What is it about?
This paper describes and analyses what it feels like to be a doctoral student alongside having a professional work role, and the way that these roles are affected by using social media tools. Available open access at http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/23791 Available via the University of Huddersfield repository http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/20383/
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Why is it important?
Social media is a popular way of developing and maintaining a professional identity and for connecting with other professionals. It is also a powerful tool for reducing the isolation felt by doctoral students and it offers other possibilities related to undertaking a doctoral study (access to knowledgeable others, being in tune with national debates related to your topic etc). However being at the same time a professional and a student presents a dual role that doctoral students who use social media need to tread. This paper helps to open up the possibilities and challenges of using social media for professional doctorate students.
Perspectives
I hope that doctoral students who are using (or are thinking about using) social media such as Twitter, blogging etc, read this to help to guide them through some of the pitfalls and possibilities. For instance how does it feel if your External Examiner follows you on Twitter, how open do blog posts exploring the trials and tribulations of your doctoral journey to be? What is to be gained from participating in online networks whilst studying for a doctorate?
Dr Liz Bennett
University of Huddersfield
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A tale of two doctoral students: social media tools and hybridised identities, Research in Learning Technology, May 2014, Association for Learning Technology,
DOI: 10.3402/rlt.v22.23791.
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