Course description

 Aim:

Researchers and teachers are bombarded with information and tasks. Keeping control of information overload and activities in collaborative, knowledge intensive work is a corner stone for work satisfaction, maintaining drive and a healthy work-life balance. This course aims to give an introduction to Getting Things Done (R),  accompanied with practical examples how to implement the method, and  continue to use it.

Content:

The course covers the key principles of Getting Things Done (R) and presents how they can be integrated in the daily life of a researcher and teacher. Course participants are expected to actively work and apply the principles during, between, and after the seminars. Anecdotal evidence by the seminar leader shall be dissected and questioned by the participants, and complemented with their own.

Course format:

• Delivery: The course is held in a hybrid format (only people not living in Blekinge may join remotely).
• Active participation: Participants are expected to take part in the exercises during the seminars. Furthermore, they are expected to implement the discussed principles with the tooling of their choice and share their setup during the seminars.
• Examination: Participation in seminars is mandatory and required to pass the course. The participants shall prepare a brief report about their experience with Getting Things Done (R).
• Suggested course credits: 3 ECTS

Course schedule:

• Duration: The course consists of 4 seminars. The first three seminars can be bundled together in a week or a month (depending on participant preference). The fourth, follow-up seminar is scheduled 6 months after the initial three seminars. The seminar duration depends on the number of participants.

Registration

For registration, contact Michael Unterkalmsteiner, mun@bth.se

Last day for registration 30th April 2024.

Course Descriptor

1. Aim of the course
The aim for the doctoral student is to acquire knowledge and develop skills in the area of philosophy of
science and methodology of applied science. It aims to increase the student’s ability to formulate and
applied scientific principles within their own area of research.

2. Content

PART 1: Theory/Seminars, 3 ECTS credits
– History of science: from experience facts to experimentalism;
– Modern theory of science: falsificationism, Kuhn’s paradigm, Lakatos’ research programmes;
Feyerabend’s anarchistic theory of science, subjective Bayesians, and new experimentalism;
– Methodology of applied science;
– Legal and ethical aspects of publishing.

PART 2: Project/Workshops, 4.5 ECTS credits
– Approaching research problem – a research question and hypothesis;
– Validation and verification of research hypothesis;
– How to organise and write thesis and scientific paper;
– Tools for referencing and using templates;
– Presenting and disputing of research results;
– Reviewing of the research reports;
– Project and teamwork management.
The course parts can be taken separately, but the order Part 1 then Part 2 or both parts parallel are recommended

3. Objectives
Knowledge and Understanding:
– Fundamental concept and theory concerning modern paradigm in science, special in applied
sciences;
– Academic and publishing culture.
Skills and Abilities:
– Scientific writing;
– Research competence;
– Write, present and dispute scientific papers and reports.
Judgment and Approach
– Be able to analyse, review and oppose scientific papers and reports.

4. Learning and teaching
The course is given as a campus course. Instruction consists of lectures, seminars and workshops along with
written and oral assignments. The course is taught in English.

5. Assessment and grading
The examination consists of active compulsory participation in seminars and workshops, written
assignments submitted and presented in different ways.
Code Module Credit
Theory 3.0 ECTS
Project – individual part 2.0 ECTS
Project – group part 2.5 ECTS
Assessment of the course is the grade pass or fail (G/U).

6. Course evaluation
The course coordinator is responsible that the doctoral student has the opportunity to comment on the course.

7. Course literature and other teaching material
– A.F. Chalmers: What is this Thing Called Science? ISBN 0-87220-452-9.
– Course coordinator will provide suitable compendia and a list of supplementary literature before the course starts

8. Course coordinator/responsible
Wlodek Kulesza, Professor, BTH

9. Certificate
On the student’s request, course certificate is issued by BTH through the course coordinator.