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Negating distance

Negating distance. Enhancing the doctoral experience through a technology-mediated cohort model. Dr Debra Hoven With: Dr Negin Mirriahi, Dr Aga Palalas, Dr Debra Walker Centre for Distance Education Athabasca University debrah@athabascau.ca.

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Negating distance

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  1. Negating distance Enhancing the doctoral experience through a technology-mediated cohort model Dr Debra Hoven With: Dr Negin Mirriahi, Dr Aga Palalas, Dr Debra Walker Centre for Distance Education Athabasca University debrah@athabascau.ca

  2. Issues in Doctoral Research & Supervision by Distance • Some generic & some specific to DE: • ABD (“All But Dissertation”) • Dropout in early stages of project or dissertation • Lack of support structures & processes: staff & students ( Malfroy (2005) • Student isolation (Denicolo, 2004) • Inadequate writing preparation (Kamler & Thomson, 2004) • Poor supervision skills (Connell, 1985)

  3. Some solutions • Cohort Model • Support • Group cohesion • Shared goals & difficulties • Social Networking • Contact & communication

  4. Some negatives … • focus internal to group • over-cohesiveness • “us-and-them” phenomenon • age-related phenomena

  5. Questions … & Solutions? • why do these issues occur … • how can they be addressed? • what pedagogies can be applied? • what technologies can assist?

  6. Process through the programhttp://cde.athabascau.ca/programs/doctoral/intro.php

  7. Professional Doctorate: EdD • cohort-based (8-12 students) • 4-year program: fully online • initial online introductory session (early June) • 5-day f2f orientation (August in 1st year) • 1 course per semester = full-time

  8. Coursework: 4 Core • Advanced topics & issues in DE (7 months) 2 Advanced research in education 3 Teaching & learning in DE (+internship) 4 Leadership & project management in DE

  9. Looking from the past to the present …

  10. Qualitative study: Preliminary • Participatory action research: longitudinal • Survey 1 at end of Orientation • Survey 2 at end of each course • Verbal feedback & evaluation at end of research seminars (recorded) • Interviews with new graduates  mentors • Feedback used for refinements & integration of suggestions

  11. Responses to date (3 interviewees) • Themes • Orientation • Powerful experience • Surprise at groupings • Relationship already established with Assignment 1 group members ++ • Found tools to communicate • Laid foundation for subsequent groupings

  12. Responses to date (3 interviewees) • Themes • Coursework • Trusted group members ++ • Confidence in expertise of other members • Variety of group configurations • Time poor • (Virtual) meetings inevitable • Became closer: • professional 1st • gradually personal/social also • Support & sharing “Emotional presence”

  13. Responses to date (3 interviewees) • Themes • Post-Coursework (Candidacy, research project, Final defence) • Known group members ++ • “sense of belonging” • Working in own area but members as resources: emotional & academic • Made conscious effort to meet: virtually & f2f at conferences etc • “Sliding” support network • Established regular support and sharing meetings • Shared successes & miseries

  14. Responses to date (3 interviewees) • Themes • Post-graduation • Some will remain “friends for life” • Working in own area but members as resources: emotional & academic/intellectual • Distance + effort required + common experiences  brought them closer • “there is no distance”, “didn’t matter, the miles” • Quicker & richer experience with cohort • “extended cohort” with families of members • On-going collaborations & meetings • Increased motivation

  15. Recommendations & findings • F2f meetings important: • Orientation (“connected as a cohort”) • Conferences • mid-program “Shaped coursework experience” • Model tools for synchronous meetings • Maintain cohort-mentoring structure • Supervisor relationship: “make or break” • Personalities more important than other aspects

  16. To the present & the future …

  17. Thank you!  Your questions? Email: debrah@athabascau.ca AU web profile: http://cde.athabascau.ca/faculty/hoven/debrah.php Doctoral website: http://cde.athabascau.ca/programs/doctoral/intro.php Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/debrah Blog:http://deincanada.blogspot.com/

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