Supervising thesis work what is expected

1
Supervising thesis work what is expected?

• CBACCI workshop for teachers
• 28.11.2003
• Lena M. Levander,
• Viikki Educational Development Service,
• University of Helsinki

2
Supervising what is expected?
Student Supervisor Professor Examiners Scientific
community Degree programme Prospective employers
Educational goal? Outcome?
3
As a supervisor -

• What do you expect?
• How do you communicate this to your student?
• How do you see the potential of your student?
• What do you want to learn yourself?
• Do you accept that your student may have brighter
  ideas than you have?
• Are you following the ethical standards of
  scientific work?

4
Students expect their supervisors to

• Read their work
• Be available for consultation
• Be friendly, open and supportive
• Be constructively critical
• Have good knowledge of the research area
• Structure the tutorial exchange ideas
• Have interest to give more informaton
• To be sufficiently involved
• Monitor, not control
• Light Cox 2001

5
Some critical issues

• Expectations do not meet
• Failure to see the whole and possible parts of it
• Lack of planning, no timetables agreed
• Lack of sufficient communication
• Unrespectful attitudes
• Responsibilities not shared
• Getting started
• Writers blocks

6
Some causes for writing problems

• Inner censors
• Fear of failure
• Negative thoughts
• Procrastination
• Perfectionism
• Bad working habits
• Boice 1993

7
Supervisors four basic interaction skills

• Observation and acceptive listening
• Open questions
• Giving constructive feedback
• Summarising and checking understanding

8
How to avoid worst potholes?

• Discuss expectations
• Agree on ground rules
• Clarify roles and responsibilities
• Make together a written plan for the supervision
  process