THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
Writing Project #2 Final Draft
In the US, traditionally, parents do a great effort saving money for their children’s future higher education while governmental institutions consistently discuss policies for funding post-secondary studies. Undoubtedly, the academia is a traditional and long-standing activity in which I interested too. I have taught in a foreign university for almost a decade, and three years ago I became a graduate student at a US University, pursuing my Ph. D. degree. During this time I have noticed the importance of the US academia in the society worldwide. Most of the academic journals and books are published in this country. The universities’ presses stamp their logo in books guaranteeing the successful spread of their content. Being college and universities so important in the society, we need to understand academics’ identity. I posit that academia’s values, beliefs and practices are critical in how this community impacts the future of such a numerous group of people globally. In this essay, I aim to describe most important principles and practices I found in the US academia. In doing that, I describe qualitative methods I applied during my research and a discussion about findings in the academic community.
Methods
Aiming an examination to insight in the academia, the exploratory research, used primarily qualitative methods: observation and interviews. Both techniques allowed to collecting data in field notes, which were analysed under the light of the questions of this research: What are the values and practices in the US academia that make it so impacting in the society? The Modesto Maidique Campus of Florida International University located in Miami, FL, was selected to collect data. I chose it because of its accessibility; being a student, I have access to most of its buildings.
The research aims to observe how the spaces are essential in the practices of spreading knowledge in the academia. Thus, I took pictures of auditoriums with a capacity up to 100 people to analyse their design and facilities, and how they ritualise educational practices.
The research also includes interviews with faculty and grad students in the same university. The interview design has six open-ended questions, which aim to collect data about the roles, values as well as the most relevant practices the interviewees found inside the academia. Finally, the field notes gave meaning to the understanding of the academia as a socio-cultural phenomenon.
Discussion
It is core to grasp its beliefs, values and practices to understand a cultural phenomenon. Rituals and behavioural patterns show up the principles guiding and acting in such a community. I start the analysis by, first, describing the most standard practice in the academia: lectures and conferences. The pattern disclosed in this custom reveals values and beliefs underpinning scholar’s community.
In colleges or universities space, the most important rooms are the auditoriums. They are ubiquitous on university campuses. An auditorium is a place that gathers the community - students, faculty and staff, for any kind of meetings. Occasionally, social or spirit events play in those spaces; but, most of the time auditoriums are opened to course lectures, discussion forums, or conferences. While the class lecture is a daily teaching activity, forums and conferences are academic meetings entailing a particular topic of research. One interviewee stated about this practice, “A body of experts gathers to provide, discuss, and advice specific research interests”(I-1). In this essay, I will use the term conference as well as forums, lectures, talks, discussion, to refer to meetings where at least one faculty, local or visitor, talks about their research followed by a section of questions and answers. Those meetings are planned and programmed for taking roughly 2 hours. The primary goal of this practice aims to spread the knowledge discovered, created or achieved in the university labs and by research. Some interviewees - and I agree with them - see this practice very ritualistic. As a ritual, conferences are practised following the same procedure. It has three steps: Pre, during, and post-presentation. The pre-arrangements need three distinct issues: Title, date and time and room. The title can be a difficult task for the lecturer, but he has to provide it according to his research. On the contrary, it is not easy to find an available slot in a university complex. Many times we have experienced the anxiety of not finding an appropriate place to hold a conference. During the meeting, the lecturer(s) stand in front of the audience and, usually, an audiovisual tool helps to visualise presenter’s ideas or findings. The way to present the results of the research can vary according to the discipline. Thus, in social sciences, such as anthropology, geography, international relations, political science, professors are allowed to read their paper. However, this custom is not welcome in other sciences such as business or STEM. The ritual starts with the attendance welcoming. Without rush and smiling faculty and students get into the auditorium while they greet others. Most attractive is to meet and greet the lecturer who stands next to the podium. The time goes, and the conference starts. While most important the conference, larger is the list of people welcoming and introducing the lecture topic and the lecturer. When the presentation starts, attendance attitude switches, from a great and peaceful smile to an attentive frown while taking notes. Nobody speaks, only the lecturer. The auditorium reveals a mental process. Knowledge is floating and spreading from the presenter throughout the limited space of the hall where some people actively takes notes. A great applause concludes the speech. Discussion starts. Now the attitude changes again. It is not a fight against the lecturer. It is a simple, honest, amenable but knowledgeable interchange of comments. The lecturer then takes notes. Now, in the auditorium, within the brightness of the lights, starts knowledge again flowing up and down, toward and backwards. Everything finishes. What do they get? New insights. The lecturer requires this ritual to enhance his/hers research which will end up in an academic paper, a chapter of a book or maybe in a whole book. When? It is not defined unless he is a tenured professor or aspires a tenured position.
