As you might have seen, I recently blogged about group work. My students continue to love it. The only problem, I've realized, is that my group work exercises require quite a bit of touching.
I'm not talking about forcing my students to poke one another. I just mean that they are constantly passing papers to one another or manipulating molecular modeling kit parts. I even caught one student using their teeth to pull apart some bonds-- and it wasn't their own model kit!
As I go around to the various groups, I often have to manipulate their models, point to something on their papers, or, worst of all, have to use their pen/pencil to demonstrate something on paper.
Now I can't very well Lysol down my students when they enter my classroom (but oh, wouldn't that be wonderful?), but it's quite challenging to avoid touching my eyes/mouth/nose (without washing my hands first) since I teach for several hours in a row.
Should I resign myself to their germs?
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Doctor, Doctor
I'm well aware that there are undergrad institutions where it is the norm to call professors by their first names. In graduate school, I rarely called the professors I worked with Dr. Collaborator.
However, here at TempCollege, students only call professors Dr. Whatever or Prof. Whatever. My students call me Dr. Reaction or Prof. Reaction. I'll even respond to Dr. R.
Occasionally, a student will slip up and call me Mrs. Reaction. It makes me bristle. I don't show it on my face, but I do always make sure I pointedly correct the student.
My reaction surprises me. When I was in college, I always thought it a bit over-sensitive when my professors corrected a student when they misspoke the title. Who cares, I thought. The rest of us knew the prof was a PhD.
So why do I insist that they call me Dr.? It's not because I need daily reminders that I suffered through almost five years of school for it. I guess I feel like students can convey their respect for me by using my proper title. It helps maintain a certain line.
Think I'm overreacting? Perhaps. But then again, what would you do if a student started an email with a Howdy Unbalanced?
However, here at TempCollege, students only call professors Dr. Whatever or Prof. Whatever. My students call me Dr. Reaction or Prof. Reaction. I'll even respond to Dr. R.
Occasionally, a student will slip up and call me Mrs. Reaction. It makes me bristle. I don't show it on my face, but I do always make sure I pointedly correct the student.
My reaction surprises me. When I was in college, I always thought it a bit over-sensitive when my professors corrected a student when they misspoke the title. Who cares, I thought. The rest of us knew the prof was a PhD.
So why do I insist that they call me Dr.? It's not because I need daily reminders that I suffered through almost five years of school for it. I guess I feel like students can convey their respect for me by using my proper title. It helps maintain a certain line.
Think I'm overreacting? Perhaps. But then again, what would you do if a student started an email with a Howdy Unbalanced?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Toto, I don't think we're in grad school anymore!
Each day I get called "Dr" or "Prof" at least 40 times, either in person or by email. I'm in charge of 65 students for six hours of lecture a week and another 25 students for four-hour, weekly labs. I vote in faculty meetings. I attend faculty happy hours.
Still, once I'm finally alone in my office (this happens for maybe 20 minutes a day during "working" hours), I pause, look out the window, and silently sigh, "I can't believe I'm actually a professor!"
It's not that I feel like I'm not capable. Or that I'm not doing a good job. Or that I'm not 100% deserving of my job. I just feel completely bewildered (for those 20 minutes) that I actually did it: I finally got the degree and am someone else's professor.
Still, once I'm finally alone in my office (this happens for maybe 20 minutes a day during "working" hours), I pause, look out the window, and silently sigh, "I can't believe I'm actually a professor!"
It's not that I feel like I'm not capable. Or that I'm not doing a good job. Or that I'm not 100% deserving of my job. I just feel completely bewildered (for those 20 minutes) that I actually did it: I finally got the degree and am someone else's professor.
Friday, September 5, 2008
It's gettin' hot in here...
When I teach, I've barely opened my mouth, and I can already feel the flush on my cheeks. Thirty-five pairs of eyes follow my lips-- no doubt seeing the sweat start to glisten on my upper lip and forehead. My armpits are sticky.
No, I'm not nervous.
My classroom is 84 degrees. I know this because someone nailed a thermometer next to the thermostat. The thermostat which is, obviously, not connected to an air conditioner.*
84 fucking degrees, with the windows open AND a box fan. Never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait for winter.
*Please note that the thermometer is right next to the door to the hall. The hall that is at least 10 degrees cooler. Therefore, I'm going to conservatively estimate that the classroom is another five degrees warmer. If I wanted to teach in the upper 80s, I'd head back to LargeUtown and teach my class outside.
No, I'm not nervous.
