3MT top tips to successfully compete

Last week, I finally competed in the much anticipated Three Minute Thesis or 3MT. As I am at the beginning of my journey, I didn't have data and I believe this will definitely be a plus the next time I take part in the 3MT.

After stalking previous 3MT winners on YouTube and following the 3MT hashtag on twitter, I have collated a list of tips for successfully standing up and presenting your thesis in three minutes. Now that I have completed my first 3MT, I can also add a little humour may help!

So here's my list:

• Interesting catchy title
• Engaging introduction/opening line
• The question/s
• How I went about it
• Final message
• Eye contact
• Enthusiasm
• Wear dark clothes
• No notes- from memory

Also include:

 

Recent research suggests (no refs)... What about exploring pre-service Teachers lived experiences and sharing their voice?

Results will lead to further research...

 

Now although I didn't win, I feel I did have success as I achieved my goals - one of them standing up there and getting through it!

 

What would you add to my list?

I have 'readitis'

This is the realisation that I had today during a workshop presented by Hugh Kearns. 'Readitis' is where I read and read and find more wonderful things to read from what i just read that I don't actually give myself a chance to write.

You may remember from my 'PhD must-reads' post that I recently added a series of books by Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner. Today's workshop was based on one of their books, The Seven Secrets of Highly Successful Research Students. 

Kearns presents an engaging workshop that provides a real and doable guide to successfully complete a Higher Degree by Research. Check out his website www.ithinkwell.com.au for free tools and resources.

My first week as an HDR student - what are you doing today?

I knew that as soon as I was accepted into the PhD program I would hit the ground running.
My first week as an HDR probationary candidate entailed;

-meeting with my Supervisor
-scheduling workshops and research days
-beginning my research plan
-filling in a survey regarding supervisor and student roles
-watching HDR induction videos
-reading policies and procedures (recently updated)
-re-doing my research planner
-updating my research gantt chart (love my Gantt!)
-setting up NVivo for Lit review


A great tip from Dr Lee-Ann Bye, USC, when she was a PhD candidate, was if someone asks what you are doing today, reply with 'I am working'. This will be one of the best tips to keep with me as I found when I did my research for my Master's degree, others thought that if I was home, I was free to do as I pleased including odd jobs for them! So, instead of saying 'I am studying', I will be saying 'I am working!'.

Must reads in the PhD journey

I'm going to keep adding to this list of must reads for anyone doing an HDR.

First on my list is 

1.The PhD Manual: 132 Tips For Surviving And Thriving Whilst Writing Your Thesis [Kindle Edition]

By Mitch Albright

This is an easy to read, point by point ebook. Inexpensive and it had good coverage of the ,any dimensions that encompass the PhD journey. Oh did I mention he also recommends my favorite blogger, researcher, tweeter aka the Thesis Whisperer: Dr Inger Mewburn?

2. Digital Tools for Qualitative Research
By Paulus, Lester and Dempster, 2014

A new book published this year, I borrowed this one from my Supervisor. However, I think I may need to purchase this one. I found it a very useful handbook and covers using digital tools for literature reviews, Nvivo, Livescribe pen and analysis of data just for starters. It is well set out, making an excellent handbook to keep close by.

3. A series of books by Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner

I) The seven secrets of highly successful research students II) The PhD Experience III)Turbocharge your writing IV) Defeating self-sabotage and V)Time for Research

4. Succeeding with your Literature Review: A handbook for students by Paul Oliver

Available as an ebook, it has excellent suggestions on how to approach  doing your literature review including how to sort the literature. Definitely a book to take notes or in my case highlight in my Kindle important tips.

5. Qualitative Data Analysis: A methods sourcebook

This book by Miles, Huberman and Saldana is one that I cited in my Master's thesis and it's exciting to have my very own copy on my bookshelf. It covers qualitative data analysis mainly but it does describe the difference in strategies of data analysis between qualitative and quantitative. I believe this is a book that is needed before data collection is started not just when data analysis is being completed.

6. Ethnography: step by step third edition by David M. Fetterman

An easy and informative read for ethnographers and those thinking about doing ethnography. This book provides a greater understanding of what ethnography really is. It's not just about immersing yourself into a culture to observe.