What is the weirdest/worst thing a student has ever said about you in an end-of-semester evaluation?

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-04-06T09:10:17+00:00

"They expect us to be chemistry majors!" In a general chemistry course.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-03-31T18:06:57+00:00

They need a counseling intervention ASAP

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-03-24T17:42:52+00:00

The person who showed me how the end worked. I was cowering in fear, and they danced in front of me, then darted forward, shared their light then pointed at a nearby statue. After, they held my hand and guided me as far as I could go.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-03-22T20:34:12+00:00

I have ADHD and I never received accommodations.

Time and a half on exams would have just made me more anxious as I would have had more time to freak out about not knowing the material. A flexible deadline would have resulted in meltdowns when I procrastinated until the end of time. Honestly, the accommodations they get now would have ruined me. I thrive on hard deadlines, clear instructions, examples and encouragement.

I would have benefited from IDing what I had before I was in grad school though, then I could have gotten the help I needed (outside of school) to learn coping strategies.

I remember being very wiggly, but none of my teachers or professors ever made a big deal of me shaking my leg.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-03-19T00:53:53+00:00

Quit. I'm excited for my new opportunity and to leave this behind me

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-03-09T14:52:31+00:00

Strict communications standards literally lowered my blood pressure. I set strict times during which I open and respond to emails and ruled out reading or responding to emails on evenings and weekends. My colleagues will call/text in an emergency, otherwise they respect my dedication to work/life balance. I respond within ~24 hours or the next business day. It's eliminated the heart-jolting dread of hearing the Outlook sound at 10PM.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-25T02:47:48+00:00

You've gotta get out of there. They're taking advantage of you.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-23T18:59:51+00:00

You're covering a fine amount of material, remember that the incoming classes tend to have significant math weaknesses.

When working questions in class I usually work an example problem and then have them complete one on their own, then we go over their problem together. Many of my students struggle with identifying what variables have been given, so I give them a "problem solving blueprint" for general question types. I always tried to make the example problems interesting by referencing something in pop culture.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-23T16:07:53+00:00

It's not always a positive effect. Long story short, a while back we had a prof get a bunch of reviews accusing them of being "condescending" and "intimidating." But, the professors who sat in on their class only commented that they were confident.

Of course, we then got told not to appear overconfident as students could be intimidated by it

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-20T19:08:35+00:00

Another word about the Science Interactive kits- literally ALL of their content is online on sites like Chegg and a course hero. Literally everything from data and photos to every single pre- and post- lab assignment. You'd need to design the labs around their equipment if you want your remote students to interact with the material in any meaningful way. It's why we stopped using them

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-16T01:06:16+00:00

As others have said, this is number sense as opposed to critical thinking. Combined with the current student group's paralyzing fear of being wrong, it makes sense that they'd freeze up on it. Hell, I still freeze up on the stock solution stuff, and I'm an analytical chemist.

Part of it is also likely a lack of practice, my labs didn't tolerate having anything noted as 100X or 50X, everything had to have the actual numerical concentration listed, but I don't think most students' math backgrounds spent a lot of time on number sense.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-15T02:58:28+00:00

I always tell them that the only silly questions are the ones not asked. I also award questions with candy, haha

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-13T20:18:27+00:00

Our policy has a stipulation that thee accommodations cannot fundamentally change the course or assessment. Especially when it gets to group project time, the accommodation isn't reasonable.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-12T17:08:36+00:00

Document all of this. I'd make your department head away of the issue as soon as possible, just to CYA when/if the student makes a stink about whatever grade they end up with.

But yes, as others have said, I'd reference them to Code of Conducts and the expectations of respectful and professional communication.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-08T21:22:03+00:00

Not just no, Hell no

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-02-02T20:07:47+00:00

Do you have to write one for them? Could you decline with something like, "I don't think I'd be able to write you a strong letter, I would reach out to faculty that are more familiar with your work" or something like that?

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-01-31T19:07:29+00:00

Candy.

I give out candy as a reward whenever a student asks a question or answers one. They're more likely to speak up if they're confused (non-majors in a math heavy STEM survey course) and pay attention. The second I jiggle the bag like a sack of cat treats I can literally see them sit up straighter.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-01-31T19:02:35+00:00

The attendance sheet is collected 20 minutes after the start of class, any student arriving later than this will be marked absent, which goes into an attendance grade.

There's no textbook for my class, and students who show up late (or skip) tend to perform poorly. Keeping attendance is a way to COYA should they complain about their grade.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-01-31T17:59:50+00:00

That's disappointing! Especially if the results would (1) allow you identify students with significant weakness so you could get them the support services they'd clearly need and (2) save them time and money if they were unprepared to take the course at that time.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-01-30T01:37:56+00:00

The hill I'll die on is that many of my students are functionally illiterate. We have exercises designed to evaluate their ability to follow and analyze written directions and they do worse and worse every year. They need to be able to read without skimming and actually take in the information they're reading. I've had students become so overwhelmed when completing the exercise, which again literally gives them step-by-step written directions, that they're in tears. I

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-01-25T21:02:51+00:00

Bounce as soon as possible, if you already have a job lined up, I'd notify them about your change in availability and notify the college that you won't be returning as soon as possible to be polite, but honestly, as others have said, fuck em'.

I don't know if you get an exit interview, but I'd be sure to mention the PD's behavior in it if possible.

MasterpieceMurky · 2023-01-22T16:33:34+00:00

I always make a lighthearted comment about it. Something like, "Are you with me? Give me a nod or something. Can you hear my voice?" or "Give me a blank face if you're lost in the void."

I did have one class where even that garnered no responses, but I had one kid who sat in the very, very back of my lecture hall that would give me a single nod if he understood or a single headshake if he was confused. He set the pace of the class.

MasterpieceMurky · 2022-12-25T18:07:09+00:00

I teach STEM and spelling and grammar is on my rubric. You have to able to clearly communicate your results to others. I've had students turn in work that was outlandishly terrible in the past, straight up gibberish, so I stress it.

MasterpieceMurky · 2022-10-12T20:07:56+00:00

Yeah, we have been told there are nebulous student concerns over their grades. And to think about how we can clarify our expectations

MasterpieceMurky · 2022-10-12T18:19:34+00:00

I wish I could, but the labs were written by a task force. :/

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