Isn't the PhD supervisor required to teach the student the research subject and prerequisites, in order to...
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
My friend is completing her PhD comprehensive test and is going to start research.
Her supervisor is emphasising the importance of self-learning. He is saying that "I will provide the necessary resources, books, etc., I am not going to teach you anything, it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites. There are several resources over the internet to accomplish all your required tasks".
My doubt is that why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
Anyway, the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only. In this context, my doubt is to know whether the supervisor is bound to teach or not?
supervision mentoring
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
My friend is completing her PhD comprehensive test and is going to start research.
Her supervisor is emphasising the importance of self-learning. He is saying that "I will provide the necessary resources, books, etc., I am not going to teach you anything, it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites. There are several resources over the internet to accomplish all your required tasks".
My doubt is that why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
Anyway, the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only. In this context, my doubt is to know whether the supervisor is bound to teach or not?
supervision mentoring
3
You can have doubts, as you are probably not party to the full discourse between supervisor and student...
– Solar Mike
19 hours ago
3
What does "teach for saving time" mean?
– Azor Ahai
11 hours ago
@AzorAhai I assumed it meant "Save the student time learning certain topics by teaching it to them instead"
– Wipqozn
11 hours ago
2
Whose time would this save?
– Azor Ahai
3 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
up vote
14
down vote
favorite
My friend is completing her PhD comprehensive test and is going to start research.
Her supervisor is emphasising the importance of self-learning. He is saying that "I will provide the necessary resources, books, etc., I am not going to teach you anything, it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites. There are several resources over the internet to accomplish all your required tasks".
My doubt is that why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
Anyway, the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only. In this context, my doubt is to know whether the supervisor is bound to teach or not?
supervision mentoring
My friend is completing her PhD comprehensive test and is going to start research.
Her supervisor is emphasising the importance of self-learning. He is saying that "I will provide the necessary resources, books, etc., I am not going to teach you anything, it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites. There are several resources over the internet to accomplish all your required tasks".
My doubt is that why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
Anyway, the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only. In this context, my doubt is to know whether the supervisor is bound to teach or not?
supervision mentoring
supervision mentoring
edited 10 hours ago
ff524♦
94.9k42389421
94.9k42389421
asked 19 hours ago
hanugm
94321218
94321218
3
You can have doubts, as you are probably not party to the full discourse between supervisor and student...
– Solar Mike
19 hours ago
3
What does "teach for saving time" mean?
– Azor Ahai
11 hours ago
@AzorAhai I assumed it meant "Save the student time learning certain topics by teaching it to them instead"
– Wipqozn
11 hours ago
2
Whose time would this save?
– Azor Ahai
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3
You can have doubts, as you are probably not party to the full discourse between supervisor and student...
– Solar Mike
19 hours ago
3
What does "teach for saving time" mean?
– Azor Ahai
11 hours ago
@AzorAhai I assumed it meant "Save the student time learning certain topics by teaching it to them instead"
– Wipqozn
11 hours ago
2
Whose time would this save?
– Azor Ahai
3 hours ago
3
3
You can have doubts, as you are probably not party to the full discourse between supervisor and student...
– Solar Mike
19 hours ago
You can have doubts, as you are probably not party to the full discourse between supervisor and student...
– Solar Mike
19 hours ago
3
3
What does "teach for saving time" mean?
– Azor Ahai
11 hours ago
What does "teach for saving time" mean?
– Azor Ahai
11 hours ago
@AzorAhai I assumed it meant "Save the student time learning certain topics by teaching it to them instead"
– Wipqozn
11 hours ago
@AzorAhai I assumed it meant "Save the student time learning certain topics by teaching it to them instead"
– Wipqozn
11 hours ago
2
2
Whose time would this save?
– Azor Ahai
3 hours ago
Whose time would this save?
– Azor Ahai
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
28
down vote
Supervisors train; they don't teach. (Albeit the distinction between terms is rather subtle.)
why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
A PhD is like an apprenticeship, rather than a taught degree (such as an undergraduate degree). Hence, supervisors are expected to train, not teach.
the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only.
