I may or may not be engaged in teaching activities at a local community college. Hypothetically, if I were engaged in such activities, I would likely feel inclined to share that I find myself enjoying said activities. Hypothetically, I might teach an intro lecture and the associated lab.
But as much as I [hypothetically] enjoy teaching right now, I can see how I would fairly quickly feel stale and bored teaching the same thing year after year. And only teaching.
Which leads me to believe a university setting is more the environment for me. It's more stressful and time consuming to add in research requirements - but I think it will also be more interesting and fulfilling.
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Attitude
I was talking with a fellow PhD student the other day. We've had several classes together and technically are on the same timeline - ish. He's a nice enough guy and I like him, but he said something the other day that really irked me.
He's teaching a class this summer that I had the pleasure of teaching last summer. As such I provided him with my syllabus/schedule and most of the class materials, well, because he asked. And because I got similar help from another student last summer. So it definitely seemed like the right thing to do. I ran into him in the hall and he said he wanted to talk about the course. We chatted a bit about it and then he said the part that irked me: "I hope the students don't bother me too much, because, quite frankly, I don't have the time".
There it is. I know he's not the first, nor will he be the last person to teach a course with such an attitude. But I really hate that attitude. And I've certainly been bothered and annoyed by students. I'm sure most teachers have.
But - not everyone gets to teach in the summer. It's bonus $ that is not at all guaranteed and you kind of have to fight for it. As such, it's also not required. So...if he doesn't have the time, why did he sign up to teach? I'm sure because he needs the money. We all do. But...come on! If you sign up to teach a class because you need the money, you also need to make the time to actually teach. And put up with students "bothering" you. I think I'm especially irritated because it's an upper divisional course and, at least when I taught it, the students are actually interested in learning something. Such a rare opportunity! I hope he makes something positive of it, but worry his attitude about the whole thing might get in the way.
He's teaching a class this summer that I had the pleasure of teaching last summer. As such I provided him with my syllabus/schedule and most of the class materials, well, because he asked. And because I got similar help from another student last summer. So it definitely seemed like the right thing to do. I ran into him in the hall and he said he wanted to talk about the course. We chatted a bit about it and then he said the part that irked me: "I hope the students don't bother me too much, because, quite frankly, I don't have the time".
There it is. I know he's not the first, nor will he be the last person to teach a course with such an attitude. But I really hate that attitude. And I've certainly been bothered and annoyed by students. I'm sure most teachers have.
But - not everyone gets to teach in the summer. It's bonus $ that is not at all guaranteed and you kind of have to fight for it. As such, it's also not required. So...if he doesn't have the time, why did he sign up to teach? I'm sure because he needs the money. We all do. But...come on! If you sign up to teach a class because you need the money, you also need to make the time to actually teach. And put up with students "bothering" you. I think I'm especially irritated because it's an upper divisional course and, at least when I taught it, the students are actually interested in learning something. Such a rare opportunity! I hope he makes something positive of it, but worry his attitude about the whole thing might get in the way.
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