Share this page!

Petra Boynton Profile picture
Twitter logo
14 Apr, 5 tweets, 1 min read
In case this needs explaining, and I can hardly believe it does, sharing academic gossip about PhD students on social media is unethical, unprofessional and a form of badmouthing.
If you dislike a student, ignore them. If their supervisor tells you something about them in confidence, don’t blab on social media. If you feel a student is doing something inappropriate or needs help it’s an internal matter - not a drama to escalate on social media
Every day on Twitter is a reminder how social media training for academics is not remotely fit for purpose. We need to do so much better.
Twitter can be a great place to share information on the worst aspects of academia, particularly when all other avenues of complaint have been exhausted. It’s also the worst place for unprofessional drama and bullying. Sadly many people can’t seem to tell the difference.
I’ve no idea what the backstory in the tweet linked above is. It’s one of many examples I’ve seen. The point is this is a public forum and if you are going to be unpleasant about students that is a problem. None of us should be doing it.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Petra Boynton

Petra Boynton Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @DrPetra

Petra Boynton Profile picture
15 Apr
Something for tutors to note, while Black International Students experience high levels of racism, students often also feel unable to tell you due to fear, shame, threat or embarrassment. When delivering pastoral care or supervision ask about student safety, rights and wellbeing
Often tutors won't ask because they don't know what to say or do or feel uncomfortable having conversations or recognising they or their organisation needs to change. Simply asking 'are you okay' and doing nothing isn't good enough. Support is needed while changes are made
International students may feel trapped as they experience racism from fellow students,faculty and those they encounter off campus. Fears around funding,visas, career progression and dependants make it hard to speak out. Too often students are gaslit or dismissed if they disclose
Read 8 tweets
Petra Boynton Profile picture
15 Apr
Today’s #ResearchTip is...did you know if someone’s created a research tool (interview schedule, questionnaire etc) and it would work for your research then you can - and should - use it? Here’s why and how /1
#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #PhDChat #gradschool #dissertation
If an existing research tool could be used in your study it’ll save time, allow you to build on existing research, and help you network with other researches in your field. If someone describes using a tool/technique in a paper it’s fine to email them and ask for more details /2
Researchers can let you have a copy of their research tool which you can either replicate or amend (assuming it won’t affect validity). It might be you translate or adapt it in other ways depending on your participants, so piloting is key. /3
Read 6 tweets
Petra Boynton Profile picture
14 Apr
Today’s #ResearchTip is about social media. If someone’s created a thread, linked to a paper/resource, made a film, or shared their story and your response is to criticise or correct prior to reading in full, pause, check, *then* decide if a response is needed /1
It’s part of our academic training to critique,but that should come after reading,digesting,reflecting. It may be a point you feel has been missed so you must make was there but you hadn’t got that far. Minoritised scholars are especially impacted by these kinds of corrections /2
Obviously if someone is sharing something awful you can report, challenge and mute/block. But if you’re reading, watching or listening to something academic shared on social media you’re interested in but have already decided it’s wrong you may want to pause and check /3
Read 10 tweets
Petra Boynton Profile picture
13 Apr
A #ResearchTip for those working in English as a second language.The word 'quite' (for English people) generally means okay,but not good.If you like something and say 'that is quite interesting/useful/helpful' it may be misinterpreted #AcademicTwitter #PhDChat #AcademicChatter /1
This tip is brought to you after I recently helped a student who replied to a supervisor with 'thanks, quite helpful'. The supervisor had spent *hours* assisting the student and thought they were being rude. The student thought they had shown gratitude. (Nobody was wrong) /2
In some English speaking countries 'quite' means good. In England it usually means average. Those learning English as a second language may be taught 'quite' is a positive qualifier. It can be, but as with the example above it might have the opposite effect that you intended /3
Read 10 tweets
Petra Boynton Profile picture
13 Apr
Survey by gaming company finds pupils want gaming on the curriculum. No conflict of interest from an entirely reliable survey here 🙄
Gamification, gaming and related issues (coding, building and making). Alongside studying and critiquing the tech and gaming industries are all relevant, interesting and appropriate to teach. Should we be led by a company misusing a survey for product placement? No.
There is so much research on this topic and so many creative ideas to use from education and gaming. There are ethical issues of making claims of what pupils want when what you’re really reporting is what a commercial company wants.
Read 4 tweets
Petra Boynton Profile picture
9 Feb
Last year I was on a panel with colleagues discussing EDI issues with senior academics and funding body reps. It was the most personal speech I've ever given and afterwards several audience members said they'd contact me so we could focus on change. What do you think happened?
You would be correct if you guessed:
- nobody contacted me as promised
- no, not even the ones whose details I'd asked for who I messaged and asked if they wanted to move things forward as they'd pledged.
Here's the details of the event page.exlibrisgroup.com/research-profe… which was excellent (and not just because of our panel😄 the whole day was really interesting and useful). I left with high hopes I'd got people who I'd been trying to reach for years in a room to listen and act. I failed.
Read 6 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @DrPetra has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @DrPetra!

Read all threads by @DrPetra