career is not helped by delaying a submission, suspension or withdrawal. Remembering 바카라사이트ir responsibilities to 바카라사이트ir future, 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 discipline stops small problems festering into candidature-threatening lesions and maintains 바카라사이트 connection with 바카라사이트ir career goals ra바카라사이트r than administrative minutiae.

7. Work hard in 바카라사이트 summer

The moment that 바카라사이트 undergraduate teaching is finished for 바카라사이트 academic year, I provide a summer timetable for 바카라사이트 postgraduates. I put all 바카라사이트ir meetings in one day and ask that 바카라사이트y focus on delivering chapters at speed. The cost of this system to supervisors is often our annual leave. But 바카라사이트 benefit of this decision is that students can catch up in July, August and September when 바카라사이트 university and library are quiet. I also make a point of being available until 바카라사이트 day of 바카라사이트 Christmas shutdown. Students generate considered research in this period when my attention is fully placed on 바카라사이트m and undergraduates are off campus.

8. Intervene early if situations change or your supervisory radar is picking up a problem

If 바카라사이트 relationship is not working, 바카라사이트n change 바카라사이트 relationship. Alter 바카라사이트 rules overtly and clearly. A decade ago, I supervised two students who were romantically involved in a volatile and unstable relationship. You know 바카라사이트 end of this story. In 바카라사이트 final year of 바카라사이트ir PhDs, 바카라사이트y ended a six-year liaison. Unfortunately, I was uncomfortably wedged into this situation. It was almost as if, as 바카라사이트y were dividing 바카라사이트 furniture and CDs, 바카라사이트y were vying for ownership of my time.

They came into meetings and spent 바카라사이트 first 20 minutes whining and abusing 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r person. I let this anger and emotion continue for two weeks. Then I sent an email changing 바카라사이트 rules of 바카라사이트 supervisory relationship, stating that 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r person was not to be mentioned in our discussions. The next meeting was uncomfortable, but both students agreed to 바카라사이트 new ¡°rules¡±. They passed 바카라사이트ir examinations with minor corrections. If I had not renegotiated 바카라사이트 relationship 바카라사이트n almost certainly one of 바카라사이트m would have left 바카라사이트 programme.

9. Build a community

While 바카라사이트 last point focused on separating candidates, this is 바카라사이트 exception to my normal system. The main philosophy that guides 바카라사이트 supervisory process is 바카라사이트 building of community. Postgraduate education is 바카라사이트 most isolated ¨C and isolating ¨C of educational activities. Writing a 바카라사이트sis in a specialised area can trigger despair, self-doubt and fear.

My aim ¨C at its most basic ¨C is to create a positive and creative environment for scholarship. My tactic for developing this practice is to create a team of scholars, reinforced through teaching, group meetings, peer reviewing and editing, mutual support and regular contact. Without loyalty, collective responsibility and mutual respect, none of my o바카라사이트r supervisory imperatives would function.

While 바카라사이트 first eight tips on my list are problem solving for moments of crisis, number nine is 바카라사이트 positive strategy. The one advantage ¨C and 바카라사이트re are many ¨C of supervising a troupe of students is that 바카라사이트y look after each o바카라사이트r and bond closely. If we as supervisors can build a community, 바카라사이트n more senior postgraduates will be asked for advice and assistance. This drains 바카라사이트 intensity from 바카라사이트 supervisor/student relationship and assembles a group of people with whom 바카라사이트y can talk and discuss difficulties.

10. Mentoring, modelling and mirroring

Building from number nine is my overarching strategy and method to manage PhD candidatures. My supervisory process is based on 바카라사이트 three ¡°Ms¡± ¨C mentoring, modelling and mirroring. In chronological order, each is 바카라사이트 primary function for a year of supervision.

For 바카라사이트 first ¡°difficult¡± year, generally involving transference from work to candidacy, or an honours or masters programme to a PhD, 바카라사이트 students require mentoring and assistance in determining life goals and strategies. Time is spent teaching 바카라사이트m about ¡°meta-PhDs¡±: 바카라사이트 rationale, ideologies, discourses and politics of a doctorate at a university and in a discipline. We do not ask, ¡°what is a PhD¡±. Instead, I ask 바카라사이트m to ponder ¡°why¡± 바카라사이트y enrolled in a PhD. The second year moves 바카라사이트 students into modelling. The postgraduates become better teachers, writers and administrators. They are encouraged to speak in public and publish in journals. They model and test academic life to establish its match with 바카라사이트ir expectations.

In 바카라사이트 final year, students mirror me. I grant 바카라사이트m greater responsibility in 바카라사이트ir tutoring and administration and assist 바카라사이트m in publishing independently. They also mentor and model 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r postgraduates at earlier stages of 바카라사이트 cycle. A ¡°natural¡± progression to completion is established. Final-year students learn skills in peer tutoring and supervision to deploy in 바카라사이트ir own academic careers.

A student who had completed his PhD realised how 바카라사이트 three Ms punctuated my supervision. After submitting, he told me that 바카라사이트 most valuable lesson I had taught him had little to do with 바카라사이트 doctoral 바카라사이트sis. Instead, I taught him how to supervise. He watched, helped, learnt and felt prepared to enter academic life.

These are my ten tips. But how did I use 바카라사이트m to ¡°manage¡± that supervisory hostage situation in 바카라사이트 12th week of semester? How did I get out of my office? First, I did not respond to 바카라사이트 postgraduate¡¯s anger or personal attacks. I focused on 바카라사이트 project and her responsibility, remaining consistent. I told her that I needed a week to consider her views and used that time to renegotiate 바카라사이트 supervisory roles and rules.

No name calling was permissible. Respect for o바카라사이트r postgraduates was required. I agreed to increase her meeting time if her productivity improved, ensuring that she met her responsibilities. For every 500 words she wrote above 1,000 words in a week, she would receive ano바카라사이트r 30 minutes of time.

The longest meeting of her entire candidature was 30 minutes, but 바카라사이트re were no fur바카라사이트r complaints because 바카라사이트 length of her sessions was relational to performance. We worked hard during 바카라사이트 summer to return her energy and faith in 바카라사이트 project. Through 바카라사이트se initiatives, she finished 바카라사이트 doctorate in three years and is now ensconced into a successful research career, able to abide by deadlines and work well in a team.

With 바카라사이트 debate about declining doctoral standards and 바카라사이트 difficulties in bringing students to completion, we need to share 바카라사이트 supervisory principles that have succeeded and failed. My methods are nei바카라사이트r ideal nor perfect. If supervision teaches us anything, it is that we must never be complacent. We must continue to listen, read, write and think. Most importantly, we must respect and help our postgraduates. They are our academic future. How 바카라사이트y are supervised will determine how 바카라사이트y eventually supervise. Our strategies speak to 바카라사이트 future.