Actually, the supervisor will guide the student in both activities and will (likely) be a co-author of any publications.
is...the supervisor [likely] to teach or not?
No: The supervisor has said they won't teach nor is it their job to do so.
The supervisor is quoted as saying, "I am not going to teach...it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites," which might reference (especially in the US) taught courses that PhD students are required to take. Given such context, the supervisor may merely be explaining that it isn't their responsibility to provide any help for taught courses.
I mean likely, as per recommemded norms...
– hanugm
16 hours ago
@hanugm I edited to address
– user2768
16 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
Actually, the supervisor is teaching you, or trying to, at least. No, she is not required to teach you as you want to be taught, telling you explicitly what is needed. She has another method in mind that she expects to be very effective if you are willing to go along with it.
When you finish your degree you won't have any "teacher" available to you anymore except yourself. She is teaching you that now and teaching you to be effective in those circumstances. A lot of recent graduates learn that lesson too late.
Too many professors depend too much on lecturing, confusing that with teaching. Teaching is providing the circumstances for learning and for that the student needs to work, not just watch and listen.
She is doing you a favor, not being lazy. Accept that and you can have a glorious future.
3
Even in a class, simply lecturing is (for me, anyway) an inefficient use of time. Far better to learn the material from the text, and use class time to address problems. This is even more true in a one-on-one situation. The supervisor should direct you to what you need to learn, and be there to help with problems.
– jamesqf
10 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
(Under the implicit assumption that the supervisor is a (full) professor or some other similarly high-level person)
PhD supervisors typically already have a lot of duties: teaching classes, marking exams, conducting oral exams, supervise the projects of the other PhD and grad/undergrad students, proofread papers, theses and reports, grade theses and reporst, manage administrative duties, prepare presentations for conferences/visits to other institutes, be a host to guests from other institutes, attend department meetings, and many, many more.
At the same time, the group has experienced PhD students and postdocs that are right on the cutting edge of the research but who have much more time for side activities because they only have a small fraction of the rat’s tail of duties the (full) professor has.
Having the full professor, i.e. the official supervisor, be the person teaching the new PhD student would be very inefficient. It is, by definition, a one on one situation meaning a high time cost with a necessarily low gain. Something that really doesn’t fit well with tight schedules. On the other hand, experienced PhD students and postdocs also have the knowledge and much more time on their hands. Therefore, if there is any actual teaching of methods or skills to be done, it will be the PhD students’ or postdocs’ job.
Naturally, the supervisor will still be there for the core part of their job: answer questions, provide guidance and point to helpful references if they are hard to find. I believe the quote states your friend’s supervisor is planning on doing exactly that.
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
28
down vote
Supervisors train; they don't teach. (Albeit the distinction between terms is rather subtle.)
why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
A PhD is like an apprenticeship, rather than a taught degree (such as an undergraduate degree). Hence, supervisors are expected to train, not teach.
the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only.
Actually, the supervisor will guide the student in both activities and will (likely) be a co-author of any publications.
is...the supervisor [likely] to teach or not?
No: The supervisor has said they won't teach nor is it their job to do so.
The supervisor is quoted as saying, "I am not going to teach...it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites," which might reference (especially in the US) taught courses that PhD students are required to take. Given such context, the supervisor may merely be explaining that it isn't their responsibility to provide any help for taught courses.
I mean likely, as per recommemded norms...
– hanugm
16 hours ago
@hanugm I edited to address
– user2768
16 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
28
down vote
Supervisors train; they don't teach. (Albeit the distinction between terms is rather subtle.)
why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
A PhD is like an apprenticeship, rather than a taught degree (such as an undergraduate degree). Hence, supervisors are expected to train, not teach.
the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only.
Actually, the supervisor will guide the student in both activities and will (likely) be a co-author of any publications.
is...the supervisor [likely] to teach or not?
No: The supervisor has said they won't teach nor is it their job to do so.
