Re: [xmca] Fwd: [Air-L] An Australian researcher decries acadamiaas career option

[mike cole <lchcmike@gmail.com>]

Perhaps one common thread here is that there is the potential in the
internet-- for
now-- to create a community (or commons, to use Larry's phrase) -- where it
is possible to barter resources, appreciate the diversity of expertises, and
remain light and flexible (as opposed to lean and mean). Those in positions
of access to library
journals can (and do!) make them available to the commons. Lectures can be
given
stored, streamed, critiqued, etc with a surprising light infrastructure (not
NO infra
structure, but not a super computer either).

As at other times in my experience, I am pretty sure that there are multiple
ways to create something like a "commons of critical thinking" but as
always, the question is,
is there a will to coordinated effort? At present, a few of us have access
to university resources that we but not nearly as effectively as we could if
those with the greatest technical skills were to deploy them globally.
Remote logins for improving facilities can be arranged. Those who believe
that we should change the architecture to include, say, a wiki, could offer
tutorials on their use for those who cannot tell a wicki from a whacky. Etc.

Meantime, gotta drum up that article of Yuang I will be using in the class i
am preparing the webpage for.

Drops of water turn a mill, single none.
mike

On Thu, Dec 24, 2009 at 8:40 AM, Larry Purss <lpurss@shaw.ca> wrote:

