Dogpaddling
Hello, everyone. Still here. Haven't finished my K'zoo proposal. Struggling with my upper-division class in the one field I really don't know. Dealing with the fact that my students at SLAC are no better than my students at CCs 1, 2, and 3 -- except they whine more. Thrilled that there are some serious liberals on campus to counteract the students who can't stop talking about some odd fundamentalist evangelical view of history and other cultures. Busy as hell. Hope your terms have all started out well.
5 comments:
There is often less difference between the different kinds of students than one would think - we had someone who works at the local CC come and guest-teach a class in someone's course last year, and they comPLETELY overestimated our students' facility with, well, many things. It was kind of funny - they were almost intimidated by having to prepare for our "brilliant" students (compared to the CC students), but they're still 18-21 year olds...
Well, when I taught for the Jesuits, I noticed that the range was about the same, but the proportion of average to "how did you get out of high school?" was much greater there. Here I think there are problems with reading comprehension, but mostly, there's a kind of assumption that they will read, I will go over the important points, and then I will test them on those things. Not so much.
My experience with the Jesuitted kids, too, was that there was a broad, consistent middle of solid preparation and silent compliance.
If it's any consolation, I find even teaching a lower course load of supersmart grad students in my field of specialization, I still feel overwhelmed in that mid-September way. (i.e. "It's only third week, how can I be five weeks behind already??")
Remember you only have to stay one class ahead of them! Although I do think that having to teach a class in your first term that's both upper division and not your field is a bit naff. It'd be a bit like appointing me to a job and expecting me immediately to teach an upper level US history class.
Good luck and good hunting!
Bear in mind that we students will accept 80-90% of what you say as gospel. Or at least as well-meant. The "I don't know; why don't you find out and report to us next time?" tactic is also extremely effective.
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