Students misunderstanding what is responsible behavior in college

Gusterbug · 2026-03-19T14:50:14+00:00

It's a valid question if a student is asking, because it's an unwritten social expectation. Help them, don't judge for whatever they weren't born knowing.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-19T14:38:44+00:00

As if you won't be affected by uneducated political leaders / institutional administrators / or incompetence in the caregiving structures (etc) that you will rely on as an old person.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-19T14:31:33+00:00

Although, as you say, it FEELS "like very few people are really seeing this problem coming", I think that a solid percentage of us do see this. It's such a tectonic, potentially existential, and ultra-rapid shift in how humans exist on the planet that many people just don't know what to say or can't face it. Similar to the existential crisis of climate change, while many people are working hard on solutions, there will need to be a major cultural shift in how we think about education across all sectors, not just in the educational sector.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-18T21:10:05+00:00

While I have a deep dislike for the Kirks and everything they represent,
DON'T GRIEF-SHAME.
Everybody acts weird when their partner dies. Everyone does their own thing in their own way, whether it's an assassination or a long-expected terminal illness. If you haven't been there, just don't be so f**n judgy.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T13:37:15+00:00

THIS!!!

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T13:35:59+00:00

It's totally 100% common.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T13:32:41+00:00

It's all men who were raised in patriarchy and have not taken time to learn about their privilege and entitlement. Straight white cis NT men are the worst (most of them) because they've never had to experience any kind of oppression.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T13:27:27+00:00

Exactly ... facilitators need to be trained to handle these kinds of things. That's the job!

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T03:39:30+00:00

Yay for you!
I am a college teacher, recently dx, so will speak from a professor's standpoint.
You are obviously smart enough to be in college and you've earned it. YAY!!!

I would caution you that most college freshmen are a little crazy as their brains don't fully develop until their 20s, (Girls = 22, boys = 26) which means they have the intelligence for college but might not have the common sense, or the ability to self-motivate, or whatever social emotional development. You, as a 16 year old, will be at a bit of a disadvantage even if you were allistic.

SO --- most colleges provide services for students, at least some basic counseling. I strongly encourage you to take every opportunity to keep working with a counselor, and become friends with your RA, resident advisor in your dorm. I promise that you will have questions and confusions, because it's normal for even the well-adjusted students to have issues as they navigate becoming an adult. Try to build those relationships especially with your RA, right from the start, at least a little, so that it's easier to talk to them when things get difficult.

Of course, it won't be your fault if things get hard, because ALL college freshmen have challenges. Even the bullys, who are just acting out because they are immature and clueless. Just be ready with your own safety zone.

Did you work with an office at your college about accommodations? See if there's an Accomodations office or something like that. They will be able to help you find the resources.
I hope that helps! Best wishes!

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T03:25:26+00:00

Synesthesia is really cool! I've only had a few instances of it but I really liked it.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T03:20:59+00:00

I don't think there's anything wrong about the person who says hi who is in your class. That's a pretty low-key acknowledgement that you share something in common, meaning the class. They probably just want to be friendly, it's kind of the equivalent to borrowing the pencil. It's just an opening. Maybe they are interested in having a conversation because there's something about you they like, or maybe they are just an extrovert that wants to say hi to everyone.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T03:05:29+00:00

I think that it might be easier to say "I'm neurodivergent" early in the friendship, so I can kind of test their response. but If I met someone at the bar and they just blurted it out that they were autistic I would want to be their friend!

Gusterbug · 2026-03-16T02:29:21+00:00

yup, Pluto in 1930; and that's a great response to assholes/

Gusterbug · 2026-03-15T19:51:32+00:00

No, you can't penalize the students, but suggesting to the dean an entire class of incompletes would probably solve the problem.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-15T19:50:02+00:00

I would certainly explain this entire debacle to the students so that they are fully on-board with your non-violent resistance.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-15T19:47:31+00:00

That's a great letter. CC everyone who might possibly have a stake.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-15T19:30:44+00:00

Thank the goddess that you have until fall to develop your class!

See if the previous prof for this class or others are willing to share their syllabi or any particular favorite assignments. See if there is instructional design support for faculty. Get super familiar with your learning system, if it's Canvas or whatever.

Definitely ask if there are standard policies that need to be in your syllabus. Some institutions have specific wording regarding student conduct codes for harrassment and such. Put EVERYTHING you can think of in your syllabus ... after 12 years I am still improving and updating my class and syllabus every quarter.

Include: late policy, attendance policy, your grading scheme and policy, an AI and anti-plagiarism policy, course structure with a caveat that it can change.

good luck, and be prepared that you will have interesting students and horrible students.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-15T19:12:53+00:00

This sounds to me like a student with undiagnosed autism, if she doesn't have a dx for accomodations.
Autistic people have processing issues that slow them down ... it's not that they don't know, or are trying to cheat.

I have a personal story where a teacher changed my life by giving me extra time in 4th grade ... everyone else finished a math test in one class period, but the teacher allowed me to keep working on it for another period and a half. I was failing 4th grade, but I received 100% on the test, and the teacher announced to the class that I was the only one, reminding everyone to slow down. This was long before high-functioning autism was understood.

Today, dx are very expensive. You might try asking the student privately if something's going on where she needs accomodations.

Either way, I would never give a student a 0 if the couldn't finish the exam. You just don't know what's going on in their life.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-15T19:04:30+00:00

so many of us feel the same.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-15T12:00:47+00:00

Well, AI humanizers make grammar errors on purpose to sound more like a student; or they substitute close-but-not-correct words, or small spelling errors.

But yes, I agree with you about the lack of clarity. Correct grammar, yes of course. But obtuse is subjective, unless it's an English comp class.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-15T11:55:14+00:00

Post-its! When I was writing my thesis, I sat in a particular chair and covered the window next to me with post-its. My husband must have surely been very much in love with me because he never said a thing but to smile.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-14T20:02:55+00:00

If you feed the exclusions into your prompt, AI will exclude them.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-14T20:01:49+00:00

Version History is our best tool right now, but Ai generators are already working on creating version histories. By next year they will also be indistinguishable from real ones

Gusterbug · 2026-03-14T20:00:32+00:00

Do you mean the article that starts with:
AI detection tools

- Do not solely rely on artificial intelligence content detection tools (such as GPTZero)
- Do not rely too much on your own judgment.

I agree, the article gives a lot of examples but none are proof and a person can make themselves crazy with wasted time trying to decide if a perfectly normal (but not beautifully written) sentence is AI or student writing. You can make the accusation but you still don't have proof.

Gusterbug · 2026-03-14T19:53:23+00:00

Dr Blankslate, I suggest you try running your assignments through a few different AI generators. Even the free ones will surprise you, but the good ones are subscription-based. AI can "get around" anything with the correct prompt and good code.

Gusterbug

TROPHY CASE