Study+ideas

Yvonne: I agree with your rewording, Leah. I am comfortable with this as our question. Leah: Suggestions- What perceptions do doctoral students have with regard to the curriculum of their program preparing them for future work? (Even though most of the courses I have taken are geared toward teaching at the university level, are we assuming that all will teach at that level? Are we assuming they are teaching only, or that they may do something else? Work in industry for example?So I tweaked Yvonne's statement directly below - what do you think?) Should our focus be in the curriculum of their programs? Yvonne: Alternative suggestion: What perceptions do doctoral students have with regard to their preparation to teach at the university level (or perhaps we broaden this to the role of a faculty member at the university level). Interview questions: Please describe your career path to date. (We want to know where they came from and where they are going. Can they see the path? Are they practicing/teaching in their field of study? How far along are they in their program? Why did they choose the program in which they are enrolled?)  Leah: should we add a question - "If you are able, please describe the career path you will most likely will take in the future?" Or something like that? Yvonne: Again I agree with the addition of the question above since we changed our research question. What assumptions do you hold about your career choice?(calling, availability of positions, need, marketability, etc.)  What assumptions do you hold about the efficacy of the curriculum of your program discipline in preparing you for future work? - Agree What assumptions do you hold about this program preparing you to teach at the university level after completing your degree? (I would expect they would have some positive assumptions about this; may disclose this is not their intention) Please describe field experiences or other opportunities provided by the program in which you have engaged. How do you view these experiences in preparing you for teaching at the university level? What role has advising played in your preparation? Describe the role mentorship has played in your preparation. Describe the role networking has played in your preparation. (These three may blend together since an advisor can be a mentor.)  Leah: just a thought - "Describe the role fellow students have played in your preparation?" Or would this be included under mentorship? What about, "Describe the role course selection, sequencing and content have played in your preparation". Ideas - brainstorming - Were there courses they you felt were unnecessary? Are there ideas for courses you think should be included? Were there courses that were repetitive or redundant? Yvonne: Good additions, Leah. I think these all work well with our study question!

WHAT WE WANT TO STUDY: We want to question the confidence that fellow doctoral students have in their curriculum. Has it prepared them for their future work?

Aspects that can influence their confidence: Their path, where they came from and where they are going…can they see the path? Are they/were they practitioners? What are your assumptions about the field? How do you see yourself within the field? What are OUR assumptions in our field for confidence? Leah: We are their peers as well. Yvonne: There is a void, a necessity in nursing for education. (her perception) Leah: Reputation of the program affects confidence. Leah: If they hope to teach others in their field, what in their curriculum prepares them for that? Yvonne: What in your course work versus field work prepares you? Yvonne: What “extras” such as conference presentation, are helpful in following their degree. 3 AREAS Field work, Course Work, Other (presentations…etc) Yvonne: Mentoring and networking would also be important areas? Yvonne: Has their advisor helped in preparing/boosting confidence in their degree. Leah: What do we want to take away from this? Sean: We want them to provide to us an understanding of how their program contrasts/compares with ours…and also I think we need to see if there is anything we could use in C&I. Leah: Conscious and subconscious. Sean: Want to bring that to the surface…but how? (YVONNE) Asking about such assumptions.

DEFINING CONFIDENCE: Yvonne: Necessity creates a calling Leah: Justice Yvonne: Competency-content knowledge, practical skill-based competency. Questions to ask: 1. What is your perception of your purpose in your field? 2. Do you feel a calling in your field, a necessity? 3. Do you feel that you have