Chairing a Dissertation in Practice: Challenges and Opportunities Sara B. Ewell, PhD s.ewell@neu.edu Northeastern University Elan Paulson, PhD elan.paulson@uwo.ca Western University SARA: Language: CHAIR: Chairing for overseeing a dissertation, chair also facilitates the dissertation; Advising to give professional advice; In other places, chairing and advising are synonymous DIP: Doctoral thesis Each give context of the programs we are coming from--what is our perspective ELAN: Email sheet for this session going for follow up

Agenda Welcome and Sharing Stories (15 minutes) Defining the Unique Work of Online Chairing (15 minutes) Opportunities and Challenges (15 minutes) How Technology Shapes Online Chairing (15 minutes) Relationship Building (15 minutes) Technology Tools (10 minutes) SARA:

Stories of Chairing Online Dissertations (10 min) PART 1: RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE EVER... PART 2: PAIR SHARE: Turn to a partner, introduce yourself, and describe one recent experience/challenge that you or a colleague has had chairing online dissertations. ELAN: STORIES Please raise your hand if you have been in a situation in which: One committee members has never checked they are available on a Doodle poll A student is entirely silent until 2 days before a deadline, then sends 20 email messages A group of students has worked themselves up into a frenzy on their private cohort Facebook group The wifi stops working only as soon as the defense begins SARA: PAIR-SHARE INSTRUCTIONS AND FACILITATION

Who is Involved in Chairing a DiP SARA: WE DESCRIBE Students: shift in expectations and comfort, technology, independence Faculty: social presence, relationship building, expectations, providing feedback--how, when, why, building social networks for students and faculty, technology, policies Administration: policies, building social networks for all Staff: Paperwork, Scheduling, Handling Concerns, Supporting Technology

What is the Work of Chairing an Online DiP? DiP policies and procedures Providing feedback on writing drafts Setting clear expectations about timely completion Assisting candidate in DiP defense preparation Selection of DiP topic, methodology, structure Assisting candidate in data collection & analysis Negotiation of DiP timeline Assisting candidate in navigating IRB/ethics processes Ensuring technical and ethical quality of research Developing a quality DiP proposal or prospectus Guiding selection of readings and research methods Assisting candidate in proposal defense process(es) ELAN: THE NATURE OF THE CHAIRING WORK IS: Complex Changing depending on the student’s progress Complicated with additional barriers given that all of this work is technology-mediated GENERAL LIST: Your institution might be slightly different WE DESCRIBE Students: shift in expectations and comfort, technology, independence Faculty: social presence, relationship building, expectations, providing feedback--how, when, why, building social networks for students and faculty, technology, policies Administration: policies, building social networks for all Staff: Paperwork, Scheduling, Handling Concerns, Supporting Technology

Large Group Discussion Activity (10 min) Chairing | Online | EdDs How is online chairing different from online course instruction? How is online chairing different from F2F chairing? How is chairing a DiP different from a PhD thesis? ELAN: FACILITATE

Opportunities and Challenges of Online Chairing Some Opportunities Access Convenience Flexibility Looking at the same issue in varied contexts Social and professional networks across the world Some Challenges Isolation Building relationships Depending on technology Providing feedback, bringing together committee members Handling paperwork ELAN DESCRIBE

Small Group Discussion Activity (10 min) In small groups, discuss How and when you started chairing; What have been your greatest challenges in online chairing; How you have attempted to overcome/address those challenges. In the large group, we will share responses. SARA FACILITATE Mix “new” & “experienced”

How Technology Helps and Hinders the Chairing Process Keeps folks organized Facilitates communication among multiple individuals/groups Provides opportunities for multi- modal feedback Written records Hinders Students expect immediate responses Depth of feedback difficult When students “go offline” Varying skills sets with new tools Privacy issues Emotional support SARA DESCRIBE

Large Group Discussion on Relationship Building (10 minutes) The key to effective online advising may be relationship-building What are some effective strategies for building strong relationships with advisees online? chair SARA FACILITATE ELAN TAKES NOTES

Closing Questions Thanks CIG in Online EdD Programs: Wednesday, June 14 (10:30am-11:30am), Conference Room B