Regardless being tenured or not, academia, like any other community, enhances some specific values. During a conference, in the discussion section, faculty, graduate students, and all attendance can ask some questions around the topic the presenter spoke, which is his/her research interest. The importance of this particular pattern is the values engaged in it. I admire each time I have the opportunity to see that honest circulation of knowledge among think tanks. A professor interviewed in this research also highlighted this value in the academia: “honesty is the most valuable attribute of a person engaged in this community” (I-1). Credibility is a pillar to generate knowledge.
Although the existence of many private research centres, the academia is who, traditionally, stands the creation of knowledge. I argue this is another conventional procedure within the academia, which involves particular values. Scholars, of any branch of science, spend a significant part of their time researching. I have experienced the self-satisfaction of concluding at least a section of whole research. Worthy to mention, the research entails a technical and ethical procedure. The ethics of the researcher is a fundamental value in this community. An unethical act can be perceived in the investigator’s publications. For instance: plagiarism, deviant methods, lack of theorization, and so on.
The creation of knowledge – ultimately to improve the society – illuminates academia worldwide. Scholars do it by researching and teaching. Although research is not the principal role of all scholars, most of the universities in the US require this commitment. Researching entails funds, lots of time for collecting and analyse data, and peers assessment. It is admirable how members of this community enjoy the paradox of the research process developing theories, which requires of the solitude and the social. “We spend many hours writing our analysis to publish in academic conferences as well as academic journals,” said Interviewee 1. Professor Barone, in her book published in 2011, publicly acknowledges the time her husband spent with their children at the park while she wrote the book within the silence of their home. Another professor considers this activity as a selfish practice. However, the research process also needs a network of reviewers. Here, conferences play a great role; scholars also enjoy reading and commenting partner’s research findings and conclusions, because they believe in the creation of knowledge.
While some scholars find in research a compliment for creating knowledge, others are passionate about teaching. It is an everyday and massive routine in post-secondary education. In auditoriums, where a group of students gathers, a professor teaches. The methods for teaching vary according to the major. Most of the undergraduate courses require to do a lecture, but it also can be a practice in a lab. Computer labs are the most common, but it can be a Microbiology lab, a Materials lab, and so on. In graduate school, most of the courses are known as seminars because of the less number of students accepted. Also can be an individual study course, which I enjoy the most. In all those various methods, a professor creates knowledge in their students.
Conclusion
This analysis emphasises the practices, values, and beliefs in an academic community, which impacts global society and its future. Scholars firmly believe in the creation of knowledge, the goal of a successful academic career. It can be done by teaching and by researching, practices that require a space to gather people. The universities are full of auditoriums to facilitate the spread of knowledge. Admirable is how honesty plays a great role in this socio-cultural phenomenon. A respectful professor transcends in the academia by his/hers immaculate publications. Other scholars will reference that work in their new findings, increasing the respect for the cited research and its researcher. Ultimately, disseminating knowledge. Between the solitude and the social, an endless paradox among scholars, the global betterment is pursued. The identity of an academic community undoubtedly has such an impact on the society.
