I'm not particularly concerned about balancing my research students with my class requirements. This is not a new prep for me, and the summer class size (20) is considerably smaller than during the regular semesters. The lecture time is a little over two hours a day. I've lectured for back-to-back classes during the regular semester, so I'm not worried about getting off-track, tired, or bored.
Some of my colleagues complained nearly nonstop through the first summer term. I wonder, is summer teaching REALLY that bad? Should I heed the warnings of my coworkers and brace myself for an overwhelming second half of the summer?
5 comments:
Of course summer teaching is not bad and I think your attitude is completely healthy/
I think it's the overall culture of slight disdain for teaching (supposedly a lesser enterprise than research), especially at big research schools; many people feel like they have to complain about how teaching inconveniences them to emphasize what serious scholars they are...
Summer can be bad. Or good. It all depends on the instructor, because there are special challenges that you need to address on the first day. And since you have not done it before ... beware.
You see, it might not be too hard on you, but it will be hard on them. I always teach on the first day of any class, but I make a point of teaching and assigning homework on the first day in the summer. Because that is the way it is going to be. Intense.
Our compact pair of summer half-semesters correspond to about 2.5 weeks of class every week. Kids who think nothing of missing an entire week in a regular semester are DEAD if they do that in the summer. Planning on going to a wedding or join the family for a trip? Planning to pass? Pick one.
I could say more, so I should probably revive my blog tonight.
I think that some of my colleagues complain bitterly about summer teaching so that everyone notices that they're doing it. The same way that some complain that it takes 20 hours of work to come up with a new lecture or people in grad school used to complain that they were in lab until midnight the night before. Join the club and let all of your colleagues know how hard you're working! ;)
I just put additional comments on my blog. Hope they help.
I like what Amy said, but would go one step further since you appear to be at a teaching intensive SLAC. Engage your students, then let your colleagues know that summer teaching is a way to put into practice what you learned about PermaU students during your first year. As I mention in my blog, a small summer class can be a great way to experiment with active learning methods.
Interesting perspective, GMP! At my PUI, I think most of the disdain stems from people wanting to take lots of time off in the summer. If I wasn't teaching, I would be researching full-time, so I'm not really sure how they all got tenure....
Dr. Pion: love love love the post! Fantastic reading for everyone. I will let you know how it goes. Expect many a summer teaching post in the near future!
Amy, your comment made me snort my chardonnay. You are so SPOT ON, it pains me.
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