The supervisor is quoted as saying, "I am not going to teach...it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites," which might reference (especially in the US) taught courses that PhD students are required to take. Given such context, the supervisor may merely be explaining that it isn't their responsibility to provide any help for taught courses.
I mean likely, as per recommemded norms...
– hanugm
16 hours ago
@hanugm I edited to address
– user2768
16 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
28
down vote
up vote
28
down vote
Supervisors train; they don't teach. (Albeit the distinction between terms is rather subtle.)
why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
A PhD is like an apprenticeship, rather than a taught degree (such as an undergraduate degree). Hence, supervisors are expected to train, not teach.
the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only.
Actually, the supervisor will guide the student in both activities and will (likely) be a co-author of any publications.
is...the supervisor [likely] to teach or not?
No: The supervisor has said they won't teach nor is it their job to do so.
The supervisor is quoted as saying, "I am not going to teach...it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites," which might reference (especially in the US) taught courses that PhD students are required to take. Given such context, the supervisor may merely be explaining that it isn't their responsibility to provide any help for taught courses.
Supervisors train; they don't teach. (Albeit the distinction between terms is rather subtle.)
why can't the supervisor teach at least the prerequisites and the subject of research to some extent?
A PhD is like an apprenticeship, rather than a taught degree (such as an undergraduate degree). Hence, supervisors are expected to train, not teach.
the literature survey and the publishing will be done by the student only.
Actually, the supervisor will guide the student in both activities and will (likely) be a co-author of any publications.
is...the supervisor [likely] to teach or not?
No: The supervisor has said they won't teach nor is it their job to do so.
The supervisor is quoted as saying, "I am not going to teach...it is your responsibility to complete prerequisites," which might reference (especially in the US) taught courses that PhD students are required to take. Given such context, the supervisor may merely be explaining that it isn't their responsibility to provide any help for taught courses.
edited 13 hours ago
answered 19 hours ago
user2768
10.6k22847
10.6k22847
I mean likely, as per recommemded norms...
– hanugm
16 hours ago
@hanugm I edited to address
– user2768
16 hours ago
add a comment |
I mean likely, as per recommemded norms...
– hanugm
16 hours ago
@hanugm I edited to address
– user2768
16 hours ago
I mean likely, as per recommemded norms...
– hanugm
16 hours ago
I mean likely, as per recommemded norms...
– hanugm
16 hours ago
@hanugm I edited to address
– user2768
16 hours ago
@hanugm I edited to address
– user2768
16 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
Actually, the supervisor is teaching you, or trying to, at least. No, she is not required to teach you as you want to be taught, telling you explicitly what is needed. She has another method in mind that she expects to be very effective if you are willing to go along with it.
When you finish your degree you won't have any "teacher" available to you anymore except yourself. She is teaching you that now and teaching you to be effective in those circumstances. A lot of recent graduates learn that lesson too late.
Too many professors depend too much on lecturing, confusing that with teaching. Teaching is providing the circumstances for learning and for that the student needs to work, not just watch and listen.
She is doing you a favor, not being lazy. Accept that and you can have a glorious future.
3
Even in a class, simply lecturing is (for me, anyway) an inefficient use of time. Far better to learn the material from the text, and use class time to address problems. This is even more true in a one-on-one situation. The supervisor should direct you to what you need to learn, and be there to help with problems.
– jamesqf
10 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
Actually, the supervisor is teaching you, or trying to, at least. No, she is not required to teach you as you want to be taught, telling you explicitly what is needed. She has another method in mind that she expects to be very effective if you are willing to go along with it.
When you finish your degree you won't have any "teacher" available to you anymore except yourself. She is teaching you that now and teaching you to be effective in those circumstances. A lot of recent graduates learn that lesson too late.
Too many professors depend too much on lecturing, confusing that with teaching. Teaching is providing the circumstances for learning and for that the student needs to work, not just watch and listen.
She is doing you a favor, not being lazy. Accept that and you can have a glorious future.
