🚀 go-pugleaf

From:  Jim Stonge  < stonge@ismail.switch.com >

To:  All the faithful readers of AECT-L

I've read with interest the discussions for several days.  Thanks to
Gary for bringing it out in the open.  It has been discussed in virtually
every convention planning meeting, and has been the topic in many
board meetings and other administrative and social gathering of the
association.  This is the largest interactive discussion held on the topic,
and it is wonderful.  Thanks to Rusty for putting up with all of us on his
system, and special thanks to Kent for taking an active interest.

I have three questions and I need answers to them before I can make
up my mind as to which way the wind should blow on this topic.  None of
these questions are intended to imply anything, and are not intended to
offend.  I really don't know.

1)  Do colleges and universities really require that faculty have that many
presentations at a single conference, and conjunctively do they require
that a professor's name be on the work of each student, or is this an ego
thing on the part of the individual faculty member?

2)  Don't you believe that there is room in the organization for those who
do
not share the research interest?  Specifically, should there not be some
opportunity for reporting on information that is not an experimental
study that would also have utility? Could these not be posters, or
demonstrations, or some other venue?

3)  Do you believe that because someone writes a good abstract that they
should be allowed to present if we know that they do not give a good
presentation?  Does it matter if the person is coming up for tenure?  Is
tenure a right or something to be earned?

I am sure that there is a diversity of opinion on each of those topics.  I
will
state that I do believe in the blind review, but then I also believe in the
reality check of using the evaluation forms from previous conventions when
making the final decisions.  I would also like to see all presentations in a
"Proceedings" that has been submitted in advance and is available at the
registration desk for all who attend.  I believe that having to prepare a
paper
version in advance will help to ensure that the presentations are thought
out
in advance.  Some conferences even require advance approval of presentation
visuals.  And I am not referring to AERA.

Thanks for your time.