In the US, traditionally, parents do a great effort saving money for their children’s future higher education while governmental institutions consistently discuss policies for funding post-secondary studies. Undoubtedly, the academia is a traditional and long-standing activity in which I interested too. I have taught in a foreign university for almost a decade, and three years ago I became a graduate student at a US University, pursuing my Ph. D. degree. During this time I have noticed the importance of the US academia in the society worldwide. Most of the academic journals and books are published in this country. The universities’ presses stamp their logo in books guaranteeing the successful spread of their content. Being college and universities so important in the society, we need to understand academics’ identity. I posit that academia’s values, beliefs and practices are critical in how this community impacts the future of such a numerous group of people globally. In this essay, I aim to describe most important principles and practices I found in the US academia. In doing that, I describe qualitative methods I applied during my research and a discussion about findings in the academic community.
Methods
Aiming an examination to insight in the academia, the exploratory research, used primarily qualitative methods: observation and interviews. Both techniques allowed to collecting data in field notes, which were analysed under the light of the questions of this research: What are the values and practices in the US academia that make it so impacting in the society? The Modesto Maidique Campus of Florida International University located in Miami, FL, was selected to collect data. I chose it because of its accessibility; being a student, I have access to most of its buildings.
The research aims to observe how the spaces are essential in the practices of spreading knowledge in the academia. Thus, I took pictures of auditoriums with a capacity up to 100 people to analyse their design and facilities, and how they ritualise educational practices.
The research also includes interviews with faculty and grad students in the same university. The interview design has six open-ended questions, which aim to collect data about the roles, values as well as the most relevant practices the interviewees found inside the academia. Finally, the field notes gave meaning to the understanding of the academia as a socio-cultural phenomenon.
Discussion
It is core to grasp its beliefs, values and practices to understand a cultural phenomenon. Rituals and behavioural patterns show up the principles guiding and acting in such a community. I start the analysis by, first, describing the most standard practice in the academia: lectures and conferences. The pattern disclosed in this custom reveals values and beliefs underpinning scholar’s community.
In colleges or universities space, the most important rooms are the auditoriums. They are ubiquitous on university campuses. An auditorium is a place that gathers the community - students, faculty and staff, for any kind of meetings. Occasionally, social or spirit events play in those spaces; but, most of the time auditoriums are opened to course lectures, discussion forums, or conferences. While the class lecture is a daily teaching activity, forums and conferences are academic meetings entailing a particular topic of research. One interviewee stated about this practice, “A body of experts gathers to provide, discuss, and advice specific research interests”(I-1). In this essay, I will use the term conference as well as forums, lectures, talks, discussion, to refer to meetings where at least one faculty, local or visitor, talks about their research followed by a section of questions and answers. Those meetings are planned and programmed for taking roughly 2 hours. The primary goal of this practice aims to spread the knowledge discovered, created or achieved in the university labs and by research. Some interviewees - and I agree with them - see this practice very ritualistic. As a ritual, conferences are practised following the same procedure. It has three steps: Pre, during, and post-presentation. The pre-arrangements need three distinct issues: Title, date and time and room. The title can be a difficult task for the lecturer, but he has to provide it according to his research. On the contrary, it is not easy to find an available slot in a university complex. Many times we have experienced the anxiety of not finding an appropriate place to hold a conference. During the meeting, the lecturer(s) stand in front of the audience and, usually, an audiovisual tool helps to visualise presenter’s ideas or findings. The way to present the results of the research can vary according to the discipline. Thus, in social sciences, such as anthropology, geography, international relations, political science, professors are allowed to read their paper. However, this custom is not welcome in other sciences such as business or STEM. The ritual starts with the attendance welcoming. Without rush and smiling faculty and students get into the auditorium while they greet others. Most attractive is to meet and greet the lecturer who stands next to the podium. The time goes, and the conference starts. While most important the conference, larger is the list of people welcoming and introducing the lecture topic and the lecturer. When the presentation starts, attendance attitude switches, from a great and peaceful smile to an attentive frown while taking notes. Nobody speaks, only the lecturer. The auditorium reveals a mental process. Knowledge is floating and spreading from the presenter throughout the limited space of the hall where some people actively takes notes. A great applause concludes the speech. Discussion starts. Now the attitude changes again. It is not a fight against the lecturer. It is a simple, honest, amenable but knowledgeable interchange of comments. The lecturer then takes notes. Now, in the auditorium, within the brightness of the lights, starts knowledge again flowing up and down, toward and backwards. Everything finishes. What do they get? New insights. The lecturer requires this ritual to enhance his/hers research which will end up in an academic paper, a chapter of a book or maybe in a whole book. When? It is not defined unless he is a tenured professor or aspires a tenured position.
