tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post7660123988417652604..comments2024-01-28T03:35:51.182-05:00Comments on Reassigned Time: Teaching MalaiseDr. Crazyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-78735408976348050302008-06-19T21:20:00.000-04:002008-06-19T21:20:00.000-04:00That's probably true for most people. I have some...That's probably true for most people. I have some odd learning difference issues, so I normally keep in mind that what works for me is the opposite of what works for most people. I had to teach myself methods of how to learn because school didn't match my needs. <BR/><BR/>Working full time while taking summer courses is hard (although I've done it as a grad student). The mental business of work competes with the mental space needed for academic work, regardless of the intensity of the course. It takes an extreme talent for compartmentalizing work from school to do both well in those circumstances.k8https://www.blogger.com/profile/07547334819703279971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-67682503978307864952008-06-19T13:52:00.000-04:002008-06-19T13:52:00.000-04:00K8-I think a lot with how this will or won't work ...K8-<BR/>I think a lot with how this will or won't work depends on student population/institutional culture. One of the issues that I'm running into is that students haven't signed up for these courses with an agenda of having an intensive learning experience. Rather, they're all working full time (the classes meet at night) and they're really just trying to make time to degree as short as possible. I've got them reading/writing as much as they would in a regular semester, but without them having as much *thinking* time to reflect, etc., but rather with them just plowing through the assignments... well, it makes a difference. It's better in one course I'm teaching than in the other - the other being a course that meets a diversity gen. ed. requirement that often challenges students' long-held ideas. <BR/><BR/>In other words, I think it is possible for students to get a lot out of such courses, but at least with the one, I'm not seeing the kind of "aha moments" I'm used to seeing in the course, and that's disheartening.Dr. Crazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-11520583370626092032008-06-19T13:30:00.000-04:002008-06-19T13:30:00.000-04:00Anastasia - that's interesting about the literatur...Anastasia - that's interesting about the literature courses. I went to undergrad at a place with a required 4-week May-mester. I took literature courses two of my four years there and I loved the intensity. And we read just as many books as we would have in a 15 week semester (9 or more). As a grad student, I've taken children's and Young Adult literature courses over the summer and read as much as we would for a 15 week course, as well. Most days (4 days a week for 4 weeks) we read a novel a day or the equivalent in smaller texts. <BR/><BR/>I must be strange, because I loved these types of courses and I feel as if I've retained more knowledge from those short intensive courses than I have from 15 week courses. But again, I like fast processing. For me, it is more engaging.k8https://www.blogger.com/profile/07547334819703279971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-72986002062800937192008-06-19T08:13:00.000-04:002008-06-19T08:13:00.000-04:00oh oh, I was also going to say at the place I inte...oh oh, I was also going to say at the place I interviewed for adjuncting, they've got an adult education program--which is where I'll teach in the spring--and their courses are all 7 weeks long, even during the year. more convenient for working adults. all except for the literature courses, that is. Those run the full semester because the professor says you can't teach literature quickly. the dean agreed because, well, his degree is in english.<BR/><BR/>anyway. processing time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-56618551830857379242008-06-17T22:56:00.000-04:002008-06-17T22:56:00.000-04:00I must comment to restore some balance back toward...I must comment to restore some balance back towards teaching! <BR/><BR/>I really appreciate your comments about processing time and the experience of the class. That puts into words the reason I avoid teaching my main assignment (physics for engineers) in the summer. I would not be happy with the product even if they managed to keep up and deal with 5 credits worth of learning in a very short summer semester. <BR/><BR/>I think the key to the class I do teach in summer is the intensity of it. It's a terminal gen-ed class, so I only care if they leave with one or two new insights into the physical world and they only care if they pass. Time (and the final exam this week) will tell, but it seems to be working. I think the key for me is to start working on day 1 to make it clear that it will not be easy. <BR/><BR/>PS - <BR/>I'd love to have some rhetorical insight from the MLA side of the universe over on my blog ... where the question today is seeking a better (simpler) way of talking about a "prerequisite course" that at-risk freshmen will grasp.Doctor Pionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513786840852469648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-14571660724906800552008-06-17T21:22:00.000-04:002008-06-17T21:22:00.000-04:00Man-Kitty's comments make me think of Don Marquis'...Man-Kitty's comments make me think of Don Marquis's Archy and Mehitabel books -- do you know them? Marquis had a column in the 1910s, and allowed Mehitabel, a cat who was Cleopatra in a previous life, and her friend Archy, a cockroach, to contribute.Karethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02591886253980273922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-51789721402625383142008-06-17T20:17:00.000-04:002008-06-17T20:17:00.000-04:00I can so relate to your gripes (not bitches) re: s...I can so relate to your gripes (not bitches) re: summer classes. Very much there with you Crazy!<BR/><BR/>And I'm so happy with the Stripey/M-K dynamics stories. Love 'em. And the pictures. Somebody famous once said 'one cat just leads to another' and this is a perfect example of why.<BR/><BR/>The wonder is you ever get anything but kitty-monitoring done!Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-58767079516326273702008-06-17T15:33:00.001-04:002008-06-17T15:33:00.001-04:00I've read both that it's a sign of dominance and a...I've read both that it's a sign of dominance and also that it's just pride behavior. If it's about dominance, then I'm clearly lowest on the totem pole, for the kitten has taken to bathing me :) If it's about social behavior, then I think we're all cats together in the Crazy household :)Dr. Crazyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12457967076373916629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-12003425649674259562008-06-17T15:33:00.000-04:002008-06-17T15:33:00.000-04:00About summer school - I've always loved it. But t...About summer school - I've always loved it. But then, I learn best in short, fast, concentrated bursts. When I can concentrate on fewer subjects in a concentrated amount of time, I thrive. I guess it is a matter of learning differences, to some degree. I see other people stressed about the pace of summer courses, but then I'm normally ready to move on 3/4 through a regular semester. <BR/><BR/>Funny what you said about teaching comp. I'm in comp/rhet, and the one year I TA'd for literature classes, I couldn't wait to get back to comp because I realized just how much I was a comp/rhet person.k8https://www.blogger.com/profile/07547334819703279971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-55495340313090224752008-06-17T15:10:00.000-04:002008-06-17T15:10:00.000-04:00For some reason, I think that the bathing thing is...For some reason, I think that the bathing thing is a sign of dominance. Did I read that somewhere? Can't remember. But I know that Loner (dominant male) bathes Marty (super-hairy and scared-for-her-life female) all the time. And he's got the hairballs to prove it!Dr. Bad Asshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13694462361265180016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-12237284112830871102008-06-17T08:21:00.000-04:002008-06-17T08:21:00.000-04:00don't tell man-kitty but Kizzy's love for small ki...don't tell man-kitty but Kizzy's love for small kittens means her interest in mr. stripey has quickly outpaced her former fascination with the kitty man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20099192.post-76676223678845100702008-06-17T04:53:00.000-04:002008-06-17T04:53:00.000-04:00aw, my big fluffy licks my little stripeys head ev...aw, my big fluffy licks my little stripeys head every night at 9pm. Maybe cats with glorious tails are meant to be maternal?negativecapabilityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08014108944008633157noreply@blogger.com