1 HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE SUPERVISOR PROJECT AND COURSEWORK SUPERVISION (UNDERGRADUATE) 05 APRIL AM – 4.30PM Seminar Room 1 ILQAM Presenter: Assoc Prof Norha Abu Hanifah

2 SUPERVISOR SUPERVISEE RELATIONSHIP: - RESPONSIBILITIES - ETHICAL ISSUES -LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

3 Content Introduction What is a project paper? Who is a supervisor? Who select the supervisor? What is the role of a supervisor? What are the responsibilities of a supervisor – LEGAL & ETHICAL? What is Plagiarism? Qualities of a supervisor Conclusion References Exercise

4 Introduction Understanding the role of a supervisor is important for lecturers. This will enhance the success of the coursework/project paper i.e. supervision of students research project.

5 What is a project paper? A paper that is produced for a specific purpose after a scientific research has been done

6 What is a research? General meaning – research is about ‘finding out’ 2 kinds of research – personal research and professional research

7 Cont’d Personal research – the subject, method and information is for the understanding and benefit of the individual. Professional research – a systematic inquiry, method and outcomes is accessible to others. Need to conform to accepted standards. (also known as a scientific research)

8 What is scientific research? Science as a method of knowing - Information obtained is done using proper methods understood and practised by other researchers, the outcomes is accessible to the public and can be argued and defended by the researcher.

9 Why do students need to do a project paper? “Kita wajib mengkaji semula kurikulum kebangsaan yang boleh menghasilkan insan celik minda, inquisitive, ingin bertanya, gemar menyelidik, menguasai lebih dari satu bahasa.” - Abdullah Badawi(PM Malaysia/Nov 2006)

10 Who is a supervisor? A research supervisor (or simply referred to as "supervisor") is responsible for the general oversight of an academic research project. A supervisor is appointed by the faculty to supervise students for a specific research project.

11 Who selects the supervisor? Students can suggest supervisors Lecturers can suggest areas of interest HOWEVER The faculty has the final say.

12 What is the role of a supervisor? The role of a supervisor in a research project is to assist, motivate, guide and advise students in the design, development and completion of a research paper within the stipulated time given.

13 3 ways that supervisors learn to supervise By being a postgraduate student themselves Through their own academic practice and discipline Through trial and error

14 What are the responsibilities of a supervisor – legal and ethical?

15 Legal implication: Contractual duties of an employee As agent of an institution of higher learning Subject to government policies Under oath as lecturer/student

16 What is ethics? Ethics consists of the morally permissible standards of conduct that each member of a group wants every other member to adhere to..

17 Ethical implication: Code of ethics as an academician - “Nilai dan Etika Pensyarah Universiti Teknologi MARA” (2007) Code of ethics of relevant professional bodies - eg. Lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants…etc

18 An outline of the responsibilities expected of a supervisor are as follows:

19 1. To ensure that the supervisee understand and adhere to the rules and regulations of the faculty and university

20 Rules and regulations: Faculty level - faculty handbook - programme syllabus - guidelines for supervision University level - Code of Ethics - Academic Guidelines - UiTM Act 173 and Act 605

21 Cont’d National level - Federal Constitution - Copyright Act Sedition Act Official Secrets Act Defamation Act Printing Presses and Publication Act Universities and University Colleges Act 1971

22 2. To establish at the beginning of the research program the requirements on the frequency and format of meetings and progress reports

23 Work schedule: Supervisor need to inform the supervisee on the expectation of the supervision – the do’s and don’ts

24 Good working relationship: Supervisor should be in regular/close contact with supervisee How regular is regular? - frequency of meetings How close is close? - respect for others

25 Relationship of supervision Respect confidentiality Provide guidelines for supervision Promote collaborative practise Refrain from indiscriminate gossip (about students/colleagues) Discuss student concerns in private with relevant persons only in academic or formal settings

26 Cont’d Respect the training, competency, professional integrity of colleagues – any reference to quality of service rendered by or the integrity of a professional colleague must be expressed with due care to protect the reputation of that person Students are expected to provide reasonable assistance to each other and be accountable to supervisor, colleagues/team

