B********D
发帖数: 443 | 1 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/opinion/sunday/whats-the-poin
ATLANTA — IN the coming weeks, two million Americans will earn a bachelor’
s degree and either join the work force or head to graduate school. They
will be joyous that day, and they will remember fondly the schools they
attended. But as this unique chapter of life closes and they reflect on
campus events, one primary part of higher education will fall low on the
ladder of meaningful contacts: the professors.
That’s what students say. Oh, they’re quite content with their teachers;
after all, most students receive sure approval. In 1960, only 15 percent of
grades were in the “A” range, but now the rate is 43 percent, making “A”
the most common grade by far.
Faculty members’ attitudes are kindly, too. In one national survey, 61
percent of students said that professors frequently treated them “like a
colleague/peer,” while only 8 percent heard frequent “negative feedback
about their academic work.” More than half leave the graduation ceremony
believing that they are “well prepared” in speaking, writing, critical
thinking and decision-making.
............................................................................
........................................................................ | B********D
发帖数: 443 | 2 One interesting comment:
Quincy MA 9 hours ago
As a professor, what I've noticed is that students come to our classes
knowing how to pass tests. After all, their high school years were dominated
by high-stakes testing, rather than by critical thinking. I've also noticed
that many college deans expect professors to do the impossible: keep
students intellectually challenged while keeping them entertained. In fact,
at some schools, our ability to get promoted or get a raise is tied to
student evaluations. So, if we are not perceived as entertaining, our
students evaluate us negatively. If we grade them too harshly (even if they
deserve a low grade), that too affects our evaluations.
Students claim they want courses that are academically rigorous, but most
want courses they know they can pass. They look for information online, but
then, few take the time to go beyond a superficial exploration of the topic.
In fairness, many students are wonderful kids, but they are exhausted; they
work several jobs to pay the outrageous cost of textbooks or help their
parents pay the equally outrageous cost of tuition. Sadly, we are not living
in a time that values education for its own sake; these days, parents want
their kids prepared for jobs, students want to get A's because they tried
hard, and administrators want professors to mentor, encourage, motivate and
sometimes tutor. Don't get me wrong: I love teaching. But I often feel that
we professors are blamed for problems we did not cause and situations we did
not create. |
|
