Ok, I'm tired out - and that's saying something for the master of being busy. I've just been taking part in the weekly #phdchat on twitter and it's been a revelation. Twitter, I've found, is an important part of my Phd process as it gives me my own research community of diverse individuals. Tonight we discussed doing a literature review and I've loved the suggestions, links, connections and - well, sense of genuine community. Of course 99% of my work is isolated, but that other 1% is much needed. The more I go on the more I realise I just need to be confident in ploughing my path, as no one is doing the exact same thing (he says hoping).
One of the functions of conversations on twitter is they give you an informal reference point. You get to check if your understandings stand up (they did, but then the group is kind) and you get to push out the boundaries of your understanding. Following a rapid online conversation helps get your mind into creative mode: you need to make multiple connections and follow multiple threads, so your brain is helped to that state. I'd like to think that will pay dividends over the next few days thinking wise.
I'm a silent visitor!
ReplyDeleteIan thanks for the post and insider scoop on #PhdChat. (Unfortunately, I'm over here on the other side of the pond and the time simply doesn't work with my job.)
ReplyDeleteBut I wanted to heartily agree with on your thoughts about Twitter and the development of scholarly thought. For me Twitter has been a major "game-changer" in my doctoral journey. While I have good connections with people in my program, we don't really share the same philosophy or research interest. Twitter, however, has opened me up to a community of like-minded thinkers that offer my research a depth and dimension I would not have had otherwise.
Additionally, as I start to put more and more of my own work out there--through my blog and other publication sources--the feedback I have been getting from my Twitter community has been invaluable.
The challenge, however, is that until you experience it yourself it is hard to understand. When I recommend Twitter to PhD friends they think I'm suggesting just another social outlet (which none of us have time for!).
Thanks again!
David
Great to have you visit, david. Perhaps one day I'll achieve the sort of fluency and grasp that you've got. I've have similar (non) conversations with peers at Uni. Suspect same people work with a different paradigm of learning and 'knowledge' as well ;)
ReplyDeleteVery thooughtful blog
ReplyDelete