A friend suggested that I took on too many thesis groups and advisees this year. In this friend's point of view, I wasn't able to supervise the groups enough. I am inclined to agree with the "too many" assessment, but my reasons for thinking so are different. In recent years, I've taken the position that I will only work with people who are working on affect and learning (or games). This is not meant to be a commentary on the thesis-worthiness of students' ideas. This is a commentary on my limits as a human being: I only have so much time, energy and attention to spare. It isn't possible for me to supervise too much diversity.
Everyone who is working with me is working on affect and learning (or games). However, there's still too much diversity. In retrospect, there are topics under me that could very well be supervised by the other faculty. Some of the topics just needed access to data or equipment, but the groups didn't really need *me* as an adviser. My aim is and has always been to deepen the research that we're doing. This year, we broadened it instead. This isn't a bad thing, but it doesn't really get us as far ahead as I would like.
For next school year, I have to narrow my focus even further. I should work with fewer people and be more selective about whom I will supervise.
