22-ICF Introductory Course Fall 2022

Course description:

This Introductory Course is for PhD students who just started their PhD project. You will become familiar with ICO (the Interuniversity Center for Educational Research), ICO’s thematic themes groups, the types of research performed within ICO, and ICO’s position in the national and international field of educational research. One important aim of this course is to present a description of the first study you plan to conduct, receive feedback on this first study plan from your peers, but also to get to know other PhD candidates who recently started their PhD project. In addition, the course offers opportunities to practice research skills such as reviewing a scientific article and participating in a review meeting. The course is offered in English. 

Course Objectives 
After this course, you have acquired:
· Knowledge of the mission and organization of ICO, its thematic groups, and its position in the national and international field of educational research 
· Skills in using scientific criteria for reviewing high-quality research
· Skills in presenting your research 
· Skills in reviewing a dissertation 
· Skills in reviewing manuscripts for scientific journals and participating in an editorial board meeting 
· Skills in managing your supervisor(s) 
· Insight in issues related to scientific integrity. 


Requirements 

All ICO PhD students are required to participate in the ICO introductory course. PhD students are strongly recommended to participate in the course shortly after the start of their research project. 

Participants are required to be present at each of the course meetings. The course requires a total time investment of 140 hours, of which approximately 20 hours are for attending the meetings, and another 120 hours to work on (group) assignments. In total 5 ECTS.

Before the registration deadline has passed, a project proposal should be send in for evaluation by ICO’s Scientific Committee (also see the page on the Registration Procedure for ICO Members). Non-ICO members are also obliged to have a project plan ready before the start of the course. 

The maximum number of participants for this course is 24. In case the maximum amount of participants is reached, the registration will be closed. To be placed on the waiting list for participation, send an email to: c.vonk@uu.nl, and send in your project proposal before the registration deadline has passed.

Meeting dates and locations (11:00-17:00 h):
4 October 2022,
15 November 2022
registration deadline: 30 August 2022

Location: Utrecht city centre


Meeting 1: Day 1, 
This opening meeting is used to make acquaintance, to discuss the mission and organization of ICO and to explain the tasks that need to be prepared for the next meetings. 
The afternoon will be almost completely devoted to discussing the online presentations that the participants have prepared of PhD project proposals with a focus on the specification of the first study you plan to conduct. 

Meeting 2: Day 2 
These days are devoted to the presentation and discussion of a simulated board meeting, presentation of your review of a PhD thesis, and your expectations regarding supervision of your PhD project. 
On the evening of the 2nd day there will be a dinner.

On the evening of the 2nd day there will be a dinner, if possible.

Learning tasks
Prior to and during the course, you will work on six tasks. The tasks will be explained in more detail in the Course Manual.

Assessment
You will pass this course if you:

  • Deliver the (preliminary) plan of your first study in a presentation on video
  • Deliver feedback to the video presentations of your peers on their (preliminary) research plans
  • Deliver a review of a PhD thesis
  • Deliver a review of a scientific research paper
  • Deliver dilemmas dealing with scientific integrity
  • Deliver a case on how to manage your supervisor during the PhD project
  • Actively contribute to the meetings

Literature
All core study materials will be made available in SURFdrive, after the registration deadline has passed. In SURFdrive, the attendants can also find the Course Manual, with more information on the tasks. The Course Manual will be made available at the start of the course.

It is assumed that you already have some basic knowledge of Educational Sciences. See for instance:
Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010). How learning works: Seven research-based principles for smart teaching. John Wiley & Sons. 

For additional background information on how to get your PhD, you are advised to consult:
Phillips, E. M., & Pugh, D. (2015). How to get a PhD – A handbook for students and their supervisors. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Go to the course registration form