College teaching suck

[rageaholic]

I've commented on this in fratching, but one of my college intructors has a quarter of our grade based on chapter assignments at the end of each chapter in the book. That's all fine and dandy, but she expects it done BEFORE she lectures on that chapter. If it's late, you only get half the credit. So in other words, there's no point bothering with lectures (unless you want to get half the credit) because you're expected to learn from the textbook.

This started out as a minor annoyance because I can usually learn stuff from the textbook without a problem (though lectures do help). Now, I realize how goddamn confusing this stuff is (it IS a business course), and how much the assignments are a pain in the ass. GRR!! This is NOT something I can learn plainly from a book, and yet, a quarter of my grade is based on learning it myself! What's the point of even taking the damn class if I could just learn it myself?!

*cools off*

[Broomjockey]

I think I came down on the other side, originally, but I've changed my mind.

That teacher sucks.

[magician5]

Annoyance, sure ... fraught with complications, sure ... but one of the best suggestions I ever heard about succeeding in college is: do the assignment before the lecture, and you'll get 200% more out of the lecture. You'll know what to pay attention to, what questions to ask, etc.

[iradney]

If it's something that you definitely need teacher-led guidance on, go above their heads. It's kind of like trying to harvest a crop before you plant the seed, IMO.

[Miss Fatale]

If you have questions about the material, you could visit the prof during office hours or make an appointment to go over it.

[trunks2k]

I think the prof has the right idea - but the problem is with the grading. 1/4 of the grade seems like a lot for stuff that hasn't been gone over in class. It should be something more along the lines of (if possible) 1/8th of the grade for doing the assignment before hand, correctness doesn't matter just show a good attempt to get it right, 1/8th grade with corrections to previous assignment, correctness matters. You can also opt to have the original count for the entirety of the grade rather than re-doing it.

[trunks2k]

If you have questions about the material, you could visit the prof during office hours or make an appointment to go over it.

That seems like a waste of time to me. That's what class is for. Questions on material that is not understood should be brought to office hours only after the material/chapter has been gone over in class. Otherwise, the prof would be wasting time answering a bunch of the same questions that would be covered anyways.

[rageaholic]

Annoyance, sure ... fraught with complications, sure ... but one of the best suggestions I ever heard about succeeding in college is: do the assignment before the lecture, and you'll get 200% more out of the lecture. You'll know what to pay attention to, what questions to ask, etc.

For some students, that may work, but not always for me. Unless I am taking an online course, the instructor shouldn't expect me to get it myself. While it's still a complicated subject, it would be MUCH more easier to learn after the lecture. Why makes things harder than they need to be?

I wonder if I should email her my concerns. I mean, other than that, she's a helpful instructor.

[Record Store Tough Guy]

Dunno so much about the homework aspect, but my professors expected us to have read the chapter in advance of the lecture. It usually clarifies and emphasizes important points. Also allows for you to ask any questions about points that were hit on in the text, but not the lecture itself. Makes it easier all around.

[rageaholic]

Dunno so much about the homework aspect, but my professors expected us to have read the chapter in advance of the lecture. It usually clarifies and emphasizes important points. Also allows for you to ask any questions about points that were hit on in the text, but not the lecture itself. Makes it easier all around.

Yes, but being having assignments before covering the subject? That are worth a quarter of your grade? You don't have to have assignments on the chapter before it's covered in class. Maybe for extra credit, but not for a quarter of your grade.

And no, these aren't little quiz's at the beginning of each class. They are assignments that require knowing a lot about the subject. They are real case studies where you have to make decisions for companies. I've found that I can understand them much better after I go over it in class. Why should I be marked down for that?

[Miss Fatale]

I wonder if I should email her my concerns. I mean, other than that, she's a helpful instructor.

You should always emails your instructor with concerns. I am an instructor, and I do appreciate polite emails with questions, comments, or concerns. This could be the first time the prof has set up the class like this -- the prof needs to know if it's working or not.

Last week, in fact, I tried a new assignment for the first time. It worked out beautifully in my head, but not in the actual classroom. Only one student said anything, though. But I'm glad she did. I'll change it next time.

[rageaholic]

You should always emails your instructor with concerns. I am an instructor, and I do appreciate polite emails with questions, comments, or concerns. This could be the first time the prof has set up the class like this -- the prof needs to know if it's working or not.

Last week, in fact, I tried a new assignment for the first time. It worked out beautifully in my head, but not in the actual classroom. Only one student said anything, though. But I'm glad she did. I'll change it next time.

I may do that then. It's kind of late to do it now, but then at least she'll know.

[Chanlin]

I second the e-mails. My History of the English Language prof has been a huge help over these last two weeks for me and we've been going over Old English which for anyone who has studied it is a somewhat confusing beast to tackle.

I agree though with many people. Having book assignments worth so much of your grade that are assigned before covering the material seems a little off. In any course where that has been the case such work has only been 5 to 10% of my grade. In those same courses showing up and participating in the lecture/discussion covering those assignments was worth more than the assignment itself.

[KitterCat]

I've commented on this in fratching, but one of my college intructors has a quarter of our grade based on chapter assignments at the end of each chapter in the book. That's all fine and dandy, but she expects it done BEFORE she lectures on that chapter. If it's late, you only get half the credit. So in other words, there's no point bothering with lectures (unless you want to get half the credit) because you're expected to learn from the textbook.

Ok maybe I’m not reading this correctly, but what I get from this is

¼ of grade based on chapter assignments
½ of ¼ which would be 1/8 of an overall grade based on an assignment turned in late

You could still pass so long as your doing everything else you needed to and the requirements of the course to go to the next level class. I personally don’t like the method your teachers using either, but maybe their making sure the students are in-fact reading the material before the lecture. If you have to turn it in before hand maybe they are reading them and basing that on what to go over during class. Is it a convoluted way of doing it? Yep, but that may be what works for them

[rageaholic]

Ok maybe I’m not reading this correctly, but what I get from this is

¼ of grade based on chapter assignments
½ of ¼ which would be 1/8 of an overall grade based on an assignment turned in late

You could still pass so long as your doing everything else you needed to and the requirements of the course to go to the next level class. I personally don’t like the method your teachers using either, but maybe their making sure the students are in-fact reading the material before the lecture. If you have to turn it in before hand maybe they are reading them and basing that on what to go over during class. Is it a convoluted way of doing it? Yep, but that may be what works for them

It still takes a huge chunk out of your grade. That alone could bring a 3.5 down to a 2.3. Why? All because I didn't get it all from the book? That's just silly.

I don't understand why teachers feel that students MUST read the chapter before lecture. I mean yeah, sometimes I do read before hand, but is it really a necessity? I get this feeling that she thinks taking notes during her lecture is cheating somehow. Uh, no it's not. The lecture is just another tool to use to get information. Is that really such a bad thing?