Last job....

Yesterday, 25.08.2011, last working day before eid leave....The author have presented her proposal for new 'university' grant application even the grant just under rm10k budget...She just do it to apply,hopefully she'll get the grant insyaallah....

About the frustration on her failure few things before this, her heart always think on ALLah and feel thankful to Him for all the achievement that she have been achieve....even though it just small pieces but it was so significant in her life......and she will try harder and harder to strive in her career...Insyaallah..........



Glad to share this article...very impressive in boosting the motivation!!!!!!!!!!!!

Top 40 Potential Viva Questions

my selection of the Top 40 Potential Viva Questions.

1. Can you start by summarising your thesis?
2. Now, can you summarise it in one sentence?
3. What is the idea that binds your thesis together?
4. What motivated and inspired you to carry out this research?
5. What are the main issues and debates in this subject area?
6. Which of these does your research address?
7. Why is the problem you have tackled worth tackling?
8. Who has had the strongest influence in the development of your subject area in theory and practice?
9. Which are the three most important papers that relate to your thesis?
10. What published work is closest to yours? How is your work different?
11. What do you know about the history of [insert something relevant]?
12. How does your work relate to [insert something relevant]?
13. What are the most recent major developments in your area?
14. How did your research questions emerge?
15. What were the crucial research decisions you made?
16. Why did you use this research methodology? What did you gain from it?
17. What were the alternatives to this methodology?
18. What would you have gained by using another approach?
19. How did you deal with the ethical implications of your work?
20. How has your view of your research topic changed?
21. How have you evaluated your work?
22. How do you know that your findings are correct?
23. What are the strongest/weakest parts of your work?
24. What would have improved your work?
25. To what extent do your contributions generalise?
26. Who will be most interested in your work?
27. What is the relevance of your work to other researchers?
28. What is the relevance of your work to practitioners?
29. Which aspects of your work do you intend to publish – and where?
30. Summarise your key findings.
31. Which of these findings are the most interesting to you? Why?
32. How do your findings relate to literature in your field?
33. What are the contributions to knowledge of your thesis?
34. How long-term are these contributions?
35. What are the main achievements of your research?
36. What have you learned from the process of doing your PhD?
37. What advice would you give to a research student entering this area?
38. You propose future research. How would you start this?
39. What would be the difficulties?
40. And, finally… What have you done that merits a PhD?

Rebecca

Addendum: Rebecca successfully defended her thesis on 21st August 2009.

Unfinished mission- C...D...E..................

Even my aim for this journey was achived...BUT now I still have few things to settle down before back for good.......

C- Correction- 2 in 1- my big aim and another one is DEIT 2011 paper ...I target to settle down before deliver my baby by end of January 2011


D-Deliver- new baby this coming 29 Jan 2011, may everything will going on smoothly......even this is my fourth time, nervous and cautios feelings still exists.....


E-Extension visa, have to submit the application since our visa will expire by end of January 2011 and we only can back the earliest time is after March 2011 because my spouse still have to achieve his aim like me as well.....and to make sure myself is strong enough after deliver...................


May everything will be easy and not so many barriers for me insyaallah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These pictures during my 'aim achieved ' day....10 days ago...........

before the 'exam'

with my office mate-just beside my workstation from Nigeria...Bridget

with my 'backbone' thanks darling............

thanks my dear azah: ex-office mate too....gave treats to us .....thank you so much..your day will come soon.....

my strength in my journey...love you all so much.......................

Just sharing some valuable story from AP Dr Norzaidi Daud...

I'm proud with his and her wife' s achievement ...and I'm attracted with his experience during his viva few years ago...can click here for details....

Can I dream being academicians like him??????even seems like impossible...but it is not wrong for dream it ?????Wallahaualam....