My classroom is 84 degrees. I know this because someone nailed a thermometer next to the thermostat. The thermostat which is, obviously, not connected to an air conditioner.*
84 fucking degrees, with the windows open AND a box fan. Never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait for winter.
*Please note that the thermometer is right next to the door to the hall. The hall that is at least 10 degrees cooler. Therefore, I'm going to conservatively estimate that the classroom is another five degrees warmer. If I wanted to teach in the upper 80s, I'd head back to LargeUtown and teach my class outside.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Group work: good, bad, or just ugly?
I hate hate hated group work when I was a student. I would have rather had a solid hour of chalk-talk than have to clink desks with three of my classmates in order to work through some worksheet. However, in my own teaching, I like to pepper my chalk-talking with powerpoints, group discussion, and group work.
At LargeU, I was encouraged to incorporate group work as part of the four lectures a week. My students were wary of how effective groupwork would be, and a handful were openly hostile about having to give up valuable rote-memorization time in order to engage in thoughtful discussion with their fellow classmates. I was able to incorporate some group work into most class meetings, and I was surprised to see that students (mostly) responded favorably to it. On the end of the semester evaluation, dozens of students cited the in-class group work as the most helpful part of the class-- second to my brilliant lectures, I'm sure.
So starting here at TempCollege, I knew that the students would benefit greatly from my group work activities. I anticipated their hesitation. I called them out on their eye rolls before they even blinked. I passed out the pre-semester surveys (including my standard question: "how do you feel about group work?") with a disclaimer that I fully expected some apprehension about group work.
Imagine my surprise when 60ish surveys were returned to me, their pages brimming with positive statements about the value of working with others, as well as a few cautionary tales about how sometimes one person ends up doing the work for everyone else. Nearly all of my students have not only done (and loved group work) but have done group work in every single class in high school.
So is this just a regional thing, or has group work suddenly become the go-to teaching mechanism at high schools (and colleges)?
At LargeU, I was encouraged to incorporate group work as part of the four lectures a week. My students were wary of how effective groupwork would be, and a handful were openly hostile about having to give up valuable rote-memorization time in order to engage in thoughtful discussion with their fellow classmates. I was able to incorporate some group work into most class meetings, and I was surprised to see that students (mostly) responded favorably to it. On the end of the semester evaluation, dozens of students cited the in-class group work as the most helpful part of the class-- second to my brilliant lectures, I'm sure.
So starting here at TempCollege, I knew that the students would benefit greatly from my group work activities. I anticipated their hesitation. I called them out on their eye rolls before they even blinked. I passed out the pre-semester surveys (including my standard question: "how do you feel about group work?") with a disclaimer that I fully expected some apprehension about group work.
Imagine my surprise when 60ish surveys were returned to me, their pages brimming with positive statements about the value of working with others, as well as a few cautionary tales about how sometimes one person ends up doing the work for everyone else. Nearly all of my students have not only done (and loved group work) but have done group work in every single class in high school.
So is this just a regional thing, or has group work suddenly become the go-to teaching mechanism at high schools (and colleges)?
Sunday, August 24, 2008
dangling the carrot?
One point that came up over and over during my faculty orientation was the fact that TempCollege students need incentives in order to complete work. Assign problem sets without potential for collection? Don't expect the work to get done. Have 100 pages of reading without a graded quiz? Don't expect the work to get done. Put it another way: there needs to be consequences if work is not completed.
Some of my fellow new faculty initially were taken aback by this. "TempCollege students are top students! They are smart! They will do the work on their own!"
That got me thinking. In the "real world", most people only rise to the expectations set for them. When people go beyond their job requirements, others are surprised (and occasionally perplexed!). Job descriptions, policies, and deadlines are employed for a reason.
If many so-called adults need consequences to get the job done, should we really find it that surprising that our students need similar motivation?
Some of my fellow new faculty initially were taken aback by this. "TempCollege students are top students! They are smart! They will do the work on their own!"
That got me thinking. In the "real world", most people only rise to the expectations set for them. When people go beyond their job requirements, others are surprised (and occasionally perplexed!). Job descriptions, policies, and deadlines are employed for a reason.
If many so-called adults need consequences to get the job done, should we really find it that surprising that our students need similar motivation?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Another meme
I've seen this several times already, and I'm not sure what it's supposed to indicate? Maybe how academic your childhood was? Privilege? I dunno. What I do know: 1. I'm the product of academic parents. 2. I truly believed that we were super poor up until I was about 13 (we were quite securely in middle to upper middle class, and my mom swears that she didn't intentionally give us kids this impression...more on THAT later). 3. It's six days before I teach, and I'm sitting at home, drinking coffee, and blogging (did I mention that post-graduate school is WONDERFUL???).
