Showing posts with label Postgraduate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Postgraduate. Show all posts

Thursday, November 27, 2014

TIPS FOR RESEARCH PROPOSAL PRESENTATION

Assalamualaikum,

I've been procastinating on a lot of things lately, not because I was lazy (I think), but I had so many things to do for the past few days since my mock research proposal presentation last week. Syukur, Alhamdulillah. It went well.

The comments from my supervisor and co-supervisor were:
- I had monotonous voice
- I had less confidence when I present something that I don't really know
- I need to read more for better understanding
In summary,  I need to polish my skills for the presentation!!!!

But, I am sssoooooooo glad that I didn't have to do many changes for the slide presentation. So, I would like to share here so that I will remember forever, "What are the tips for a good slides of research proposal presentation?

1. A "Table of Contents"
Usually in the thesis, there is a page with this title of "Table of Contents". There is no need for this page in the research proposal presentation. But, you still have to list them out. This is because, the headings and the subheading of the Table of Content will become the title for the slides. 

Basically, the list will look like this:
1. Introduction
2. Literature review
3. Problem statement
4. General objective
5. Specific objectives
6. Methodology
7. Dummy tables
8. Expected outcome
9. Gantt chart
10. References


Source: www.professays.com

The slides will be clear to us and also to the audience. It is more organized this way.


2. A picture is worth a thousand words 
Almost 70-80% of my slide presentation content were illustrated by figures, photos, tables and charts. Based on my experience while doing Master degree, I realized that the audience came from many different backgrounds. Thus, research proposal should be scientific but at the same time understandable to the audience. 

Note: If we don't want the audience to ask so many questions, then, we should explain everything but keep it simple so that it shows:
i. We know what we are talking about
ii. We look confident enough about our study
iii. We are sure what we are going to do

So, let's put colours and pictures in the slide presentation. :)

Source: Science BS | the slitty eye

3. Dummy tables
During our research methodology course recently, the spekers told us to have Dummy Tables in the research proposal so that, we really know what are the datas that we should collect in our study. From my understanding, a dummy table is an empty table of the results but it is the table as if you want to put in the thesis later on. I think it is good to have these dummy tables. It showed not only what data to be collected but also, the statistical tests we will be using to analyse our data too.


Source: wikipedia. 

I think, that's all for now.
Hope I'll remember always the tips that I have shared here. Arasso...
:)

Sunday, November 16, 2014

DATELINE TACHYCARDIA

Assalamualaikum

It had been pouring since Friday. The weather is very cold. The monsoon season has arrived.

I am in the middle of preparing my slides for my research proposal presentation. The dateline is this Wednesday. My SV asked all her supervisee to present to her and in front of small audience in 3 days time. I had been working since last Tuesday but the momentum just gets better when the dateline is near. haha.

Yesterday, I think it was the day that I worked really hard for the presentation. I've prepared the problem statement, the methodology, the dummy tables and the expected outcome. So, now I'm left with the LITERATURE REVIEW. Yup. Save the best at the last. haha. So, yesterday, I had to work hard because I have the facts in my head but my facts are not strong enough. When my husband asked questions about my research, I could answer him. But, without references, it sounded like "kelentong". haha. So, the hardest part has come and that is searching for the references.

I am actually still in the honeymoon state. I am still easy-going with my PhD. Thanks to the wake up call by my SV. Hopefully with having many datelines, it will motivate me to do work diligently, persistently, hardworkingly, smartly with preseverence and everythingelse that I am supposed to do to graduate on time (GOT) insyaAllah.

Bashirah, my partner in crime for PhD,  shared with me a FB post last night. She said it made her cry. I was focusing with my slide preparation, so, I kept it for reading this morning. You can read it at the http://bubblesintheocean.com/. My husband commented that a lot of things can happen while doing PhD. And I shouldn't be so stress. The depression, anxiety, panic attack, it could happen to any PhD students or even the undergraduate students. So, he asked me to take it easy while preparing the slide presentation. Just do it. The most important thing for this PhD is just to pass. Not to get a medal. Not to get number one. Just pass. InsyaAllah. Thanks Mr Hubby for understanding...

I wish my Sister Putri all the best in her future. She has inspired me and taught me that Allah is always there for us. The most importantly, life doesn't end in this world, but we have a lifetime to spend in the Akhirat that we should look after.