Writing Always not Writing Up

'writing related issues often play a significant role in preventing or delaying completion of Phds"
(Torrance & Thomas, 1994)


Facilitating Student Writing: Issues and strategies
Dont get it right, get it well written - write early, write often

strategies for student:
- review other theses in the discipline
-talk to other students/graduates
-research and write simultaneously
-do a thesis plan (T.O.C.) early and keep it growing as the research proceeds
-work flexibly with your thesis plan
-set clear writing goals and milestones
-talk what you want to say into a tape
-break big tasks down into manageable chunks
-reward yourself for progress, mark achievements
-build safeguard into timeline
-re-frame: view writing as a series of hoops to jump through (achieveable tasks) rather than a test of intelligence or endurance
-dont stall or get bogged down in detail; if this happens take a short break

Problems with writing

-fear of supervisor's feedback or of supervisor in general
-fatigue: too many 'binges', binge-only writing, more 'snacks' needed, more rest? binges can be aversive, leaving you feeling drained
-lack of momentum: redefine this not as lack of progress, but as limited relationship between writing session.
-not writing often enough
-lack of rewards
-signalling problems: you cannot find your way in your own writing
-not achieving high enough standard in writing

Strategies for unblocking

-free writing
-generative writing
-mind mapping
verbal rehearsal
-write down all you know about X
-write down all your ideas abot X
-construct a sense of ending: visualize the completed thesis

becoming a serial writer
-write regurlarly
-measure your actual output:count/calculate the number of words/pages you write per hour/week
-plan and give a work-in- progress presentation
-plan and write chapters pf your thesis
-submit conference abstract
-set yourself writing tasks:define form, content, length of time, number of words before you start
-continue freewriting to develop your ideas and build confidence

workshop by Dr. Catherine Manathunga and Dr Wendy Green (UQ/TEDI)
12 March 2009, Conference Room Duhid Bldg

courtesy of my UUM friend at Brisbane; Fatimah Zaily Ahmad

How will you be assessed?

The assessment(Interim Assessment) considers:
-clarity of esearch focus
-completion of LR
-brief review of the work already taken
-presentation of data findings taken
-knowledge of particular field
-details of contribution
-plans for future work
-progress of work so far

Doctoral Class Training...

I've attend two doctoral class training within 2 weeks....Just two...
Last 17th Jan, I've attend on Evaluations in Phd Research conducted by Dr Maria Kutar; IRIS. The aim of the slot are:
a) to examine the concept of evaluation
b) to explore the nature of evidence
c) to provide an opportunity for researcher to examine how will the researcher evaluate the research byself

Evaluation here refer to reflection on the PhD process....
The reflection:
-determine the extent to which the researcher have achieved the original aims
-critically assess the validity of the researcher's result
-consider what you wolud do differently
-sometimes reflective practice will be hide in some research methods,
in the Phd process is still require the explicit reflection.....

Then today,4th February, I've got chance to attend doctoral training conducted by Dr Peter Scofield;MaMS....He delivered the points of Introduction to Quantitative Research Method articulately and precisely although it's quite though session....
The highlights form the session:
> Learning outcomes -he introduce the new term to me ~~~~~~'hypothetico-deductive'
> Types of research ~~~
# core function; pure and applied
# information needs;
exploratory,descriptive,explanatory,causal,comparative and
predictive
# methodology;
quantitative,qualitative and mixed method
> Inductive and Deductive Process-graphically figure......
> Tenets of Quantitative Methodology-15 informative points
> Increase in the use of surveys > Other issues with surneys > Surveys in context
> Questionnaire construction
> Response sets in survey design (he more emphasize this section...)
> Other quatitative methods
> Overlaps between Quantitative and Qualitative data collection
> Validity and Realibility
> The key issues/Conclusion.....

Reward yourself based TimeBoxing...

Use Timeboxing

For tasks you've been putting off for a while, I recommend using the time boxing method to get started. Here's how it works: First, select a small piece of the task you can work on for just 30 minutes. Then choose a reward you will give yourself immediately afterwards. The reward is guaranteed if you simply put in the time; it doesn't depend on any meaningful accomplishment.Examples include watching your favorite TV show, seeing a movie, enjoying a meal or snack, going out with friends, going for a walk, or doing anything you find pleasurable. Because the amount of time you'll be working on the task is so short, your focus will shift to the impending pleasure of the reward instead of the difficulty of the task. No matter how unpleasant the task,there's virtually nothing you can't endure for just 30 minutes if you have a big enough reward waiting for you.When you timebox your tasks, you may discover that something very interesting happens. You will probably find that you continue working much longer than 30minutes. You will often get so involved in a task, even a difficult one, that you actually want to keep working on it.