> Indepndent scholar
>
> I  like to add another descriptor to the definition
>
> "independent public scholar" to reinvigorate a sense of the "new commons"
> and a shared sense of purpose, or as Andy frames it, a shared project.
> I continue to work (and play) in a school system 4 days a week (what a
> blessing to have that extra day to reflect and ???)
> I choose to live on a university campus where I have access to the library
> (as an alumni).
> For me it is the best of all possible worlds.  I'm inhabiting this space AS
> IF it is a retreat center.  I read whatever I want and have the opportunity
> to CHAT with this esteemed group of on line scholars in virtual space.
> However I love going to work (part time) to take what I'm reading and
> thinking and try to influence how others are acting in the world.
> I'm also way past being worried about advancement and getting ahead. I'm in
> that "third age" where I can act out my personal reveries (somewhat) and
> take the risk of appearing foolish and idealistic.
> I still am trying to find out how to me more influential while refusing to
> take on positions of "formal power".
>
> To all those independent and public scholars out there it is the best of
> times and the worst of times. We are cursed to live in interesting times.
>
> Larry
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bruce Robinson <bruce@brucerob.eu>
> Date: Thursday, December 24, 2009 4:44 am
> Subject: Re: [xmca] Fwd: [Air-L] An Australian researcher decries
> acadamiaas career option
> To: xmca list <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
>
> > I'm in the same situation as Andy and Peter, having retired for
> > health
> > reasons about 15 years ago without a PhD, but still researching
> > with a few
> > ever more tenuous links to the university and a title of
> > 'Honorary Research
> > Fellow' that allows me to get into academic libraries. In
> > practice I too do
> > what I like so I too quite fancy the title 'independent
> > scholar'. Maybe
> > there are enough of us to form a union. ;)
> >
> > Yesterday terrible news of massive cuts for British universities
> > - now part
> > of 'Business Secretary' Peter Mandelson's ever-expanding empire.
> > Fines if
> > unis recruit more than their specified number of students to try
> > to balance
> > the books; more two year courses; research rated increasingly by
> > 'impact',
> > which will doubtless be defined more and more in business terms;
> > and large
> > scale redundancies which are already taking place.
> >
> > Despite it all looking bad, I can still wish you all a happy 2010.
> >
> > Bruce R
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Andy Blunden" <ablunden@mira.net>
> > To: "eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
> > Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 10:20 AM
> > Subject: Re: [xmca] Fwd: [Air-L] An Australian researcher
> > decries acadamiaas
> > career option
> >
> >
> > > Ha, ha! I use that as well, "independent scholar." I used to
> > call myself
> > > an "autodidact" (which at least meant that I knew a 3-syllable
> > Latin word)
> > > but then I was described as "independent scholar" at a
> > conference, and I
> > > thought "yes!" It kind of carries connotations like "emeritus
> > professor"
> > > even.
> > >
> > > Keep well Peter!
> > > Andy
> > >
> > > peter jones wrote:
> > >> Post grad Dip. highest qualification, wonder about trying for
> > a research
> > >> Masters while creating a new website (community?) using Drupal.
> > >> Clearly at 50 I have missed the academic boat, but now I also
> > describe
> > >> myself as an 'Independent Scholar'.
> > >> Quite a few people seem to appreciate the title, especially
> > in this
> > >> century with the learning and opps the internet affords.
> > >>
> > >>  Best wishes for the Holidays and 2010 to all....
> > >>
> > >> Peter Jones
> > >> http://hodges-model.blogspot.com/
> > >> Hodges' Health Career - Care Domains - Model
> > >> http://www.p-jones.demon.co.uk/ h2cm: help2Cmore - help-2-
> > listen -
> > >> help-2-care
> > >> http://twitter.com/h2cm
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message ----
> > >> From: Phil Chappell <philchappell@mac.com>
> > >> To: ablunden@mira.net; "eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity"
> > >> <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
> > >> Sent: Thu, 24 December, 2009 3:56:37
> > >> Subject: Re: [xmca] Fwd: [Air-L] An Australian researcher
> > decries
> > >> acadamia as career option
> > >>
> > >> This is exactly why I have dumped the idea of continuing to
> > try to secure
> > >> a permanent position at an Australian university, and being
> > just at
> > >> thesis submission stage, am about to return to the commercial
> > language
> > >> teaching world. Better pay, freedom to follow my own academic
> > interests,
> > >> and freedom from the endless bureaucracy. I spent the year as
> > a casual
> > >> lecturer and can't really say it was a satisfying year,
> > scratching around
> > >> for the 26 weeks when there were no classes to teach. Andy,
> > your snapshot
> > >> of Oz university life is spot on based on my recent experiences.
> > >>
> > >> Happy New Year everyone!
> > >>
> > >> Phil
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On 24/12/2009, at 2:21 PM, Andy Blunden wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> Yes Mike, this is the picture that was already taking shape
> > when I
> > >>> retired 7 years ago. I'm glad to be out of it, but the
> > problem is that
> > >>> although I have no desire to either get a PhD or supervise
> > someone
> > >>> else's, all the people I try to collaborate with are either
> > trying to
> > >>> get a PhD or supervising others, and both seem to be low
> > paid 24/7 jobs
> > >>> which leave no time for the kind of self-motivating projects
> > I am
> > >>> interested in.
> > >>>
> > >>> Now that the university is open to the masses, the ruling
> > elite have
> > >>> trashed it. There is almost no campus life, as all the
> > students think
> > >>> they have to work at the same time, and submit their essays
> > etc., etc.,
> > >>> on line anyway. And even the academics work from home and
> > have other
> > >>> jobs.
> > >>>
> > >>> Andy
> > >>>
> > >>> mike cole wrote:
> > >>>> Andy!
> > >>>> for your eyes only.
> > >>>> :-)
> > >>>> mike
> > >>>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > >>>> From: Denise N. Rall <denrall@yahoo.com>
> > >>>> Date: Wed, Dec 23, 2009 at 5:18 PM
> > >>>> Subject: [Air-L] An Australian researcher decries acadamia
> > as career
> > >>>> option
> > >>>> To: Air-L@listserv.aoir.org
> > >>>> For those of us considering employment options in the New Year:
> > >>>> "Why Academia Is No Longer A Smart Choice"
> > >>>> by Melissa Gregg
> > >>>> http://newmatilda.com/2009/11/24/academia-no-longer-smart-choice
> > >>>> Denise N. Rall, PhD. Special Projects, Faculty of Arts &
> > Science,
> > >>>> Southern
> > >>>> Cross University, Lismore NSW 2480 AUSTRALIA
> > >>>> Mobile +(61) (0)438 233 344
> > >>>> http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/esm/staff/pages/drall/
> > >>>> Join the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org
> > >>>> IR 11.0 Meets: 21-23 October 2010, U. of Gothenburg-
> > Gothenburg,Sweden>>>>
> >
> __________________________________________________________________________________>>>>
> See what's on at the movies in your area. Find out now:
> > >>>> http://au.movies.yahoo.com/session-times/
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
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> > >>>> Join the Association of Internet Researchers:
> > >>>> http://www.aoir.org/
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
> > >>>> xmca mailing list
> > >>>> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
> > >>>> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca
> > >>> --
> > >>> -------------------------------------------------------------
> > -----------
> > >>> Andy Blunden http://home.mira.net/~andy/<http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/>+61 3 9380 9435
> > Skype
> > >>> andy.blunden
> > >>> Hegel's Logic with a Foreword by Andy Blunden:
> > >>> http://www.marxists.org/admin/books/index.htm
> > >>>
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> > >>> xmca mailing list
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> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
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> > >>
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> > >>
> > >
> > > --
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> > > Andy Blunden http://home.mira.net/~andy/<http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/>+61 3 9380 9435 Skype
> > > andy.blunden
> > > Hegel's Logic with a Foreword by Andy Blunden:
> > > http://www.marxists.org/admin/books/index.htm
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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