[boss13]

I'm currently in grad school and have to teach a lab session to pre-meds and the prof and head TA suggested that I grade harshly/strictly, especially at the beginning. I have tried to follow their advice and sure to inform the students that I was advised to grade harshly and that the avg score was low. However, a couple of students have already complained to me and to the head TA last week

I had to give out feedback forms to the classes this week and I just looked over some of the feedback forms. I got lots of nasty comments from students saying things like I seem too unapproachable, unfriendly/mean (that's because I want them to think independently ), grading too harshly, I should remove the quizzes (I can't, the prof and head TA made it a rule that I give out quizzes every class), quizzes are too hard and have questions that aren't relevant (that is BS.. I tend to ask questions where they have to know the procedure to get them to read the book carefully before the lab). From my work experience, I've learned that coworkers don't want to be bothered with questions unless you at least make an attempt to answer it first. They will get irritated otherwise.

I'm concerned that the prof/head TA will force me to change my ways just to give in to the demands of these brats, especially since the class is mostly females and they probably especially dislike me for personal reasons. Is there anything I can do to defend myself if the prof blames me or in case students complain about me in the future? I personally do not want to give in to the demands of these whiny cunts and dumb down the class for them

[JayJuanGee]

(03-04-2015 03:52 PM)boss13 Wrote:  

I'm currently in grad school and have to teach a lab session to pre-meds and the prof and head TA suggested that I grade harshly/strictly, especially at the beginning. I have tried to follow their advice and sure to inform the students that I was advised to grade harshly and that the avg score was low. However, a couple of students have already complained to me and to the head TA last week

I had to give out feedback forms to the classes this week and I just looked over some of the feedback forms. I got lots of nasty comments from students saying things like I seem too unapproachable, unfriendly/mean (that's because I want them to think independently ), grading too harshly, I should remove the quizzes (I can't, the prof and head TA made it a rule that I give out quizzes every class), quizzes are too hard and have questions that aren't relevant (that is BS.. I tend to ask questions where they have to know the procedure to get them to read the book carefully before the lab). From my work experience, I've learned that coworkers don't want to be bothered with questions unless you at least make an attempt to answer it first. They will get irritated otherwise.

I'm concerned that the prof/head TA will force me to change my ways just to give in to the demands of these brats, especially since the class is mostly females and they probably especially dislike me for personal reasons. Is there anything I can do to defend myself if the prof blames me or in case students complain about me in the future? I personally do not want to give in to the demands of these whiny cunts and dumb down the class for them

I doubt that you really need to dumb down any classes, and you likely just need to consider ways to spin what you are doing and to attempt to make matters fun and to bring excitement to your topics and to seem pleasant and approachable and sometimes blame "the powers that be" for why you have to do certain things in a certain way.

Also, if there are ways to be informal about some matters, then you can work that angle too.. .NONETHELESS, there are always ways to spin things in ways in which you do NOT seem to be such a bad guy and that others are causing you to have to follow certain standards and to the extent that you have any discretion, then you may be able to help out some of the students, but those students gotta be ready, willing and able to buckle down and do some of the work that is required of them in order that you can give them better grades or better markings or to help them out.... In the end, NO one gets a free ride in competitive industries, such as pre-med....

In the end, think positively and try to spin matters in your favor, and maybe you will get a blow job or two out of the deal...? hahahaha...

[ElBorrachoInfamoso]

If you're going to be a tough grader, you need to be friendly and approachable to get good ratings. Either stop giving a fuck, grade less harshly or improve your charisma.

I've taught in several different settings. I tended to grade harshly at the beginning to show the students they had to put in the work, but then slowly ease off as the semester wore on. I also tried to put funny comments when grading lab reports.

[JayJuanGee]

(03-05-2015 04:12 AM)ElBorrachoInfamoso Wrote:  

If you're going to be a tough grader, you need to be friendly and approachable to get good ratings. Either stop giving a fuck, grade less harshly or improve your charisma.

I've taught in several different settings. I tended to grade harshly at the beginning to show the students they had to put in the work, but then slowly ease off as the semester wore on. I also tried to put funny comments when grading lab reports.

I agree with the comment of ElBorrachoInfamoso, also, and I have a pretty decent understanding concerning behaviors of "the powers that be."

Frequently, "the powers that be" are NOT going to provide you specifics concerning the extent to which you have discretion in your dealing with students and your grading, and your day to day interactions with students, etc etc, and they are only going to layout broad and vague parameters, such as: we expect you to be a hard grader, and maybe provide you some examples. In the end, you have some discretion concerning how to apply these parameters because they cannot be with you or oversee you all of the time, and they do NOT want to either be with you or to oversee you and that is why they hired you in order that you can do some of the work that they would have to do if you were NOT there.

In any event, you are going to have discretion, and you will have more and more discretion the longer that you are in the position. "The powers that be" may monitor you more closely in the beginning, but the longer that you are in the position, they are going to allow you more space to customize your approach to your own style(s) - especially, if you show confidence and you seem to be able to handle various aspects of the situation in order to reasonably exercise independent judgement with decent results.

In this regard, you need to have some creativity and some decent abilities to assess the extent to which you have discretion and to take ownership over such space that you do have and to attempt to use such space to your advantage, whether it is dealing with "the powers that be" or dealing with the students. Of course, all of this is a balancing act because you gotta be careful NOT to overstep bounds prematurely, yet you need to be ready, willing and able to take risks in order to take ownership over the space (and discretion) that you have in your position.

[coverdoc]

Follow Elborracho advice, fucking pre-meds love love love to bitch and whine. Was one of my friends and I favorite past time.