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hejduk

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Everything posted by hejduk

  1. Agreed! I've found that the first two weeks of this semester was the worst by far, and now I'm finally getting into a groove. I try to be on campus 9-5 everyday (give or take) and then go home and do NO work whatsoever. I've taught before numerous times as a solo instructor, who made all my curricula, but now I'm in a new class with a new setup (computer lab vs traditional classroom setting). I have two fellow TAs who have taught the class for several semesters and are quite helpful when I have questions, but I still doubt how good I'm doing. I'm so used to knowing the curriculum, knowing each class step-by-step, but this new setting and class just has me off my game. I know it'll take time, but it's still tough to not worry about how my student evals will be at the end of the semester Grad school is about proving you can make it. It's a horrible, crappy, frustrating process, but if you're enrolled and attending classes, then you've won half the battle right there. Let us remember to keep our heads up, appreciate this privilege we have, and to just take a breath when things get us down.
  2. What part? It's a qualitative vs. quantitative research query, and knowing how one discovers which they fit into.
  3. Interesting... I've been told mixed methods is good and bad; depending on whom i'm talking to. I can only see strength in being mixed methods, while not believing the argument that mixed methods is "bastardizing" the purity of a single focus. I'm definitely more qual... I'm more with qual methods and data collection, but I can't truly say that stats will never come in, so I'm all for both.
  4. Besides sucking at math (!), how you do you're more geared towards qual vs quant, or vice versa? My advertising background makes me feel pretty comfortable in qualitative, but how do I know for sure?
  5. Agreed to all the above! I have about four semesters of solo teaching at a public university, and have started my PhD in the attempts of securing full-time employment. Adjuncting is a stop-gap, not a way of life! I absolutely love the mentoring aspect of teaching, and have nothing but joy when I see a student a few semesters after having them in class going on to something greater (grad school, employment, etc). I'm having a hard time finding people at my program that are "open" about wanting to pursue teaching gigs, rather then the R1 research route. Hopefully I can find people for my committee that are teaching centered with some research experience as well. I think teaching is even more important now with public accountability of teaching methods and wanting to know that profs are actually doing something int he classroom. It's so disheartening to hear "research focused" teachers say they absolutely hate teaching!
  6. I'm one of those people, but I have to walk a fine line in my dept. There's definitely a favoritism towards research, as the university is an R1. There are profs in the dept who are more teachers than researchers, but it seems that they are treated as the black sheep of the dept. I'm wondering if there are any members on the boards who are leaning towards pedagogy rather than research, and what tips or advice they have to get through this PhD in one piece. I've been told I need to learn to like research, which I honestly intend to do, but to also keep my interests in teaching on the "down low". God I hope this doesn't start a research vs. teaching flamefest.
  7. Found out that I can be done with my PhD coursework in 4 semesters total. While I'm probably an idiot to be looking this far ahead in the future, I'm wondering how many of you fellow COMM people were actually able to complete your dissertation in 1-2 semesters? I know the time frame can be adjusted a lot depending on topic, method, etc, but just interested to hear people's thoughts. I know that deadlines are made to be broken, but man would it be great to be done in 3 years!
  8. I ban laptops and cellphones. Caught with either, and the student will be asked to leave class. But with doing this, I, as the professor must really engage my students. I think no technology is tough for students at first, but then after a week or so they feel quite comfortable engaging and really conversing with each other. I think we all have a responsibility to take our classrooms back, but we must be willing to step up and present truly innovative learning experiences.
  9. Same problem here. All of my cohort are from different countries, and we have no common bond (other than the PhD program!). We're all so busy too, so it's hard to make friends. all the above comments are good suggestions though, and I'll definitely try to utilize them.
  10. I've got a Facebook profile (well actually two; one for personal and one for work) and currently I have my Facebook profile URL as www.facebook.com/professor_someone's_name. I use to adjunct, and was told by my colleagues that students could call me professor (which I know I wasn't, but was rather an adjunct or instructor). While my new dept is laid back, I don't want to be calling myself the wrong thing. I include my Facebook link in the bottom of my email signature, as students use is a lot to contact me, etc. So now that I'm a PhD student, should I change my Facebook URL to facebook.com/instructor_someone's_name or is there another title I should be using? I include the link in every email, and I'd hate for some faculty member to be saying, "Why is so and so using the title "Professor" when he's only a PhD student?" (I'm guessing I'll hear more for Instructor.) Hope that makes sense!
  11. All great advice! I actually had someone email me and further give details about how to communicate. Man I love this place!!
  12. In the same boat, but wouldn't have it any other way. We moved cross-country, and it's something exciting for both of us to face these new challenges together. Definitely has made our relationship stronger. Sure she probably gets sick of me b!tching about my cohort, etc, but at least she pretends like she's listening! Oh, and statistically those that are married are more likely to finish their PhD.