3
Even in a class, simply lecturing is (for me, anyway) an inefficient use of time. Far better to learn the material from the text, and use class time to address problems. This is even more true in a one-on-one situation. The supervisor should direct you to what you need to learn, and be there to help with problems.
– jamesqf
10 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
16
down vote
up vote
16
down vote
Actually, the supervisor is teaching you, or trying to, at least. No, she is not required to teach you as you want to be taught, telling you explicitly what is needed. She has another method in mind that she expects to be very effective if you are willing to go along with it.
When you finish your degree you won't have any "teacher" available to you anymore except yourself. She is teaching you that now and teaching you to be effective in those circumstances. A lot of recent graduates learn that lesson too late.
Too many professors depend too much on lecturing, confusing that with teaching. Teaching is providing the circumstances for learning and for that the student needs to work, not just watch and listen.
She is doing you a favor, not being lazy. Accept that and you can have a glorious future.
Actually, the supervisor is teaching you, or trying to, at least. No, she is not required to teach you as you want to be taught, telling you explicitly what is needed. She has another method in mind that she expects to be very effective if you are willing to go along with it.
When you finish your degree you won't have any "teacher" available to you anymore except yourself. She is teaching you that now and teaching you to be effective in those circumstances. A lot of recent graduates learn that lesson too late.
Too many professors depend too much on lecturing, confusing that with teaching. Teaching is providing the circumstances for learning and for that the student needs to work, not just watch and listen.
She is doing you a favor, not being lazy. Accept that and you can have a glorious future.
answered 16 hours ago
Buffy
33.2k7102173
33.2k7102173
3
Even in a class, simply lecturing is (for me, anyway) an inefficient use of time. Far better to learn the material from the text, and use class time to address problems. This is even more true in a one-on-one situation. The supervisor should direct you to what you need to learn, and be there to help with problems.
– jamesqf
10 hours ago
add a comment |
3
Even in a class, simply lecturing is (for me, anyway) an inefficient use of time. Far better to learn the material from the text, and use class time to address problems. This is even more true in a one-on-one situation. The supervisor should direct you to what you need to learn, and be there to help with problems.
– jamesqf
10 hours ago
3
3
Even in a class, simply lecturing is (for me, anyway) an inefficient use of time. Far better to learn the material from the text, and use class time to address problems. This is even more true in a one-on-one situation. The supervisor should direct you to what you need to learn, and be there to help with problems.
– jamesqf
10 hours ago
Even in a class, simply lecturing is (for me, anyway) an inefficient use of time. Far better to learn the material from the text, and use class time to address problems. This is even more true in a one-on-one situation. The supervisor should direct you to what you need to learn, and be there to help with problems.
– jamesqf
10 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
(Under the implicit assumption that the supervisor is a (full) professor or some other similarly high-level person)
PhD supervisors typically already have a lot of duties: teaching classes, marking exams, conducting oral exams, supervise the projects of the other PhD and grad/undergrad students, proofread papers, theses and reports, grade theses and reporst, manage administrative duties, prepare presentations for conferences/visits to other institutes, be a host to guests from other institutes, attend department meetings, and many, many more.
At the same time, the group has experienced PhD students and postdocs that are right on the cutting edge of the research but who have much more time for side activities because they only have a small fraction of the rat’s tail of duties the (full) professor has.
Having the full professor, i.e. the official supervisor, be the person teaching the new PhD student would be very inefficient. It is, by definition, a one on one situation meaning a high time cost with a necessarily low gain. Something that really doesn’t fit well with tight schedules. On the other hand, experienced PhD students and postdocs also have the knowledge and much more time on their hands. Therefore, if there is any actual teaching of methods or skills to be done, it will be the PhD students’ or postdocs’ job.
Naturally, the supervisor will still be there for the core part of their job: answer questions, provide guidance and point to helpful references if they are hard to find. I believe the quote states your friend’s supervisor is planning on doing exactly that.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
(Under the implicit assumption that the supervisor is a (full) professor or some other similarly high-level person)
PhD supervisors typically already have a lot of duties: teaching classes, marking exams, conducting oral exams, supervise the projects of the other PhD and grad/undergrad students, proofread papers, theses and reports, grade theses and reporst, manage administrative duties, prepare presentations for conferences/visits to other institutes, be a host to guests from other institutes, attend department meetings, and many, many more.
