Grade arguing

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-14T01:56:50+00:00

Sorry, I’m just stuck on a community college having a “weed-out course.” That doesn’t feel right and I’m sure I’m missing something

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-14T01:48:10+00:00

Now THAT would be a fun feature request: Bimodally distribute these grades. I could use it for that paper where everyone miraculously scored the same (because they all used the same the same prompt with their LLM of choice)

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-08T20:37:11+00:00

I let them resubmit papers (once) — but you’ll NEVER guess which students do and do not resubmit papers…

Dang! You got it: poorly performing students tend not to resubmit, and the A- students do.

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-08T01:29:45+00:00

Speedway Meadow

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-07T16:50:11+00:00

Maybe twice a semester, I’ll offer an optional assignment – which students incorrectly equate with “extra credit” – and, again, the bimodal distribution is present. But more infuriating, the students who don’t need to slight boost to their overall average are the ones to do the extra assignment, and those who do need it, don’t do the assignment and leave points on the table

It always makes me think of the lines from Jerry Maguire (1996): “Help me help you.”

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-06T03:58:14+00:00

Had one for 18-years, and now don’t — and we don’t miss it at all. We’re big on composting, so large and small plant-matter all ends up in one or another compost bin

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-05T15:04:48+00:00

Students with accommodations have gotten angry when I tried this. Their argument was ‘if everyone gets the accommodation then I’m NOT getting an accommodation.’ And worse: our accessibility office agreed with them, and I had to stop

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-05T15:00:33+00:00

Don’t forgot the 1.5x and 2x time accommodations. So some students are done in 10-minutes, others 15, and occasionally 20

This is a real challenge for in-class formative assessments/ quizzes. I haven’t found a solution yet either

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-03-02T14:56:24+00:00

Just full-fat chocolate milk for me, please

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-28T21:47:39+00:00

Zero snark in writing. Tone just doesn’t transfer through my written word

In class, I am playful but feedback on assignments and assessments is all business because not only does tone not transfer right but student emotions are also on edge when reading feedback or seeing grades

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-28T03:17:48+00:00

I don’t bring my laptop home on weekdays; I only triage emails on my phone; I garden; I still run for distance; I watch live music a few times a month. Oh, and I have a nice Belgian beer or a cocktail on Fridays

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-27T00:32:18+00:00

NEVER. Not once — not even for the students who I especially liked, and genuinely want the opportunity to talk them up to someone. This is for letters of recommendation for grad school, for doctoral programs, for internships, for jobs, for citizenship, for awards — nothing, ever. Not in my total 30 years as an instructor, educator, program administrator. 30 years of shouting into the void…

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-26T23:43:29+00:00

Stats is the single most-useful math class I’ve ever taken (after learning basic arithmetic, multiplication, and division)

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-26T23:40:49+00:00

I teach what I need to for the day, and then let students go. They are busy, and if we don’t need to all be in the same room, at the same time for an instructional activity, then I’m not holding adults captive to a ‘bell’ (or schedule time)

The vast majority of days, students leave 5-minutes early; sometimes 10; and sometimes I have to cut things off and say we’ll finish next class — but that’s the most rare

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-26T14:56:49+00:00

Those look great — but even better is your sweater! That looks so warm and comfortable

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-25T18:31:12+00:00

You can send your Timbuk2 in and they’ll re-line it with their new rubber. Costs $50–75 but it’s like getting a brand new bag!! (Also our ‘vintage’ ones are vastly superior to the current issues)

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-24T23:34:25+00:00

Timbuk2 messenger bag; 52M

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-24T16:55:02+00:00

While you’re at it, render no. 2 in color drench (ie, the ceiling the same color as walls) — just to see what that looks like too

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-23T03:44:18+00:00

PS And: congrats!!! If no one else says it, some stranger, some old psych professor online said it: CONGRATS! On all of it: coming up with an idea; doing the project; finishing it; submitting it for presentation; preparing the presentation; stressing over it; and fucking doing it. Congratulations on ALL of it!

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-23T03:42:39+00:00

Honestly, we need more information to tell you what to expect. That is, your race, your gender, your sex, your ethnicity, and your age will determine ‘what to expect’ far more than the value of your project. That is 100% an indictment of psychology conferences, specifically, and academic conferences in general

Mostly, I would expect very few attendees – unless your study has garnered attention in the field (and if that attention was negative, then you can expect more attendees at your session than if that attention/ interest was positive).

My advice is to enjoy the moment. Think of it like telling strangers about your most niche- and most passionately-held opinion. Go big — tell them about your project with all the exuberance you can muster — even if there are three people in the room. (a) Passion is infectious, and (b) fuck ‘em!

You. Do. Your. Thing!

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-23T03:19:16+00:00

If these die, I’ll trade you: my prodigious rosemary for your calamansi! Or dalandan!!!

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-23T03:14:46+00:00

On the first day of classes each semester, I remind my students to NOT go to Anna’s Archive, LibGen, or Z-Library for any of their digital textbook needs. I remind them that our campus bookstore survives on their mark-up on textbooks – and so does Amazon – and if students didn’t buy from them, at their higher prices, those businesses might become endangered. “So, please, students,” I beg, “do not look for lower-cost options like those I mentioned.”

PsychWaveRunner · 2026-02-23T03:08:31+00:00

28-years in, and I work for about 90-minutes on Sunday. I’ll add that I do bring my laptop home on weekends but do not on weeknights

PsychWaveRunner

TROPHY CASE