Regardless being tenured or not, academia, like any other community, enhances some specific values. During a conference, in the discussion section, faculty, graduate students, and all attendance can ask some questions around the topic the presenter spoke, which is his/her research interest. The importance of this particular pattern is the values engaged in it. I admire each time I have the opportunity to see that honest circulation of knowledge among think tanks. A professor interviewed in this research also highlighted this value in the academia: “honesty is the most valuable attribute of a person engaged in this community” (I-1). Credibility is a pillar to generate knowledge.
Although the existence of many private research centres, the academia is who, traditionally, stands the creation of knowledge. I argue this is another conventional procedure within the academia, which involves particular values. Scholars, of any branch of science, spend a significant part of their time researching. I have experienced the self-satisfaction of concluding at least a section of whole research. Worthy to mention, the research entails a technical and ethical procedure. The ethics of the researcher is a fundamental value in this community. An unethical act can be perceived in the investigator’s publications. For instance: plagiarism, deviant methods, lack of theorization, and so on.
The creation of knowledge – ultimately to improve the society – illuminates academia worldwide. Scholars do it by researching and teaching. Although research is not the principal role of all scholars, most of the universities in the US require this commitment. Researching entails funds, lots of time for collecting and analyse data, and peers assessment. It is admirable how members of this community enjoy the paradox of the research process developing theories, which requires of the solitude and the social. “We spend many hours writing our analysis to publish in academic conferences as well as academic journals,” said Interviewee 1. Professor Barone, in her book published in 2011, publicly acknowledges the time her husband spent with their children at the park while she wrote the book within the silence of their home. Another professor considers this activity as a selfish practice. However, the research process also needs a network of reviewers. Here, conferences play a great role; scholars also enjoy reading and commenting partner’s research findings and conclusions, because they believe in the creation of knowledge.
While some scholars find in research a compliment for creating knowledge, others are passionate about teaching. It is an everyday and massive routine in post-secondary education. In auditoriums, where a group of students gathers, a professor teaches. The methods for teaching vary according to the major. Most of the undergraduate courses require to do a lecture, but it also can be a practice in a lab. Computer labs are the most common, but it can be a Microbiology lab, a Materials lab, and so on. In graduate school, most of the courses are known as seminars because of the less number of students accepted. Also can be an individual study course, which I enjoy the most. In all those various methods, a professor creates knowledge in their students.
Conclusion
This analysis emphasises the practices, values, and beliefs in an academic community, which impacts global society and its future. Scholars firmly believe in the creation of knowledge, the goal of a successful academic career. It can be done by teaching and by researching, practices that require a space to gather people. The universities are full of auditoriums to facilitate the spread of knowledge. Admirable is how honesty plays a great role in this socio-cultural phenomenon. A respectful professor transcends in the academia by his/hers immaculate publications. Other scholars will reference that work in their new findings, increasing the respect for the cited research and its researcher. Ultimately, disseminating knowledge. Between the solitude and the social, an endless paradox among scholars, the global betterment is pursued. The identity of an academic community undoubtedly has such an impact on the society.