27 Cont’d A student may not exploit another student Unnecessary borrowing, lending and trading between supervisor/supervisee is prohibited No abuse/exploitation of staff/students for irrelevant tasks Not to have a love affair-any intimate, sexual relationship/activity

28 Cont’d No physical or mental harm – hitting, restraining, kicking, throwing or swearing Refrain from personal/private after hours meetings – dining/drinking together No acceptance of elaborate/expensive gifts

29 Cont’d Avoid any criminal, dishonest behaviour Empowerment of people, education Respect the supervisees – their knowledge and experience Assure professional competency Protect rights and safety Be transparent where necessary

30 Cont’d Respect for cultural and religious beliefs Make morally appropriate decisions Enhance physical and social environment Lessen social inequalities

31 3. To assist the supervisee in the planning and implementation of the research program

32 Collecting information/materials: Supervisor should help in arranging appointments for interviews, fieldwork, attachment and visits Supervisor should assist in getting necessary books, equipments, utensils or apparatus Supervisor should suggest on any courses, training, workshops and seminars

33 4. To monitor the supervisee’s progress in reviewing the necessary literature and remind supervisee on the important issue of plagiarism

34 5. To determine the reasons for the supervisee’s unsatisfactory progress if any

35 Work progress : Monitor the progress of supervisee - encourage written submission of project aims, methods and outlines of final paper - discuss face to face (if possible) on problems in implementing the project

36 6. To make sure the project/paper prepared adheres to the format given by the faculty

37 Faculty’s requirements: Are all the requirements of the project in line with the faculty’s format - supervision forms - supervision records - supervision schedule

38 7. To read and review drafts prepared by supervisee and provide constructive feedbacks as soon as possible

39 Feedbacks on submission: Supervisor should return corrected drafts promptly (not more than 2 weeks) Give clear instructions and comments where necessary

40 Cont’d Supervisor should stimulate thinking and deep understanding, not spoon – feeding Encourage students to be inquiring, to critically appraise problems, evaluate and offer creative solution

41 Bloom’s taxonomy Evaluate Synthesis Analysis Application Comprehension Knowledge

42 8. To certify that the final research paper/product has been successfully completed and it fulfills all the requirements

43 Final Submission: Supervisor must check that all requirements are correctly followed - e.g. a written submission must have certain word limit and proper citation

44 Research report content What was the problem/issue? What did you do? What did you find out? What is the conclusion? What is the recommendation?

45 9. To decide fairly on the evaluation marks for the supervisee

46 Project evaluation: Supervisor must be fair and just in giving the evaluation marks Supervisor must have a sound judgment - e.g. marks given are due to the work done intellectually and not based on emotional reason

47 Assessment Principles Appropriateness Validity Reliability Equality justice

48 Cont’d Evaluation – a process of gathering useful information for the purpose of decision-making Assessment – a systematic approach of a measuring tool to observe an individual sample behaviour and exemplify it in a quantitative form by using a numbering system

To submit the research project and all forms of assessment to the faculty

50 Ending the responsibility: Supervisor must be satisfied that through out the supervision full commitment has been given and in all dealings had conducted it ethically, honestly and with integrity.

51 What is plagiarism? It generally means using the work of another without acknowledgement It can relate to an entire work or a part of it and applies equally to all forms of work

52 Examples of work: All forms of writings Computer codes Performance Music Work of arts

53 Plagiarism may be committed in a number of ways: Copying from other students without authority. Copying from other students without attribution. Copying from published sources (e.g. written, internet, spoken, art, performance media) without attribution.

54 Cont’d Copying from unpublished sources (e.g. lectures, theses, university essay banks) without attribution. Submitting previously submitted or assessed work of your own without attribution.

55 Cont’d Failing to reference the sources of facts. These may take the form of text, graphs, charts or statistics that have not been generated by your own research. Failing to provide references for using the exact words or phrases of others.

56 Cont’d Failing to provide references when paraphrasing the words of others. Failing to provide references when expressing ideas presented by others. Submitting work solicited from others.

