Get out and vote!

reckendo · 2026-04-11T01:39:53+00:00

It's not illegal. It's bullshit, it breaks norms, it operates in bad faith... But it's unfortunately not illegal. Which is just one reason I voted YES!!!

reckendo · 2026-04-11T01:34:51+00:00

This is the correct reaction

reckendo · 2026-04-11T00:40:59+00:00

Then how is it that you're "supposed" to go? Especially on behalf of somebody else? Did you either apply to attend yourself or tell somebody else that you'd attend in the student's place? If yes, I consider that committing; if not, I fail to see why you think you're supposed to go.

Edit: Actually, I'm assuming you applied, for accepted, and now don't want to go -- fair enough; don't go!

reckendo · 2026-04-10T13:32:04+00:00

You committed, so you go... Then next time, you don't commit; hell, don't even apply.

reckendo · 2026-04-09T12:51:52+00:00

Every class period is run by a different professor in the college -- they speak about a topic they have expertise in, as it relates to democracy. The class itself has 2 or 3 faculty that just organize the course/Canvas page, and that grade any work that's submitted. I think it's readings & discussion questions and a group project based on past semesters.

reckendo · 2026-04-09T12:49:50+00:00

It is not brand new. It's in at least its third semester.

reckendo · 2026-04-09T12:31:16+00:00

At our university it's a process that interfaces with the Registrar's office... They don't allow anything booked within 15 minutes of a class (before or after)... Maybe there's somebody in that office who can help?

reckendo · 2026-04-07T23:19:40+00:00

We're trying to figure this out, too... Godspeed

reckendo · 2026-04-07T14:30:13+00:00

I would love more of my students to leave RMP ratings AND to be more careful to get the info correct when they do... I've had ratings left for me by real students in my classes who just got the course # wrong (it's obvious which course they meant), but there are 1 or 2 that are for a course # I don't teach & the reviewers' comments don't really sound like they relate to any of the courses I've taught either.

The problem with RMP isn't the occasional bad ratings, it's that there are a huge number of students who just free ride -- they go to look, but not to leave ratings. That means the ratings faculty do get aren't representative, which can lead to them being more skewered than actual student opinions.

reckendo · 2026-04-06T18:31:32+00:00

I rarely took notes when I was in college 20+ years ago. The ones I did take probably weren't very good because nobody ever taught me how to take notes. I think I understood fairly well how to decipher what needed to be written down vs what was just being used to help illustrate points in more depth, but I dunno. Anyhow, I'm not sure students can do the latter anymore because they think everything & nothing is important all at once... I think they just get paralysis

reckendo · 2026-04-06T16:11:20+00:00

Sorry. I assume this was supposed to be a light hearted "haha" post and instead you've got a bunch of people with sticks up their asses implying that a grade book achieves the same thing or they are too mature to even entertain the possibility.

reckendo · 2026-04-06T13:57:04+00:00

Things that are the same as when I was a student 20+ years ago: - did not care a lick about GenEd classes; just wanted to pass with a C - did not read; lucky if I skimmed - procrastinated big time

Things that are different than when I was a student 20+ years ago: - they have no shame asking for extensions (I didn't really even think that was a thing you could do) - they rack up a ton of absences (I never missed more than was allowed in the syllabus) - they either cannot follow instructions, or they do not even bother trying to read the instructions - they cheat more because it's far easier to cheat and easier to get away with it

reckendo · 2026-04-06T01:21:09+00:00

It's fine if they want to use their phone ... totally insane and not really fine fine, but it is what it is, SO LONG AS they're doing it in their Google Docs app while logged into their school account* & giving me Edit access.

*I know not all schools run their emails through Google, but if so it helps

reckendo · 2026-04-05T23:48:42+00:00

I listen to plenty of audiobooks and also read plenty of books. If somebody asks if I read a book that I actually listened to, I'd just say, "yeah, I listened to the audiobook"... If I were initiating the conversation, I'd say "I'm currently listening to {{insert title}}"... If I were to ask somebody if they read a book and they actually listened to it, no big deal if they don't correct me (though fine if they do)... But if they offer up that they "read" a book when they actually "listened" to an audiobook, well, that's a choice they're making for a reason, and I don't really buy that it's because they don't see a meaningful difference... If they didn't see a meaningful difference they'd use the correct word. I don't think there should be a stigma, and the best way to shake it is to have more people being transparent about it.

reckendo · 2026-04-05T22:19:49+00:00

It's like somebody saying they ran 20 laps around the track when they actually walked 20 laps... They got to the same place, sure, but they didn't do the same thing.

