Dear LDHEN,
I don't know whether this BoingBoing post has already gone the rounds
(it's from August 2010 and I haven't been on the list that long).
Apologies if it has, but I wanted to share it as it's something I come
back to time and time again. The article
(http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/30/question-how-long-wo.html) is
titled "How long would your PhD have taken if everything worked?" and
the (fairly tongue-in-cheek) answer is 6 months - including 3 to write
the thesis : )
I've used this post as a discussion-provoker many times in class, not
only because of the interest of the argument itself but also because the
comments thread has some amazing stuff about the learning process and
the development of learner identity. My favourite is Complicity's
response
(http://boingboing.net/2010/08/30/question-how-long-wo.html#comment-229147722):
"The PhD's outcome is not the thesis - that's just a byproduct, an
artefact, a recording - but the critical thinking, understanding and
knowledge of the person who earns the PhD. You're not the person who
started the PhD; you're someone else."
(I was prompted to share because the comments thread disappeared for a
while and I was so desolate that I emailed and asked BoingBoing to
reinstate it - and they have!)
All good wishes,
Emma.
--
Dr. Emma Coonan, M.Sc.
Research Skills& Development Librarian
Cambridge University Library
Tel. 01223-747457
--
"Historical precedent shows that we can turn out amazing human beings
without technology. Precedent also shows that we can turn out very
uninteresting human beings with technology." (Steve Jobs)
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