Good tips shared by the blog from Sister Putri and her husband:

GUIDANCE FOR MUSLIM’S PHD OR MASTER’S STUDENTS
I am preparing some slides to be shared with the postgraduate students here as part of the motivation to deal with PhD works. However, though the steps are followed, it is still not a guarantee to get a PhD but Insha Allah you’ll appreciate this journey and be grateful to ALLAH. These are some tips:
1. Develop passion, relate the studies to Allah’s knowledge
2. Effective Communication (Writing Skills, Communication Skills, Persuasive Skills, Presentation Skills)
3. Humility and Humbleness win the heart!
4. Organise, organise and organise -> self-discipline
5. Dhuha and Tahajjud prayers keep the momentum of the day
6. Fulfil the rights to the spouse, kids, family members and other people. PhD is a family affair!
7. Perseverance (Al-Baqarah: 286). Keep moving on and persistence!
8. Treat yourselves before moving on. Give a pat on your back -> Take pride of your work
9. If something went wrong, quickly ask forgiveness from Allah and always do ‘muhasabah’.
10. Accept for the fact that no matter how hard you try, if Allah didn’t want you to have it, Allah already made you ready to face the fact that you’ll not get it, but praise Him for the experiences that you encountered throughout the journey. Insha Allah, Allah already destined you for something greater.

patience, perseverance and play

Please make doa for me for this Wednesday! ;)

p/s: What's with the title? To stay awake and highly energetic, I drank a mug full with a packet of white coffee last night and my heart beat was tachycardic. Felt like dancing Zumba late last night. But, I drank lots of water and Alhamdulillah it subsided. hehe. Adios amigos.

References:

Friday, October 10, 2014

BULAN KEDUA PHD

Assalamualaikum

Alhamdulillah, without me realising, I am already in my 2nd month of PhD. There are a whole lot of things that I need to learn, as some people like to put it in words "That's why people do PhD in 3 years, so you cannot expect to know everything in 2 weeks". haha.

But, since yesterday, I've been feeling good about doing PhD now. And no need to do work as a lecturer for the time being. The feelings just came. Maybe, it's because I've been reading 2 articles thoroughly that really make me learn new things and ask a lot of things. hehe. Whatever it is, hope it's a good thing for me to keep motivating myself to continue this PhD journey till the end successfully. Amiiin.

Just met my SV. A superb one of course! She never complaints but always encouraging. She will keep answering my questions eventhough she already explained many many many times before. Erkk. Eventhough the feeling of meeting the SV is very scary sometimes because she wants to see me every week and update the progress. Scary tak?? hehe. But, I am so grateful to have her as my SV. So, what's next? Of course-lah, not to dissappoint her and my own self, right? :D

K. Tata for now.
It's my 6th week. Gulp!

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

RESEARCH IS A JOURNEY

Assalamualaikum...
Alhamdulillah, last week I had given a chance to attend a 1 week course on Research Methodology. It was a holiday for me, I would say but at the same timne churning new informations gathered from the 5 days lectures from 8am till 5pm. Syukrillah...

Anyone doing research right now might benefit the content of the course that I would share some of it insyaAllah...

1st lecture was from Prof Dr Aahad.
It was a long lecture but some of the keypoints that striked me...
"Research is a journey. Research is a process."
"Re-search means search again, and again, and again. "
"Seek new knowledge, Create new knowledge, Develop new knowledge, and Contribute new knowledge for the benefit of mankind."
"Thorough thinking and planning will make a good Research Proposal."
"You cannot rest or take a break until you have produce enough research output."

That's all for now. Will continue the lecture session later insyaAllah. :)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL

Assalamualaikum,
It had been quite a while since I updated my blog. Bibik was away for 1 month and Alhamdulillah, she's back! So no more excuses for me to follow my Gantt Chart! hehe

I didn't have any mood to study until recently when Bibik came back. My study drive was very slow since spending time with the 2 kids at home was very enjoyable and time consuming! Anyways, I gave myself a long break with on and off going to the lab to continue the respected experiment as scheduled before. But insyaAllah, I'm back on to drive on gear 2 now...

Quoting Prof Tahir..."Failing to plan is planning to fail." His lecture was on 7 Creative Habits and they are
1. Writing and journaling
2. Work on fresh inputs
3. Record
4. Learn new techniques
5. Learn how to relax
6. Association thinking
7. Adopting a genius...

Hmm... Creative Habits Number 1 and 3 were also discussed in the article that I came across yesterday by Marie desJardins on How to succeed in Graduate School.

Sharing with all of you, as a summary...
and for my daily grind....and PLANNING NOT TO FAIL!!!

1. Have a journal/diary (pink color booklet!! haha)
2. Keep track of research activities and ideas (already filled in 14 pages!!! oooo)
  • write speculations
  • interesting problems
  • possible solutions
  • random ideas
  • references to look up, (fulltext needed)
  • notes on papers you have reas
  • outline of papers to write
  • interesting quotes
  • (articles to be printed)
  • (daily, weekly and monthly goals)
3. Read the journal periodically
4. Organize activities
5. Daily Goals! Weekly Goals! Monthly Goals! (daily and weekly goals set up, but monthly...)
6. Divide and conquer strategy (i finished reading and going through a lot of things today!!!)
  • "Take it one day at a time"
  • "Every task you complete gets you closer to finishing"
Alhamdulillah... Plans all set up...
Guess I'm geared up to enter gear 3 insyaAllah... ;)

That's all for now!