At the same time, the group has experienced PhD students and postdocs that are right on the cutting edge of the research but who have much more time for side activities because they only have a small fraction of the rat’s tail of duties the (full) professor has.
Having the full professor, i.e. the official supervisor, be the person teaching the new PhD student would be very inefficient. It is, by definition, a one on one situation meaning a high time cost with a necessarily low gain. Something that really doesn’t fit well with tight schedules. On the other hand, experienced PhD students and postdocs also have the knowledge and much more time on their hands. Therefore, if there is any actual teaching of methods or skills to be done, it will be the PhD students’ or postdocs’ job.
Naturally, the supervisor will still be there for the core part of their job: answer questions, provide guidance and point to helpful references if they are hard to find. I believe the quote states your friend’s supervisor is planning on doing exactly that.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
(Under the implicit assumption that the supervisor is a (full) professor or some other similarly high-level person)
PhD supervisors typically already have a lot of duties: teaching classes, marking exams, conducting oral exams, supervise the projects of the other PhD and grad/undergrad students, proofread papers, theses and reports, grade theses and reporst, manage administrative duties, prepare presentations for conferences/visits to other institutes, be a host to guests from other institutes, attend department meetings, and many, many more.
At the same time, the group has experienced PhD students and postdocs that are right on the cutting edge of the research but who have much more time for side activities because they only have a small fraction of the rat’s tail of duties the (full) professor has.
Having the full professor, i.e. the official supervisor, be the person teaching the new PhD student would be very inefficient. It is, by definition, a one on one situation meaning a high time cost with a necessarily low gain. Something that really doesn’t fit well with tight schedules. On the other hand, experienced PhD students and postdocs also have the knowledge and much more time on their hands. Therefore, if there is any actual teaching of methods or skills to be done, it will be the PhD students’ or postdocs’ job.
Naturally, the supervisor will still be there for the core part of their job: answer questions, provide guidance and point to helpful references if they are hard to find. I believe the quote states your friend’s supervisor is planning on doing exactly that.
(Under the implicit assumption that the supervisor is a (full) professor or some other similarly high-level person)
PhD supervisors typically already have a lot of duties: teaching classes, marking exams, conducting oral exams, supervise the projects of the other PhD and grad/undergrad students, proofread papers, theses and reports, grade theses and reporst, manage administrative duties, prepare presentations for conferences/visits to other institutes, be a host to guests from other institutes, attend department meetings, and many, many more.
At the same time, the group has experienced PhD students and postdocs that are right on the cutting edge of the research but who have much more time for side activities because they only have a small fraction of the rat’s tail of duties the (full) professor has.
Having the full professor, i.e. the official supervisor, be the person teaching the new PhD student would be very inefficient. It is, by definition, a one on one situation meaning a high time cost with a necessarily low gain. Something that really doesn’t fit well with tight schedules. On the other hand, experienced PhD students and postdocs also have the knowledge and much more time on their hands. Therefore, if there is any actual teaching of methods or skills to be done, it will be the PhD students’ or postdocs’ job.
Naturally, the supervisor will still be there for the core part of their job: answer questions, provide guidance and point to helpful references if they are hard to find. I believe the quote states your friend’s supervisor is planning on doing exactly that.
answered 2 hours ago
Jan
535413
535413
add a comment |
add a comment |
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3
You can have doubts, as you are probably not party to the full discourse between supervisor and student...
– Solar Mike
19 hours ago
3
What does "teach for saving time" mean?
– Azor Ahai
11 hours ago
@AzorAhai I assumed it meant "Save the student time learning certain topics by teaching it to them instead"
– Wipqozn
11 hours ago
2
Whose time would this save?
– Azor Ahai
3 hours ago