S1-Week 2-Class

Semester 1 (Week 2)

Theses are the notes I took during the Tuesday afternoon workshop that took place from 14:00 to 17:00 on 26th September 2017.  The tutor was Dr Claire McAvinia.

Topic for today’s workshop

– Re-introduction to Academic Writing

Consider your choice of academic paper.

Phyllis Creme, Writing at University

Mike Wallace and Alison Ray, Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates

Paul J Silva, How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing

Note: Approaches to Learning (look up this learning theories pirated copy online)

What is academic writing?

Clear formal language
Evidence from others (references)
Answers or debates a specific question in the feld
Has clear organisation and layout

Writing is a process that happens to have a product

Prepare -> Research -> Organise -> Draft -> Revise
(Circular)

Getting started

What do you do to help you start writing

Brainstorming
Free-writing
Mind-mapping
Outlining
Sharing writing with someone else
Speaking aloud
Asking W questions (who, what, when, where, why)

Key elements in your writing (from Creme & Lea, 2003)

Development an argument
Linking theory and practice
Drawing a conclusion
Analysing
Being critical
Developing a central idea
Processing information
Incorporating facts
Correct terminology
Logical order
Use of evidence to support argument
Use of primary texts
Use of quotation
Drawing on personal experience

Why can it be difficult to write?

Academics are taught to be analytical and critical
There can be few short-term deadlines for the work
Writing is often undertaken in isolation

Writing Strategies: Free Writing

The following will be use to me in Year 2:

I have previous experience of research and academic writing from a previous Masters (thesis and publication) in 1994. This, together with MSc Year 1 has given me a lot of confidence in my ability to successfully get through this year. I enjoy working alone on longer term projects, of a creative nature, so I am looking forward to Year 2 overall.

Setting a writing goal

Where are you now?
– Amending proposal?
– Starting some literature review?

What is the next piece of writing you need to do?

When will you start this piece?


2 more questions

A commonly used structure

Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review

… plus a few more

Starting to think about journals

Who is the publisher?
Who is the editor / who is on the editorial board?
Is the journal national or international?
What do the guidelines for contributions stipulate?
Is some or all of the content peer-reviewed?
How many issues are there per year and how many of these are themed/special issues?
What types of material are published?
Are articles illustrated?
How many references do papers typically include?
How long is the average article?

My note: try to match keywords and topics with journals.

What is the impact factor of the journals.

Reference the people on the editorial board.

Why do journals reject articles?

It fails the technical screening
It does not fall within the Aims and Scope
It’s incomplete

S1-Week 1-Class

Semester 1 (Week 1)

Theses are the notes I took during the Tuesday afternoon workshop that took place from 14:00 to 17:00 on 19th September 2017.  The tutor was Dr Claire McAvinia.

Topics for today’s workshop

– Introduction to Applied eLearning Project
– Project Management
– ePortfolio Support Tutorial for Year 2

Introduction
Working more independently
Project/Artefact/Resource + Journal Paper (30 ECTS)
e-portfolio (15 ECTS)

Assessment Process

Project – 4th June 2018
Journal Paper and e-portfolio – 2nd July 2018
1st Examiner (External)
2nd Examiner (Your Supervisor)
Your work is blind double-marked
You will receive a result and six marksheets
All sections of the 3 pieces need to be passed by both supervisors

Supervision Process

Guideline of 15 hours supervision time – this is inclusive of online contacts and formative assessment
You must agree how you want to work and how you will use the time – a “learning contract”
The First Examiner can also be involved, if appropriate, in consulting with you about your work and he/she will be invited to attend the works-in-progress presentations
Any contact with the First Examiner should be through your supervisor.

Graduation

3rd November 2018

Tutorials in Year 2

In Year 2 you will be working more independently than in Year 1
It is not a requirement for you to attend every Tuesday afternoon but the works-in-progress sessions are obligatory
The workshops throughout the year are to support your research and paper writing.
There is flexibility on workshop content: ask if you would like particular copies to be addressed.
Peer learning is also key to these workshops

Before your first meeting

Ethics Meeting (1st) – some date in October (before middle) – online
Ethics Meeting (2nd) – 6 weeks later – possibly end of November – online
Claire will do a screencast of how to do the ethics submission

Supervision Meetings

It is your responsibility to make notes of the meeting and any actions
The notes should be available to your supervisor
Don’t go longer than 5 weeks without contact with your supervisor

Journal

Will need to accept submissions of 5,000 to 7,000 words
The librarians can be helpful
You might enjoy a particular journal(s) that you have read last year

Time Management (Year 2)

Where are you at the moment?

– Structure your work for the Year (Mk 1)
– Do a draft of every single piece of work that has to be done for the year (to get the big picture)
– Detailed timetable
– What days of the week will you work
– What blocks are available?
– brain time and non-brain time

Next Steps

Review your Research Proposal
– What kind of timelines had you built in?
– Can you develop these now?
– What questions could you ask your Supervisor to help refine your project plan?

Log your time for a day or two
Calculate the time for a week

Arrange first meeting with Supervisor for Tuesday 3rd October 2017

The e-portfolio in Year 2

Needs to be a record of the implementation of your project
Milestones
Deliverables
Log of meetings with supervisor
Make parts of e-portfolio correspond with pages 17, 18 of handbook (also see page 10)
Evidence if on-going reflection and development
Final reflection – project (about 1,000 words)
Final reflection – entire MSc (about 1,000 words)

Supporting supervision

Add a logbook section
Keep it private
Log your meetings with
– main points
– agreed stuff

Assessment of e-portfolio

Review module sections
– Storyboards from ID
Ensure links are still active
Link to your project
Final reflective pieces
– Reflection on the implementation of your project as a whole
– Reflection at the end of Year 2

N.B. Look at support site
https://ditmsceportfolios.wordpress.com

Where are you now?

Have a look at the checklist
Make sure you can access the WordPress site
Make sure you can access each other’s e-portfolios and try to share feedback.