Devin,
I agree with your points. I also think that our online presence can rightfully “bridge academia” but as you also noted, it can be “a tool to create arguments.” In academia, it is a good tool for students and faculty to spotlight their research and academic interests and reach a wide variety of audiences. However, I sometimes that our online records can be used against us outside academia.

Ishi, you are spot on this issues, especially the time we spend online. I like to blogging but only to a certain extent. Other platforms are used to connect but there is a fine balance on what we can do online.

LikeLike

I agree with your point. Professionalism is key in certain situations and setting professional boundaries, respecting and accepting others regardless of their backgrounds and gender or sexuality is essential in maintaining harmonious relationships between the teacher and students. My motto is to always keep it simple, real and respectful.

LikeLike

Qishen – I agree that motivation may be the result of mindful thinking. We are always motivated for or against something based on a variety of factors. However, as you noted in your post, I believe that a strong culture of learning based on the self-consciousness of learners is important to both the teacher and the student for knowledge creation to occur.

LikeLike

Hi Medha, I totally agree that academic bullying is an unwelcome problem in some institutions of higher learning. Bullying should not be permitted or tolerated in any way, shape or form, on or off campus. I remember Dr. Nelson alluding to this in class. In fact, we need more safe spaces on campuses. I believe all universities should have a zero-tolerant anti-bullying policy.

Hi Farha, I could not agree more with your post and argument, especially your statement on the “increased academic stakes of not getting higher grades and always being in a competition with peers that I often found myself being in a constant state of confusion and lack of interest in learning.” I guess it is just a stage in our academic careers to feel that way.

One aspect of this horrifying story that I think the biomedical community as a whole needs to consider is what this means for the law. Everyone recognizes that this guy engaged in research misconduct and will probably lose his job/get fined, but nothing in any legal system exists to deal with this. This guy didn’t meet any formal definition of a violent crime or abuse, but it really seems like he did. I think that there are going to be a lot of conversations related to the law evolving to deal with new bio-ethical violations as scientific progress continues.