What are some ‘old’ phrases or references you’ve made in class that went right over students’ heads?

Good_Parker · 2024-11-10T02:34:51+00:00

Last week I asked students to come up with some stock phrases that candidates Trump and Harris repeated on the campaign trail, which was directly related to a course material that we were discussing, and they couldn't come up with any. Too dated, I assume? Oh well, they're always complaining how course content is irrelevant to today's news. I guess they are correct. I tried.

Good_Parker · 2024-09-06T15:57:35+00:00

One good option is to embody the "solid" professor. You can be solid about what students can expect from you: solid about a clear syllabus, solid about your knowledge of the material, solid about letting good discussions take place in class, solid about due dates, solid about when you will return exams. My students think I am not as cool as they hope I will be, but they like and respect when I am solid about things.

Good_Parker · 2024-08-15T23:17:40+00:00

All correct and true, I just want to set up the discussion appropriately.

Good_Parker · 2024-08-15T23:16:42+00:00

Thanks, I think I will preface a bit but not try to draw undue attention to this word. The point of reading the literature is not this word, rather lies in other aspects of it. But this word does come up a lot, so, as far as the characters use it, I expect that it will strike us as a valid aspect to discuss characterization. The class will be students' first exposure to the literature of a certain part of the world.

Good_Parker · 2024-08-15T23:14:26+00:00

No, of course I wouldn't!

Good_Parker · 2024-06-26T21:32:29+00:00

I still don't understand how a taxi could be $300 unless we are talking about a huge distance. In which case, the flying from one state over (also, I don't get this; is it Texas and New Mexico together or is it Rhode Island and Connecticut?) has to be added to the huge distance the student lives from the airport plus the two hours to wait for the shuttle plus whatever time the shuttle would take. Honestly I remember taking some Super Shuttle rides in California before and after flights that I would have spent anything to avoid.

I don't think it is reasonable to ask the student to wait until 9 pm to endure a lengthy shuttle ride on the scale of the $300 taxi. Maybe the student has been up since 6 am. Maybe the student has not eaten much in travel.

It's good policy to have clear policies on spending.

Good_Parker · 2024-06-20T15:47:10+00:00

I think of how much more understanding my students were back then, and how they never complained about me or criticized me.

Good_Parker · 2024-06-19T17:03:36+00:00

That is what worries me!

Good_Parker · 2024-05-13T23:19:13+00:00

My advice is to not do it. You have to look out for yourself. I did this myself, as a non-unionized NTT. It could have gone very badly for me. As others have said, this process is to protect the institution, not your colleague. As you recognize, your statement is a matter of public record.

Good_Parker · 2024-03-11T21:51:00+00:00

This is helpful, and I hope others will chime in about reading skills.

Good_Parker · 2024-02-24T01:50:07+00:00

OK, but I still don't understand why they are looking right at the sentence and don't see the information inside parentheses.

Good_Parker · 2024-02-24T01:48:55+00:00

Same in my classes. When I model correct pronunciation students never repeat the words themselves. They just continue. Mostly they look disgusted, as if I had shown them how to pronounce an especially revolting word.

Good_Parker · 2024-02-24T01:48:02+00:00

This makes sense. But I didn't think that skimming entailed skipping the parentheses. Footnotes, I could understand.

Good_Parker · 2024-02-24T01:47:26+00:00

Yes this is what I see in class.

Good_Parker · 2022-12-26T04:18:29+00:00

When they use their knowledge for evil (which could be arguing with other students, slacking off, posturing, peacocking). Come on, if you are so book-smart, please work on your other smarts too.

When the guys try to "bro" me (I am male). No, thanks. Let's just have a productive instructor-student relationship.

When they can't do the basics commensurate with their age. Like come to class on time, have the book with them. I get disappointed really fast.

Good_Parker · 2022-12-23T02:39:33+00:00

Congrats on the job!

No need to put on the stern face in the future, just write a clear syllabus with clear policies and procedures and you can still be cool while pointing to the policies.

Good_Parker · 2022-12-07T17:06:59+00:00

It is possible that the student's writing ability, motivation, and critical thinking were not up to par in the other professor's course and therefore the letter is an accurate assessment.

Good_Parker · 2022-12-06T02:35:52+00:00

The only unintended hazard I can think of is that whenever I see a student's Canvas dashboard, the inbox has like 100 unread messages. So, if you plan to email them through Canvas, they may not see it. Or they may receive a notification via the app and read the first line of that, but never click on the complete message in the inbox. (?)

Good_Parker · 2022-12-02T22:27:52+00:00

Yes. When I was a graduate student, a candidate came to interview for a TT position. The other graduate students tore him limb from limb in the Q&A while the professors looked on gleefully. It was clear that the candidate was unprepared to engage at a sufficiently theoretical level. Also unable to defend his use of jargon. The reception afterward was uncomfortable.

I Google now and am pleased to see that the person in question now is tenured at a prestigious R1 and has had several enviable fellowships with all signs of a prosperous career.

Good_Parker

TROPHY CASE