1. Chairing a Dissertation in Practice: Challenges and Opportunities
Sara B. Ewell, PhD
Northeastern University
Elan Paulson, PhD
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: sheet for this session going for follow up

2. 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:

3. 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 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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”

9. 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

10. 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

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