So the plan is to bold the statements that apply. I'll of course add my wonderful little comments to each.
1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college Actually, now that I think of it, all of my living relatives either have graduated or are currently in college (or are too young!). What an over-educated bunch!
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor All three!
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers. What an odd question. I'm assuming that this means economic class...but how tacky. I refuse to answer!!
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home. Um, no. We had libraries for that!
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18. Hmm...let's see: swimming, piano...yeah I think that's it.
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed I'm not sure what that means. I wear jeans and T-shirts...?
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18. Yes, but only for emergencies, and I had to pay for it. I think my parents did a really good job of teaching us kids how to manage money (and especially credit cards!!)
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs. Um, hell no. We all knew from a very young age (I can remember being told this in second grade??) that we would have to cover our own college tuition.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs. Nope, again.
16. Went to a private high school. For half of it. Switched to public for my jr/sr years.
17. Went to summer camp. No, we spent our summers with some good, ole, family bonding via road trips!!
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels. Actually, no! We used to pray and wish for rain so that we could stay in a hotel (instead of camping for the night).... my mom know claims that our roadtrips (often 2+ weeks on the road) involved plenty of hotel stays, but I think her memory might be going....
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18. My mom made all of my clothes until I was 13. At the time, I didn't mind, but I think this was another reason I really though we were super-poor. Looking back, I was the scrawniest of scrawny children, so she probably did this because I was so hard to fit into store-bought clothes!
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them. I didn't have a car until senior year of college-- and I bought it myself.
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child. Other than our own??
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.
25. You had your own room as a child
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course. I was always pretty good at standardized tests, which today I find funny since I'm terrible at multiple choice tests usually.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school. Hell no. We weren't allowed to watch TV on weekdays, and on weekends we had to stick to Nickelodeon for the sake of the younguns.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college. Hahahahahahaha
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16. Yes, but we only few twice as a whole family up until I was 20.
31. Went on a cruise with your family. I've seen too many 20/20s with black lights to ever want to go on one!!
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up. We went to lots of museums, but mostly we stuck to national parks.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family. I never knew the cost, but my parents always kept the heating really, really low.
So the plan is to bold the statements that apply. I'll of course add my wonderful little comments to each.
1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college Actually, now that I think of it, all of my living relatives either have graduated or are currently in college (or are too young!). What an over-educated bunch!
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor All three!
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers. What an odd question. I'm assuming that this means economic class...but how tacky. I refuse to answer!!
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home. Um, no. We had libraries for that!
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18. Hmm...let's see: swimming, piano...yeah I think that's it.
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed I'm not sure what that means. I wear jeans and T-shirts...?
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18. Yes, but only for emergencies, and I had to pay for it. I think my parents did a really good job of teaching us kids how to manage money (and especially credit cards!!)
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs. Um, hell no. We all knew from a very young age (I can remember being told this in second grade??) that we would have to cover our own college tuition.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs. Nope, again.
16. Went to a private high school. For half of it. Switched to public for my jr/sr years.
17. Went to summer camp. No, we spent our summers with some good, ole, family bonding via road trips!!
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels. Actually, no! We used to pray and wish for rain so that we could stay in a hotel (instead of camping for the night).... my mom know claims that our roadtrips (often 2+ weeks on the road) involved plenty of hotel stays, but I think her memory might be going....
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18. My mom made all of my clothes until I was 13. At the time, I didn't mind, but I think this was another reason I really though we were super-poor. Looking back, I was the scrawniest of scrawny children, so she probably did this because I was so hard to fit into store-bought clothes!
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them. I didn't have a car until senior year of college-- and I bought it myself.
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child. Other than our own??
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.
25. You had your own room as a child
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course. I was always pretty good at standardized tests, which today I find funny since I'm terrible at multiple choice tests usually.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school. Hell no. We weren't allowed to watch TV on weekdays, and on weekends we had to stick to Nickelodeon for the sake of the younguns.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college. Hahahahahahaha
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16. Yes, but we only few twice as a whole family up until I was 20.
31. Went on a cruise with your family. I've seen too many 20/20s with black lights to ever want to go on one!!
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up. We went to lots of museums, but mostly we stuck to national parks.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family. I never knew the cost, but my parents always kept the heating really, really low.
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