Wednesday 18 October 2006

Supervisory Meeting 3 for Nothando Ngwenya – 18 October 2006

Feedback on the Module proposal form procedure – The Learning contract can only be done after a skills audit which I will get hold of on the 4th of November when I start the PgCRM (Postgraduate certificate in Research Methods). The module proposal form for the Independent Study module will be completed after this date as well.
Confirmed on the hospice visits:-
Paul and Stella will try to write or speak to the Chief Executive of Douglas Macmillan Hospice as they have said they cannot take part in the Research.

Discussion on sensitivity issue and code of ethics should I come across material that is distressing. Stella said she will look at the BCS code to see if we can make reference and find guidance on the issue. At the moment suggestion is that I am under no obligation to read, or use any distressing, or offensive literature of any form narrative, pictorial etc.

Changes made on the conference paper plan to include more about weblogs, (see appendix 1).

Stella will check details of the conference to see the requirements on paper content.

Brief discussion on the curriculum and deadlines I should be looking out for. At the moment I should complete the assignment and then work on the RDC1 Proposal for December 2006.
Deadline for draft of paper will be end of the month

The next meeting is on 30th of October 2006

Things to do by next meeting

Continue working on the essay with the necessary changes made on the outline.
Practice using RefViz and Blogpulse and see how the programs can be used efficiently.
Make a list of questions and information for the hospice visits.
Make an annotated bibliography.










Appendix 1.

Conference Paper Plan + Outline


Abstract (150 – 200words)

Introduction (500words)
Issues raised in past papers and research
Demonstrate that I have something worthwhile to add to research
Establish the critical content of the paper
Provide basic background
Define Key terms and new terms

Therapeutic writing Background (600words)
Writing theories and benefits of writing
Science Paradigm – Pennebaker, Francis, Lange
Humanistic Approach – Bolton, Hunt, Sampson

Online Communities in Healthcare (700words)
Definitions of online communities
How does cyberspace facilitate therapy

History and analysis of weblogs (700words)
History of weblogs
Socio-technical Issues – user issues and user characteristics
Different types of blogs and their characteristics

Weblogs and Information management (700words)
· Informing or Engaging
Human aspects of Information Systems
Characteristics of weblogs that match those of Therapeutic writing


Conclusion (500words)
Review of literature and issues raised by the paper
Future implications and recommendations

Research Questions

1) How do Therapeutic writers manage the information?
2) How do/would weblogs portray that information?
3) Does the use of software and hardware form a barrier to therapeutic writers and what are the limitations of blogging?
4) What if any are the advantages of using weblogs as a therapeutic modality?
5) What benefits does IT bring to the psychotherapy industry?
Supervisory Meeting 2 for Nothando Ngwenya – 18 October 2006

Started with a brief feedback on what I have been doing so far- mainly collecting information, resources and reading on therapeutic writing.

Made a decision on the negotiated module I would do for PgCRM and settled for the Independent study module with 30credits. SHM58915-M.

It was finally agreed that instead of 2 essays for assessment I could complete:
1) conference paper (4000 – 5000 words)
2) Discussion reflection paper (2000 words)
3) PowerPoint Presentation

Discussion on the learning outcomes of the Module proposal form and hand in dates for committee approval.

Stella will e-mail details of the conference to check for deadlines and material content
Review of the dates for the hospice visits, so far we have one confirmed date and one tentative date:

Deadline for first draft of paper will be end of the month (provisional date – 2nd of November 2006)

The next meeting is on the 18th of October 2006 at 16:00pm


Things to do by next meeting

Work with Lou on completing the Independent study module proposal form and hand in procedures

Start intensive research and reading/ literature review on therapeutic writing – and identify core theories and models within therapeutic writing.

Confirm the rest of the hospice visits

Start practising endnote, mindmap and other useful software
1st draft of paper/ assignment.