Dear drawing researchers. We've had a few postings recently with
attachments. Some subscribers cannot access attached files (even worse they
receive 2000 lines of code in the message!) and have asked me to remind
members that JISCmail discussion lists should not use attachments. I'm sure
you will have your own opinions about the sharing of graphic images in what
is after all a forum about drawing. One way would be to upload images to a
web site and provide the web address in our postings but I realise this is
not possible for all. With use of the drawing-research discussion list in
mind I asked Ken Friedman if he had a list of tips for good JISCmail
practice. He's kindly composed a reply specifically for the drawing-research
list and I've copied this below. Please feel free to share other examples of
good practice.
Steve Garner
Use of drawing-research email discussion list
Ken Friedman
A General Perspective
Email discussion lists are now a major primary medium of scholarly
communication. This can make lists such as 'drawing-research' a valuable
resource. The value of an email discussion list is based on network effects.
The list grows more valuable as more people use it.
The rapid response time and format of a discussion list make it useful for
all kinds of scholarly communication. This includes bulletins, conference
calls, journal calls, news notes, research queries, information requests,
and general correspondence. It also includes threads, focused debates, and
social interaction. Beyond this is a possibility that is common in many
fields but not in research: using the list and the associated archive as a
medium for publishing research drafts and working papers for comments and
response.
Design and art research lists lag behind those in other fields. If our field
is to develop, it is important for individual subscribers to participate
more actively, both in sharing news and information items, and in sharing
and discussing research issues.
If it is worth subscribing to a list, it is worth taking an active part.
1. Play an Active Role -- Selectively
It is not necessary to participate in every thread to play an active role in
a list. Many people seem to be shy about writing, particularly if English is
their second or third language.
My view is that it is worth posting on a subject if one has genuine
knowledge and something to say. In my case, I tend to post most often to the
PhD-Design list. The main reason for this is the fact that much of my
research activity focuses on the issues that occur there. When a post comes
up on which I do have something to say, I post.
2. Settings and Attachments
When sending a posting to [log in to unmask] set your email to
send only plain-text ascii and NOT HTML. The HTML simply sends a doubled
message HTML code.
Attachments cause problems for some subscribers. Frustratingly, attachments
are converted into hundreds of lines of code for those who take the list in
daily digest format.
3. Good Writing Makes a Difference
A thread that is interesting enough to deserve a comment deserves a
well-written comment. Even when English is not a first language, it is
possible to write well. One way to write well is to compose notes in a word
processor program such as Microsoft Word. Once the post is edited and
polished, it can be transferred to email by copying and pasting.
4. Avoid "Me-too" Posts to the List
While any substantive post is welcome, it is generally unnecessary to post
the sorts of "yes, I agree" notes that are called "me-too" posts. In
contrast, a short note adding reflections, nuances, or proposing different
views is always useful.
5. Use Private Posts to Build Community
The appropriate way to thank an author for a good post is a quick private
note. Most good lists have a rich life among list members. These lists tend
to see what is known as "back-channel" activity. A "me-too" post is always
appropriate when an enthusiastic reader sends it in private to a specific
writer.
6. Share Resources
On my main lists, I always take time to share resources. Those of you who
also subscribe to PhD-Design will notice that I often post Web site
descriptions, conference calls, funding announcements, and the like. In
fact, I post anything I locate that I believe will serve the community of
subscribers. This kind of posting helps to build a list community and it
improves the state of research in our field.
7. Enroll Your Friends and Colleagues
A general problem among lists for research in art and design is that lists
are too small. My observation is that a list needs critical mass to blossom
and grow lively. My sense is that lists in most fields need around 1000
members to generate critical mass. With around 100 subscribers,
drawing-research is far below critical mass.
Anyone who is serious about drawing research ought to invite students,
friends, and colleagues to subscribe. I do not know why people in our field
are reluctant to invite others to subscribe to the lists we read. Perhaps
some of us want to keep this information secret. Perhaps others are
embarrassed to ask. Mostly, I think we tend to be lazy.
Generating additional subscribers is a way to build research community.
Until then, we can each play a more active role in making this list the kind
of place where people want to read and write.
8. What Can We Do to Build a Better Research Community?
From time to time, I ask myself what I can do to build a better research
community. Most of the time, an answer is visible. When I know what it is
that I can do, I do it.
Is drawing research worth pursuing? If it is, ask yourself what you can do
and do it. Whatever it is, you can do a lot of it on this list.
Ken Friedman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Leadership and Strategic Design
Department of Leadership and Organization
Norwegian School of Management
Visiting Professor
Advanced Research Institute
School of Art and Design
Staffordshire University
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