Module 2 Session 6: Pros and cons of online RD support systems by Lucy Page https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt Consider the pros and cons of students' seeking advice and support through online mechanisms including Twitter, Facebook groups, chat forums, experts from other Universities or similar. Add your thoughts to the Padlet below. You may need to take some time to research some examples yourself before adding your comments. en-us 2021-11-21 19:25:51 UTC 2025-12-27 08:01:53 UTC hello@padlet.com lshlp1 https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1904730930 Add you posts here. You can keep it anonymous or add your name. You can like others' posts and comment on them too.]]> 2021-11-21 19:30:32 UTC https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1904730930 Pros and cons https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1923157637 Pro: I have seen academics on Twitter being incredibly generous by offering their time or suggesting resources, in response to doctoral students' tweets asking for help with a specific issue. I think this can allow much broader perspective-taking. 
Con: As always with social media, students open themselves up to potentially inappropriate or unpleasant comments, once a post is 'out there'.]]> 2021-12-01 16:04:25 UTC https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1923157637 https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1924802122 The advantage is that by engaging in large social media groups students are likely to find peers encountering the same problems as they are, which could lead to useful advice, a better idea of what is expected from them, and lessen feelings of imposter syndrome. Websites like thesis whisperer can be an excellent resource for developing soft research skills.

A major disadvantage is that these groups can end up being echo chambers of negativity, with students only sharing the stress but never the joys of a research student. Being exposed to so many potential problems could lead to a feeling of hopelessness. As these groups are international, they may also receive advice that is not applicable in their country or institution.]]> 2021-12-02 10:13:18 UTC https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1924802122 https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1933574080 Advantages to online engagement as a student: it can be motivating to know there is a network of people interested in your work out there, and can break down geographic barriers to collaborations. you can also get exposed to new ideas or different ways of explaining solutions and reduce reliance on your supervisor. 

Disadvantages: sometimes the availability of information online, or forums to ask questions can promote laziness - people asking the question before going away and doing the research themselves/ expecting just to be given an answer rather than putting some time in to research the best approach]]> 2021-12-07 14:00:05 UTC https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1933574080 Pros of online support/social neworks: As a supervisor, you could direct your students to seek these out to help them establish a community of peers at a similar stage to themselves, which may enhance their well-being and reduce isolation. As for the cons, as PhDs are so specific, they may come across information or advice which is not really applicable or helpful for them, which may cause them to become discouraged. Related to this, they may receive advice counter to your own, which may cause tension between the supervisor and student. They may also encounter other PhD students who seem to be doing better than they are, which may again cause them to become discouraged or unmotivated. https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1933884480 2021-12-07 15:49:25 UTC https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1933884480 Seeking advice and support through online mechanisms yangclaraliu https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1935640753 Pros:
- Gain feelings of comradery, no longer feel alone
- Establish professional community
- Professional Development/ networking
- Exposure to new perspectives/ technologies
- Develop communication skills

Cons:
- Overwhelming amount of information, but not all useful
- Echo Chamber of negativity
- Laziness, students may develop a habit of getting hand-outs
- Anonymity is not always possible, and there is no governing bodies for protection has conflicts arise]]> 2021-12-08 11:38:32 UTC https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1935640753 https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1951763129 Pros:
* Wider network of students to rely on for help than just peers
* Can discuss people without it being obvious to audience which individual it is
* Wider pool of PhD students who may have experienced similar rare event
* Broadcast social media (Twitter), as opposed to forum social media (FB) makes it more likely to bring in wider profession where people with the same protected characteristics (e.g. ethnicity, religion, disability, sexuality, gender identity) can provide support

Cons:
* Students may be sharing most extreme experiences (good and bad) which hides the sheer banality of most PhD work
* Experiences not necessarily transferable across institutions/countries
* Social media requires a particular style of communication to get the most out of it, and someone having a hard time may feel reluctant to engage that way. This is particularly true of those with anxiety disorders or lack of experience in online environments]]> 2021-12-16 13:48:57 UTC https://padlet.com/lshlp1/tupm0g6ejqhk57pt/wish/1951763129