Wow! I can’t believe another semester is complete. Only two more to go, and then I will be finished with coursework. Although I am nervous about completing my dissertation, I will be so glad when I am finished with coursework. This semester challenged me in so many ways. From power outages and quarantines to conference proposals and presentations, my time and attention has been split in zillion different ways. I have learned so much during my courses at UNT, but I am looking forward to being able to concentrate on my dissertation topic without juggling multiple papers, assignments, etc.
Dissertation Concerns
In many regards, I am ready to start working on my dissertation. I am confident in my writing, and I have a better handle on my topic than I did at the beginning of this semester. Thanks to my dissertation prep course, I have been able to define my dissertation focus and the methods I will use for the study. I feel that the work I will do for my dissertation is needed and will provide a lot of value and insight for school reform efforts going forward. However, the obstacles encountered this semester have made me nervous about completing my dissertation.
Although I have always known this, I realized this semester that I do not control time or how long something takes. Several times throughout the semester, I allotted a specific amount of time to completing a task, only to realize that it took much longer. When things took longer than expected, it put me behind schedule. Thankfully, my professors were very understanding and worked with me until I was able to get caught up. However, I am concerned that I may not be able to complete my dissertation in two semesters. I realize that it is not the end of the world if it takes me longer, but I prefer to complete my dissertation as soon as possible.
Another thing I realized this semester is that it is difficult to avoid burnout when working on a PhD. There have been a few moments when I have thought of quitting, but my friends and family have helped me to keep going. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been times this semester that I didn’t take shortcuts, settling for done rather than perfect. I am passionate about education reform, and I am hoping that this passion will carry me through to the end of my dissertation. If not passion, maybe my stubbornness and desire to be Dr. Starcher will fuel me to the end!
Future Plans
After completing my PhD, I plan to pursue a career in higher-education and continue with research aimed at changing the education system within the United States. I hope to contribute to the field of learning technologies and education reform by identifying changes needed at the political, instructional, and individual level to support a system wide transformation of teaching and learning. Learning technologies will continue to evolve and impact education. I believe these changes require a new system for teaching and learning as well as highly qualified teachers that can provide students with the skills needed to thrive in the digital age and beyond. Eventually, I would like to write a book and/or start a consultation business to help schools create high-performance cultures that support growth and innovation for all stakeholders.