Before you know it, you've put in an hour or even several hours. The certainty of your reward is still there, so you know you can enjoy it whenever you're ready to stop. Once you begin taking action, your focus shifts away from worrying about the difficulty of the task and towards finishing the current piece of the task which now has your full attention.When you do decide to stop working, claim your reward, and enjoy it. Then schedule another 30-minute period to work on the task with another reward.This will help you associate more and more pleasure to the task, knowing that you will always be immediately rewarded for your efforts. Working towards distant and uncertain long-term rewards is not nearly as motivating as immediate short-term rewards. By rewarding yourself for simply putting in the time, instead of for any specific achievements, you'll be eager to return to work on your task again and again, and you'll ultimately finish it.

You may also want to read my blog entry on time boxing.The writing of this article serves as a good example of applying the above techniques. I could have said to myself, "I have to finish this 2000-word article, and it has to be perfect." So first I remember that I don't have to write anything; I freely choose to write articles. Then I realize that I have plenty of time to do a good job, and that I don't need to be perfect because if I start early enough, I have plenty of time to make revisions. I also tell myself that if I just keep starting, I will eventually be done. Before I started this article, I didn't have a topic selected, so I used the time boxing method to get that done. Having dinner was my reward. I knew that at the end of 30 minutes of working on the task, I could eat, and I was hungry at the time, so that was good motivation for me. It took me a few minutes to pick the topic of overcoming procrastination, and I spent the rest of the time writing down some ideas and making a very rough outline. When the time was up, I stopped working and had dinner, and it really felt like I'd earned that meal.The next morning I used the same 30-minute time boxing method, making breakfast my reward. However, I got so involved in the task that I'm still writing 90 minutes later. I know I'm free to stop at any time and that my reward is waiting for me, but having overcome the inertia of getting started, the natural tendency is to continue working. In essence I've reversed the problem of procrastination by staying with the task and delaying gratification. The net result is that I finish my article early and have a rewarding breakfast.I hope this article has helped you gain a greater insight into the causes ofprocrastination and how you can overcome it.

Realize that procrastination is caused by associating some form of pain or unpleasantness to the task you arecontemplating. The way to overcome procrastination is simply to reduce the pain and increase the pleasure you associate with beginning a task, thus allowing you to overcome inertia and build positive forward momentum. And if you begin any task again and again, you will ultimately finish it.--

Part of article Procrastination by Steve Pavlina, CEO, Dexterity Software

For full version can click here...


For other version article on Procrasination click here

I'm back again after long time 'hang on'

13th May 2008

my second online course (1300-1500) venue:16 esmond road
HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE RESEARCHER
by Dr Jim Beach

What I understand from him:
effective comes from word impressive and produces the intended results

Being Effective Researcher means being as effective worker and effective scholar

To be effective worker must have FIVE features which are:
-ROBUST FILING SYSTEM
-DYNAMIC PROJECT PLAN
-DOCUMENTING SUPERVISORY MEETINGS
-WORK/LIFE PLANING
-CHOOSING WHAT NOT TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULDN'T DO!!!!


To be effective scholar must have FIVE features too which are:
-INDEXED ' IDEAS' NOTEBOOK
-TANGENIAL READING)e.g blogs,fotopages etc
-ACTIVITY LOG
-EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC NETWORKING besides attend conferences. online forum or blogs also can be the tools
-TRUSTED SOUNDING BOARDS

actually I listened from my house due unable to go school...although some diificulties that I had face on, I managed to listened for almost 2 hours talks from Dr Jim.....CONGRATULATIONS INTAN!!!!!!!!