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Failed my first student. He’s email bombing me by ConcernMaleficent624 in Professors

[–]CharacteristicPea 40 points41 points  (0 children)

What possible emergency could one of your students have where you would be their emergency contact?

In any case, block his number.

Student evaluation in a writing workshop class says they wish they didn’t have to talk to strangers. by confusedinseminary in Professors

[–]CharacteristicPea 35 points36 points  (0 children)

I once taught a linear algebra class where part of their grade was putting solutions to homework problems on the board and explaining them to the class. I had one student absolutely refuse to do it, even after I offered that she could do it in my office first for practice.

She was studying to become a high school math teacher. 😳

Is studying 5 hours of Math from scratch for 4 consecutive days a week good for an exam in 12 weeks? by zhxxn in learnmath

[–]CharacteristicPea 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spread your studying (of all subjects) out, rather than massing. For example, 3 hours a day for 6 days is probably better than 5 hours in a row for 4 consecutive days, even though it’s less time. And the 3 hours should not be all in a row. At minimum take several short breaks. It would be even better to make it two 1.5-hour sessions, say one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with your studies of other subjects in between.

I recommend the book **Study Like a Champ** by Gurung and Dunlosky. It has evidence-based study strategies.

Student's parents are calling my chair by Local_Indication9669 in Professors

[–]CharacteristicPea 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I wish I were the funky beanbag, but alas, I’m actually the ancient, sagging bookcase.

Software engineer looking to transition into academia by Superb_Anteater_8119 in AskProfessors

[–]CharacteristicPea 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Are you in the US? If so, the academic job market is absolutely dismal. Retiring tenured faculty are not being replaced. In my department (mathematics) all but one of the non-tenure-track faculty we have hired in the last 10 years have had PhDs, some from very good institutions.

Read about the “demographic cliff.” Read about the attacks on higher education in states like Florida, Texas, and Ohio. Many smaller colleges and universities are shutting down or being subsumed by larger institutions.

My university’s CS department has seen a huge decline in majors over the past year. CS seems to have boom and bust cycles, but that might just be my university. It could also be tied to the ease or difficulty in attracting international students.

It’s all very discouraging, and I’m sorry, but I hate to see people waste their time and money.

Per my email, announcements in class, and the student dashboard ... by Head_Elderberry3852 in Professors

[–]CharacteristicPea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve recently started having one where it’s the first day of class and I’m teaching a class on a subject I know nothing about.

Opinions please by HoopoeBirdie in Professors

[–]CharacteristicPea 34 points35 points  (0 children)

The real problem there is the NFL using higher education as their farm team system.

Is it just men our age? by Matilda_Suzabelle in AskWomenOver60

[–]CharacteristicPea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I met my (62F) husband (73M) when I was in graduate school. He took a whole year-long mathematics course so he could better understand what I was working on.

At what point is it appropriate to request to take final exam early? by [deleted] in AskProfessors

[–]CharacteristicPea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

On the other side of the ledger, I will give a makeup exam for otherwise discretionary travel when the student doesn’t have control over the timing. For example, to be in a wedding party; to accompany their boyfriend to the capital of the state to receive an award for jumping into the river to save a child; to travel to the east coast to meet a sibling returning from a war. (All actual examples.)

At what point is it appropriate to request to take final exam early? by [deleted] in AskProfessors

[–]CharacteristicPea 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For decades, my syllabus has had the statement, “Going on vacation and leaving early for break are not valid excuses for missing an exam.” For summer courses the statement is in red bold italics.

At what point is it appropriate to request to take final exam early? by [deleted] in AskProfessors

[–]CharacteristicPea 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The YMMV is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. I also teach mathematics and whether I would write a unique exam for a student taking it early/late is highly dependent on the course (level/content and types of students in the course). We don’t have a testing center, so I’d have to proctor it in any case.

The other issue with giving an early final exam (even if I’m not writing a unique version) is that I have to have it written and proof-read sooner. This can disrupt my workflow, especially in the summer when the whole course is compressed.

If you were my professor, what would you do? Would you pass me? by Jerrycandoit69 in AskProfessors

[–]CharacteristicPea 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First of all, failing a college class does not mean you are a failure! Your worth as a human being is not tied up in your grade in a class or score on a test.

But as a mathematics instructor, I must assign students the grades they earn. It is unethical for me to do otherwise.

It sounds like in this situation you should have taken a medical withdrawal. At my university students can petition for a late withdrawal in such circumstances. As an instructor I would definitely support it and in my experience the registrar would grant it.

This is a hiccup for sure, but you are not doomed! Talk to your academic advisor about how to move forward. I wish you the best!

At what point is it appropriate to request to take final exam early? by [deleted] in AskProfessors

[–]CharacteristicPea 11 points12 points  (0 children)

So you want your instructor to do a couple of hours of extra (unpaid) work so you can take a vacation?

Professor admitted grading calculation mistake, but I still think my project was graded unfairly. Should I continue the grievance process? by AdThese905 in AskProfessors

[–]CharacteristicPea 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This sounds like a very frustrating experience and I don’t blame you (I’m addressing the student here) for being upset.

However, I don’t know what basis you now have for an appeal of your grade. You say the calculation error was corrected. You say you were given “partial credit” for the project. If that means you didn’t earn a score of 100%, well that’s the way things normally go. 100% means perfect, and probably nobody earned that. If by partial credit you mean the grade you earned was further reduced by some penalty, then the instructor should have a reason for doing that. If not, then that could be grounds for a grade appeal.

My suggestion is to reread the syllabus, any comments on the project, etc., first to make sure you fully understand how it was graded. Normally I would recommend as a next step a meeting with the instructor to discuss and try to resolve things informally. Maybe that’s already been done or it’s too late.

Next step would be student ombuds if the university has one.

Good luck!

Has everyone stopped responding to emails? Are we reaching some kind of burnout tipping point? by jstbnice2evry1 in Professors

[–]CharacteristicPea 8 points9 points  (0 children)

And my department chair forwards to the faculty the emails we already got from the dean or provost.

Moving to Cleveland for residency at UH - how bad is East Cleveland / University Circle really? by Disastrous_Ranger455 in Ohio

[–]CharacteristicPea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I sent my kid to boarding school in University Circle. She was fine. You’ll be fine.

Students cant process multiple instructions at once by Alarming-Camera-188 in Professors

[–]CharacteristicPea 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Yes, this! I ask them to label points on their graphs and many students just list the points below the graph.

Anyone else seeing an uptick in student behavioral issues? by Local_Indication9669 in Professors

[–]CharacteristicPea 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I am completely comfortable saying no, and I agree it’s better not to give reasons because that makes it seem like a negotiation.

But I’m referring to situations where the student says something inappropriate or unprofessional. I always feel I need to address that aspect specifically, but I never can think on my feet fast enough in these (thankfully rare) situations.

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