Supervision of graduate students is a challenging journey that the supervisor (advisor) and the student embark on together. It includes not only academic guidance, but also prolonged nurturing of the student’s personal, scholarly, and professional development. This presentation discusses various issues about the delicate relationship between graduate student (supervisee) and the supervisor, the do's and don'ts and ways to manage the relationship successfully.
11. “Watching a fresh graduate become an independent scholar, plan the project, execute the plan with care and thoughtfulness, write up the results and present their first published paper at a conference is a wonderful experience…” Abd Karim Alias@2010
12. Prepare for the onslaught of failure Perseverance Persistent determination Tenacity Ability to clearly articulate ideas Cogency Abd Karim Alias@2010 [akarim@usm.my]
16. “The relationship between student and supervisor is about as close as many marriages, and lasts as long as many marriages. It’s a fairly good analogy in several ways. One important issue is compatibility” Abd Karim Alias@2010 [akarim@usm.my]
17. “It’s not your supervisor’s job to put up with every unpleasant idiosyncrasy of every idiot who wants to do a PhD with them. As a student, you are an apprentice, not a customer who is always right” Abd Karim Alias@2010 [akarim@usm.my]
18. “The role of a supervisor is critical to the successful outcome of the candidate” (Delamont et al., 1997) Student & supervisor take a fair share of responsibility Abd Karim Alias@2010 [akarim@usm.my]
19. Point B: Learning goal The distance can be huge & the path may not be obvious Point A: What student currently know 16 AbdKarim Alias@2010 Image source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/
20. To guide and mentor students in such a way that they can LEARN about the systematic processes of discovery... AbdKarim Alias@2008
21. “The role of the supervisor is NOT to transmit knowledge but rather to ‘scaffold’ learning experiences of an increasingly complex nature…..” (Vygotsky, 1978). AbdKarim Alias@2008
22. Vast knowledge to be explored… A supervisor can only guide; learning & exploring is done entirely by the student 19 Abd Karim Alias@2010 [akarim@usm.my] Image source: http:// sciencebhakta.wordpress.com
23. It’s YOUR Masters/PhD, not the supervisor’s! If you can’t be bothered to work on making it happen, why should they? AbdKarim Alias@2008
25. Define research problem Review the literature Formulate hypothesis Design research Collect data Analyse data Interpret & report Abd Karim Alias@2010 [akarim@usm.my]
29. Developing methodology (experimental design, experiments, sampling procedure, sample size, analytical procedures, etc.)IMPORTANT: Don’t take things for granted OR don’t assume too much!! Abd Karim Alias@2010 [akarim@usm.my]
61. is able to foster growth of individualsAbdKarim Alias@2008
62. “Perhaps most importantly a good supervisor knows when to do these things and can move comfortably between these functions and has the skills, knowledge and abilities to perform them. …” (Vilkinas, 2002) AbdKarim Alias@2008
80. There isn’t a single type of ‘right’ student or ‘right’ supervisor! Each type of supervisor will be well suited to some types of student. Abd Karim Alias@2010 [akarim@usm.my]
145. Some classic habits that irritate the supervisor Failing to take deadlines seriously Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
146. Some classic habits that irritate the supervisor Failing to respect the supervisor’s time pressures Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
147. Some classic habits that irritate the supervisor Dumping demands on the supervisor at the last minute. Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
148. Some classic habits that irritate the supervisor Expecting the supervisor to read every draft, usually by the next day. Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
149. Some classic habits that irritate the supervisor Expecting the supervisor to organize everything. Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
150. Some classic ways to underminesupervisee relationship with supervisor Hiding(yourself, or real or imagined problems) Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
152. Some classic ways to underminesupervisee relationship with supervisor Ignoring (advice you don’t understand; advice you don’t like) Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
153. Some classic ways to undermine supervisee relationship with supervisor Mixing (business with pleasure or with personal issues) Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
154. Some classic ways to underminesupervisee relationship with supervisor Gossiping (about your supervisor or colleagues) Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
155. Some classic ways to undermine your relationship with supervisor Denigrating (your supervisor, department or institution) Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
156. Some classic ways to underminesupervisee relationship with your supervisor Bypassing (your supervisor, by making decisions without due consultation) Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
157. Some classic ways to undermine your relationship with your supervisor Assuming (what something meant; what you’re entitled to do) Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
158. Classic problems that are FATAL to the supervisory relationship ’isms: sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, etc. Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
159. Classic problems that are FATAL to the supervisory relationship Intellectual property issues Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
160. Classic problems that are FATAL to the supervisory relationship Non-communication Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008
161. Let’s hope you are not one of this… AbdKarim Alias@2008
162. Classic problems that are FATAL to the supervisory relationship Harassment – sexual harassment, bullying, damaging insensitivity Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryner/402838100 AbdKarim Alias@2008