25 February
Posted By Sika on February 26, 2008
I yelled at my students today. I do this thing: usually I stay at the front of the classroom, it being quite difficult to amble down the “aisles” between the 74 desks in my class. But if the students aren’t answering my questions I squeeze my way between the desks and pick on individual students. Today I asked a student to come up with a hypothesis for a question I was asking; he glared at me (as if it is my fault that he is in my class) and said he didn’t know the answer. In an attempt to get him thinking, I asked him to state the definition of a term about which we had just spent 5 minutes talking. He said he didn’t know. I got angry. After railing at them for a few minutes of the sheer stupidity of taking notes you don’t understand and how I can excuse ignorance but not lack of curiosity, the class president sheepishly raised his hand and gave me the correct answer to the question. After which, the other students were more inclined to participate as well.
After class, one of “my” students (the students for whom I am academic advisor-type person) came to talk to me about how difficult it is for her to stay awake while studying. Unfortunately, some of the most important topics are dull as toast, and so I understand her dilemma, although I had no advice for her other than make sure she’s eating well, use the weekends to study (this idea seemed to shock her) and find a study buddy. I told her how useful I found studying with NY Sarah while I was in school.
Then three other students came with questions about my lecture. This thrilled me because it meant that they reviewed their notes and instead of just being confused, asked for clarification. I thanked all of them for coming to me, although I worry about appearing to be too much of a pushover. At least I’m an unpredictable, unstable pushover, I guess.
I felt like a real(ish) teacher instead of an impostor to the throne, which is a nice change.
I love the classifier “NY” for Sarah. heh heh.
Remember that expressing curiosity is usually punished in many learning situations. We’re freaks because Summit actually taught us that it was OK to like learning, which developed our natural critical thinking skills. Obviously you must account for the utter laziness of people, as well.
So, I’d say thanking them for coming to you will probably encourage the skills you want them to learn. But it’ll be a learning process, that’s for damn sure. Poor things.
I’m so happy you’re not my teacher. With my teachers I can get away with being lazy, most of the time, when/if I feel like not engaging my brains. hee hee hee. You’d so bust me!
-Sarah