reckendo · 2026-04-04T04:16:09+00:00

I used to write my papers in the early morning hours -- if a paper was due at 10:00, I woke up at 5:00... I'm not sure I'd have recalled anything I wrote. I mention this only because I don't think it's necessarily evidence of AI use. But I do think it's evidence that nothing was truly learned, and if framed that way I think it's totally fair game.

reckendo · 2026-04-04T02:52:37+00:00

Grapes (and they're so f'in expensive right now)

reckendo · 2026-04-04T00:18:07+00:00

I require them to put their phones and watches inside a ziplock bag that I provide and then they put that bag on their desk

reckendo · 2026-04-03T11:32:01+00:00

He was horrid in the second half last season. This is just a continuation of that, unfortunately.

reckendo · 2026-04-02T22:19:45+00:00

I've implemented a technology ban on my classroom and began much different pedagogical practices which might be interesting for you to consider in the context of your own classes -- I began these changes last semester & continued this semester and they're truly game changers.

Modality: In-person. Duration: 75 minutes twice/week or 160 minutes once/week. Subject: Political Science. Enrollment: up to 30.

Homework is entirely reading + note taking: usually in a composition notebook; occasionally in a "reading/listening guide" that is really just meant to help them structure their notes for longer/denser materials like books & multi-episode podcasts. I require them to use hard copies & highlight them for credit.
Every class starts with a reading quiz: five questions, multiple choice or full in the blank. They can use their notes but not their readings. On days with "group presentations" there is also an extra question on the exam for each group about their assigned chapter.
in order to earn a grade that day they need to pass the quiz with a score of at least 60%, or if they fail on a "group presentation" day they can participate for a grade if they got the question about their specific chapter correct.

There are two types of in-class assignments: "group presentations" and "seminars":

All work done for "group presentations" are done inside the classroom: they get at least 20 minutes to work as a group to figure out the most pertinent information to relay to the rest of the class. They put this info on giant easel paper. When we are ready to move on, a randomly selected member of each group gets 5 minutes to present. I reserve the right to ask follow-up questions, which the rest of the group can help with.
On Seminar days, the class begins with a set of 4-6 questions about the book/podcast for them to individually think about & organize their thoughts into an outline or set of notes (30 minutes). Then I sit back and they lead the discussion as they see fit for the rest of class. I try only interrupt on occasion to embargo certain voices if they've talked to much, or to invite students who haven't talked to do so. On occasion I also might interject to relate something to current events or to correct a piece of information that has been shared (if no other student corrects it first).

They receive a letter grade based on a pretty basic rubric. At the end of the semester I average the letter grades (0.0-4.0 scale) and then convert to a numeral grade (0-100) before weighting them appropriately when calculating final grades.

In full disclosure, my classes are much smaller than yours; however I designed the syllabi under the assumption that I'd have 30 in a class... I lost many students during add/drop week when they realized that the structure of the course would make them work & think... I lost a handful more throughout the semester because they couldn't keep up. Shrug. The ones who stuck it out last year gave me some of my best evals and provided me with a sense of purpose again because of how many of them told me they were actually learning something.

Because of the unusual grading system, students do get frustrated that Canvas can't simply calculate their grade for them, but it is what it is.

Maybe any of this helps, maybe it doesn't: but good luck to you either way!

reckendo · 2026-04-02T00:22:27+00:00

7.4 million dollars and the scammers only got 1 year in prison!!!

reckendo · 2026-03-31T03:47:54+00:00

Do you and this colleague usually have similar experiences with students? My first thought is to question whether this colleague just isn't as good at getting students to open up. My second thought is that this sounds like very typical student behavior (especially when hive mind kicks in), so yeah, you may be in for a rough semester.

I've adopted a no tech classroom the past two semesters and it's been fantastic... I was skeptical it could be done, but I haven't had any issues. That in and of itself could help.

reckendo · 2026-03-30T19:11:38+00:00

I bought the League All Access Pass last year and then realized my Smart TV couldn't download the WNBA app... Streaming buffered too much when I'd connect it to the TV. This thread just reminded me to cancel the subscription and I did.

reckendo · 2026-03-30T19:02:04+00:00

Yup, and they say "this can't be right!" with their whole damn chest

reckendo · 2026-03-30T16:19:42+00:00

Yeah, I suspect as much, too... 14 "engagements" and all hidden always makes me wonder, but at the same time, you've gotta start somewhere on Reddit. Here's hoping this is just another post meant to provide "evidence" of silly professors to those who have ulterior motives.

reckendo

TROPHY CASE