  13. Right now, I'm sure we're all faxing inbox overload. What organization scheme do you have to quickly and efficiently organize your emails? I'm using Microsoft Outlook at work, and currently I have: Advising Classes (Enrolled-in and teaching) Dissertation Faculty Friends ListServs Personal Staff Teaching (I'm pursuing a teaching certificate) anyone have recommendations on how to better organize this, or want to share how you organize your inbox?
  14. I'm the only American in my new grad program, with the rest of my cohort being students that have recently relocated to the US. I feel like it's tough to approach the other students, and that it's tough to speak with them because I'm American. How can I be more approachable and friendly? I'm going to be with these people for 4+ years, so I want to make sure that we at least get along. I absolutely love other cultures, but sometimes feel like I'm tough to approach as they're all international students. They have a shared experience as they're all experiencing a new country and culture, while I'm just experiencing a new program. Hard to create bonds with people, so how do I try and find common bonds? Anyone have advice on how to come off as more approachable/friendly? I don't wanna be the typical loud/obnoxious American!!
  15. Glad I'm not the only one! And you make a great point about "chasing dreams and enriching my mind"; helps put it in perspective. This whole PhD thing is a priviledge, and not a right. Glad I'm here and proud to know I have the opportunity that only so few have. I'm guessing the fatigue for most people is just related to getting back into the grind?
  16. Just moved across the country to a new state. Took a GTA position for a new class I've never taught. Overwhelmed with learning a new town and campus. It's the first week and I'm already exhausted! Is this just me, or others feeling this way already? Whoo it's gonna be a slog this first semester!
  17. My advisor was supposed to have taken care of this weeks ago, but I found out this week (literally days before classes start) that my situation hadn't been cleared-up yet. Basically, my GTA sections overlap a required course by over fifty minutes. My advisor told me to just stay patient, and we'd get it figured out. The advisor apparently didn't their part, and I was stuck defending for myself in front of the dept chair. He just in town from vacation and I left him a VM and email. The dept chair emailed me back last night and said he was trying to switch my sections with another TA. While it sounds great that I might have a conclusion to my issue, but it makes me feel like an ass to my fellow GTAer that is having to switch sections with me. If I were the other person, I"m sure I wouldnt' be very happy, also given that all GTAs and teachers are meeting this wkend. IF the other GTA switches sections with me, and therefore no overlap in my section and class, should I just quickly thank him? Ignore the situation and just realized thanking the GTA sticks my neck out too early? I"m one of those people that always thanks people, but I also don't want to look like some needy idiot going into our first week of class.
  18. As the title asks, is it worth to join, or just another thing pulling time away from studies, family, etc? Seems like it'd be helpful, especially in the sense of networking (at least on my campus), but the potential added time away from other things is big negative.
  19. I've got all the social networks setup (Twitter, etc), and man is it a PITA to keep them all up!! Academia.edu is useful in that it's all academics in one place. Cool to list your research topics, and then have potential contacts recommended based on your research topics. You can ask questions and fellow members can answer the question you've posted. My Academia.edu page is, at this point, just an extension of LinkedIn for me: i post the same news articles from LinkedIn onto Academia.edu. I've made some good contacts on Academia.edu, and it's a good resource, but then again it's yet another thing to keep up. Google+ has great potential. I can't see it replacing any other social network (ie. LinkedIn, Academia.org) until it's made open to the public, and it has the membership that the other networks have. Great start so far though.
  20. That's unfortunate that you couldn't express your views... Life is bland without others' views, so I'm even more glad to have found a place I feel will be open to discussions.
  21. I think it depends on the relationship you have with the people in question. You need to keep your cards close to your chest as you start out (which I'm doing this fall), but I'd think as you develop relationships with people that these topics will eventually come up. Also depends on if you bring it up, or if it's brought up. I'd refrain from bringing up personally, but if someone asks me, you'll have to think about how you'll respond. I think you can discuss any situation in a respectful way, but not everyone can respond with such care. I'm an opinionated person, but carry myself quite carefully around newly-made relationships.
  22. The latest version of Office for Mac is just spot-on. Open Office for me was just always a horrible experience. I'm a fierce open-source advocate, but Office is just a no-brainer for me (at least in my situation and needs!).
  23. All the tech blogs (Engadget, Gizmodo, etc) are stating that Lion will be out soon (only available through App Store), and the upgraded Macbook Airs are on the way. MB and MBP upgrades I believe were already made earlier this year, and therefore, not another refresh until next year.
  24. Gotta be careful here... If they only deduct state, then you'll have to pony up for the Federal taxes when uncle sam comes knocking. Make sure to put enough back so you're not hurting when you file, and have a sudden unexpected tax burden to pay.
  25. hejduk

    iPad

    Do you have a lot of media like photos, videos, etc? If no, then don't purchase the 64Gb. I'm a media-holic, so the 64Gb is only way I roll.
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