first week of classes
I need to pack up and head to school here shortly. So, this has to be a bit less edited and rough. I have an 8:00 on M, W, F so I try to be at work around 7:00 at this point. Mainly, because there always seems to be something that I need to print out or copy or whatever before I head off to class.
It is fun to be back in the classroom. But I’ve never found going over the syllabus to be a whole lot of fun. I try to emphasize the good parts with enthusiasm “Here are the study tips!” “e-mail me if you want to meet with me!” “Here is a cool video about Biology (that also demonstrates how to use the website for the texbook)!” But it is hard to put a smiley face on cheating and plagiarism. That brings to mind an interesting moment. My 10:30 M, W, F class are pretty much all first year students that were alert and stayed with me even through the details. But the room was really hot; something was going on with the air system, and although it had been reported already, it hadn’t gotten fixed. So, at about the 30 minute mark, students were fading.
And then I started explaining some of the common forms of cheating and the penalties for cheating. Boy did they wake up quickly at the mention of expulsion! ha! I had all eyes on me at that point.
Anyway, I did an in-class activity that was developed by some Profs. at the University of Minnesota Duluth yesterday to teach the scientific method. It was good in that students were participating by throwing out ideas when I asked questions; that can be a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge barrier in any classroom. They have to feel like it is safe or okay to “say something stupid” (their misconception, not mine). But it was bad in that I felt really disorganized with how it went. I was trying to use their powerpoint that I had modified, and there wasn’t enough room for me to write additional explanations.
So, it was sort of a hit-or-miss day.
It also took way longer than I’d planned, which was a bummer.
Oh well. You live, you learn. Part of teaching is trying new things out and sometimes watching them bomb. I’ll see how they do on the quiz. Maybe they still got some of the key concepts.
Well, I’m off to teach some more! See ya later, alligator.
Greg says:
Danielle- Serendipitously stumbled across your blog & had to chuckle… just after finishing edits on my syllabus. Ditto on the first day experience. As a 40-something 5th yr Phd candidate, have seen it all in regards to plagiarizing & cheating. Its pretty much rampant with younger students. Yeah its a little awkward topically on 1st day but it is even more awkward if I have to refer them to the Dean after a serious incident. I continue to be amazed at how many students are unable to separate their thoughts and ideas from others’ thoughts and ideas- especially in a lab class setting. Always makes me wonder what their HS experience was like (or what their future is going to be like).
Hope they get the air fixed before next class!
danielle says:
Hi! Lab is definitely one of the places where they do seem to plagiarize the most.
I’ve had two serious incidents in two years. I referred to one of them this time, which may scare them into behaving.
Oh, and no, the air wasn’t fixed. But everyone seemed very engaged. So, that was good.
Jenski says:
Glad you’re having fun back in the class room. I figure teaching includes as much the instructor learning from things that don’t work as the students learning the material. Hope the air gets fixed and your students don’t cheat this semester!