57 Cont’d Always be aware of the referencing style recommended by the university. The most obvious form of plagiarism is to repeat the words, phrases or sentences of another person, more or less verbatim.

58 Qualities of a supervisor: Listening Clarifying Encouraging Reflecting Presenting Problem solving Negotiating Directing Standardizing Reinforcing

59 Listening: supervisor sits and looks at the supervisee and nods…to show understanding

60 Clarifying: supervisor asks questions and statements to clarify the supervisee point of view…. “Do you mean that?”, “Would you explain it further?”, “I’m confused about this…”

61 Encouraging: Supervisor provides acknowledgement responses to help supervisee continue to explain his /her positions “yes, I’m following you”, Ok…continue/go on…”, “I see what you mean, tell me more”

62 Reflecting: Supervisor summarizes and paraphrases supervisee’s message for verification of accuracy “I understand that you mean…”, “So, the issue is…”, “I hear you saying…”

63 Presenting: Supervisor gives own ideas about the issues discussed… “This is how I see it”, “What can be done is…”, “I’d like us to consider..”, I believe that…”

64 Problem solving: Supervisor takes the initiative, usually after a preliminary discussion of the issue or problem, in pressing all those involved to generate a list of possible solutions. “Let’s stop and each write down what can be done”, “What ideas do we have to solve this problem?” “Let’s think of all possible actions we can take…”

65 Negotiating: Supervisor moves the discussion from possible to probable solutions by discussing the consequences of each proposed action, exploring conflict or priorities and narrowing down choices with questions… “Where do we agree?”, “How can we change that action to be acceptable by all…”, “Can we find a compromise that will give each of us part of what we want?”

66 Directing: i. Supervisor tells supervisee either what the choices are – “As I see it, these are the alternatives: You could do A…, B…., or C…”, “Which of these makes sense to you…and which would you use?” ii. Supervisor tells supervisee what is to be done – “ I have decided that we will do…”, “I want you to do…”, The policy will be…”, “This is how it is going to be done”, “We will proceed as follows…”

67 Standardizing: Supervisor sets the expected criteria and time for the decision to be implemented. Target objectives are set. Expectations are conveyed with words like “By next Monday, we want to see…”, “Report back to me on this change by…”, “Have the first two activities carried out by….”, “I want an improvement of 20% involvement by the next meeting”, “We have agreed that all tasks will be done before the next observation.”

68 Conclusion It is important for the supervisor and supervisee/s to clarify their supervisory arrangements to avoid misunderstandings.

69 TERIMA KASIH Thank you for your kind attention Assoc Prof Norha Abu Hanifah Deputy Dean (Research & Industrial Linkages) Faculty of Law, UiTM, Shah Alam APRIL 2010

70 References Teaching, Learning and Assessment – (Mohd Mustafa Mohd Ghazali, 2009) Modul kursus Asas Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Pensyarah Baru IPTA (UiTM, 2008) Student supervision – How and Where Does Ethics Come Into It? (Dain Van Der Reyden, 2008) The Role of a Supervisor-Paper 1 (Norha Abu Hanifah, 2008) Law & Ethical Issues in Research and Writing “You quote, You Note” (Musrifah Sapardi, 2007) Institute of Graduate Studies, UiTM (Guidelines for thesis, 2006) Plagiarism and Its Consequences (Norha Abu Hanifah, 2006) Research Methods for the Social Sciences Made Simple – (Sulaiman Shamsuri, 2004) Code of UMIST 1998 ( research guide)

71 EXERCISE FOR PARTICIPANTS: Participants will be divided into two groups Each group will have a different task Group ONE will try to list down the criteria of an effective supervisor Group TWO will try to list down the criteria of an effective supervisee Participants are given 20 minutes to do this task

72 Cont’d List of Criteria for an Effective Supervisee:

73 Cont’d List of Criteria for an Effective Supervisor:

74 CASE STUDY This group exercise will be given during the course

75 Case study evaluation Case study: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Marks for advise given: (full marks is 10) Best supervisor award: