Tamar Weisz-Koves
Doctor of Education student
She would absolutely recommend the Doctor of Education to experienced educators looking to extend themselves through doctoral-level study while working, says Tamar Weisz-Koves.
“I’ve just completed the first year of my Doctor of Education, and my intention is to complete doctoral study part-time while working. It’s full-on in a good way – so far, the commitment involved has felt manageable and professionally satisfying. My classmates have been a highlight for me. I’m loving studying as part of a small cohort, and Dr Yael Cameron and Dr Neil Boland are inspiring, knowledgeable and supportive lecturers.”
The emphasis on creative practice-oriented research surprised her a bit.
“It took me a while to get my head around what I was allowed to do in the Format 3 approach. Now I’m loving the combination of theory and practice, and the opportunity to be creative. It’s early days for my research, but I’m combining a focus on weaving curriculum with Pahl and Rowsell’s (2010) artifactual literacies. The intention is to work towards a culminating exhibition of woven artifacts related to childhood that have pedagogical significance.”
The road to doctoral study
For Tamar, taking on doctoral study was the logical next step in her career.
“I’ve been lecturing in early childhood education for many years. When I first started lecturing, few early childhood education teachers were qualified, and a bachelor’s qualification was sufficient. Since then, to keep up with teachers gaining increasingly higher qualifications, I completed a Master of Education qualification. With my children growing up, now is the right time for me to undertake doctoral study. Besides, I work in an environment where having a doctorate is the norm, so it was time to succumb to peer pressure!”
The biggest challenge for her was committing to study.
“I was nervous about the time and energy involved in doctoral study. Associate Professor Adrian Schoone, the head of the School of Education, recommended the programme to me. I’d left it to the last minute to apply, and Dr Neil Boland and Dr Yael Cameron were incredibly supportive in helping me submit my application in time.”
Advice for other students
Tamar has some great advice for other students who are considering doctoral study.
“Do some reading about the different doctoral formats, including Format 3 with its emphasis on practice-oriented research, and select an approach that aligns with what you think you want to do.”
Doctoral study is a marathon, not a sprint, she stresses.
“Learn to be comfortable with uncertainty and be open-minded to changing the direction of your initial focus as you learn and become more comfortable with the process.”
