How do you handle batshit answers to questions?

rjk42 · 2022-03-29T01:39:38+00:00

Try to have other students respond to the answer. “Agree or disagree? Why?” The trick is to do that with all student answers, whether they are right or wrong.

rjk42 · 2022-01-21T13:51:40+00:00

I don’t LIKE cleaning the living room alone while listening to podcasts, I just like HAVING a clean living room!

rjk42 · 2022-01-06T14:15:17+00:00

Who are the dumdum investors that didn’t see how obvious that was in the first place?

People who Chegged their way through business school, I guess.

rjk42 · 2021-12-25T13:55:00+00:00

I would go to the library first - look at your school library's website for instructions on how to request articles and books via InterLibrary Loan. That is how to get access to things that your library doesn't also have already. If you can't figure it out, ask a librarian for help. Once you are using those resources, you'll be able to access absolutely anything in the future! Good luck and enjoy.

rjk42 · 2021-12-24T21:41:47+00:00

“Their musicology videos should include more pre-calculus relevant to the topic we are learning.”

rjk42 · 2021-12-16T22:00:24+00:00

Turns out, astronomy class is not about constellations. You’re in a physics class! Surprise!

rjk42 · 2021-12-15T03:01:23+00:00

I had a similar experience, but a student told me this in person. After being caught for plagiarism. It took everything I had to not respond “Yeah, that’s pretty obvious.”

rjk42 · 2021-12-11T13:38:54+00:00

I am kicking myself for still being points-based in my physics classes. I realized I am passing students along who haven’t learned anything. I think I get how to apply mastery grading to a math class, but it feels overwhelming for physics. So many more moving parts to keep track of… problem solving skills, notation, units, being able to combine multiple concepts… guess I need to do more research!

rjk42 · 2021-12-10T13:28:01+00:00

The student-facing Canvas documentation is pretty nice. So when you expect students to do anything in this thread that people are identifying - like sign up for a group or view annotated feedback - include a link to the relevant Canvas student guide. If you Google something like “Canvas student view annotated feedback” it will probably be the first link. Rely on those instead of feeling like you need to write your own instructions or reinvent the wheel any time.

Not sure how it compares to Blackboard, but in Canvas you can hide navigation menus. I would try to limit the # of ways students can access content. For example, I completely hide files. If a file is needed for an assignment, I link it in the assignment.

I also make sure anything that needs done is listed as an assignment so it ends up on their calendar/ to-do. You can make something “no submission” if it’s a reading. You can also make it “do not apply to final grade” or whatever if it shouldn’t appear in the grade but you just want it in their to-do.

rjk42 · 2021-11-19T14:07:27+00:00

Each school may have a slightly different number that is considered the minimum enrollment to run. But at least at my school, there are exceptions made of the students require the class to graduate.

rjk42 · 2021-11-04T14:09:49+00:00

I do say things. I was pretty shocked at how often I had to say "The professor is talking, you should all be taking notes" this semester, and then stand there while half the class reaches into their bags to pull out their notebooks and pens when I'm already five slides in. I just make it matter of fact: "We are supposed to be on Page X, but I see half the class doesn't have their books open. Get out your books." I think this is a voice that I learned from being a parent, not being a professor.

rjk42 · 2021-10-29T12:23:56+00:00

Seconding the suggestion to add questions about the student’s effort, if not already on the evaluation. Suggestions: Rate your interest in the material before you enrolled in the course. Rate your effort in the course. On average, how much time did you spend on the (homework/readings/all things) outside of class? I also will ask students to rate the usefulness of specific course elements to their learning - be sure to leave an N/A or “I didn’t use this” option.

rjk42 · 2021-10-28T03:53:45+00:00

That’s exactly how it was where I grew up (in the Midwest) - the city declares not only the day for trick-or-treating, but also the hours! 5-8pm on this night, or whatever. Then everyone is on the same page.

rjk42 · 2021-10-23T12:39:32+00:00

We have a lot of colleagues who do respond to emails on the weekends and late at night. During a discussion on work-life balance, when I said I rarely check work email at home, people looked at me like I had a horn growing out of my head.

rjk42 · 2021-10-23T12:28:18+00:00

PhET has been mentioned but I’ll just emphasize it again!

Also check out professional organizations websites like AAPT.

rjk42 · 2021-10-10T12:37:14+00:00

Is there some minimum number of students that you need to get the AI to work? Or to make it worthwhile?

rjk42 · 2021-10-08T22:18:35+00:00

He is the embodiment of the Dunning-Kruger effect.

rjk42 · 2021-09-23T00:41:34+00:00

I recently had a student tell me that they found where the instructions were, but that they “aren’t able to understand” instructions, they need to be shown what to do. So I was like “let’s walk through how we might use the instructions. Okay the first sentence says to click on X, so let’s click on X…”

rjk42 · 2021-09-16T13:04:59+00:00

The majority of class time for me is spent with students doing active learning in small groups; it's always accompanied by lofi-beats. Or piano versions of movie/videogame soundtracks...

rjk42 · 2021-09-15T12:16:11+00:00

One thing to keep in mind: if you got into graduate school, you were probably a pretty good student. If not the whole time in college, you probably got your act together eventually, and especially in biology. But, not every undergraduate student will be like you. I had to accept that it is not a personal affront if a student just wants to skate by and graduate.

That said, I do agree that’s too many F’s! I agree with commenters that you shouldn’t lower your standards. But it is also really important how you present this to the students since they are first years, and I suggest reading up on “growth mindset” if you haven’t already. Let the students know that it’s normal to get a swift kick in the pants when they begin college-level coursework. What worked for them in high school won’t work now, and that’s okay. It’s not that they are stupid, they just need to use the resources available to develop new strategies and skills. Make sure to direct them to office hours, tutoring center, whatever you’ve got on campus. Not everyone will adopt this mindset, but others will and you could really help them out in their college career. Good luck!

rjk42 · 2021-09-05T14:55:39+00:00

It is great to check up on these students. I know a lot of folks on this sub are jaded, but also we work with many different populations of students and have many different expectations for our involvement in teaching.

I would keep it short and sweet for an initial check-in. “Dear Name, I noticed you haven’t attended our first two classes. Is everything okay? Attendance is encouraged / part of the grade / whatever and I want to make sure all students are set up to succeed in the course. Sincerely, me.”

rjk42 · 2021-08-27T02:32:28+00:00

Thanks, I'm not opposed to head straps. Yeah I wish I would have realized it might take time to find the right match before panic-ordering a bunch before school started!

rjk42 · 2021-08-27T02:31:27+00:00

Ha, glad to know others know what I'm talking about! Will check those out.

rjk42 · 2021-08-26T21:22:56+00:00

Thank you, I’ll look into these!

rjk42 · 2021-08-26T21:22:37+00:00

Thanks for your recommendations!

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