Comments for Becoming Learner Centered

Comment on Letting Students Inside Your Head by Students in my head? « It’s Just Academic

Students in my head? « It’s Just Academic — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:09:10 +0000

[...] in my head? A fellow professor brought up an interesting topic today in her blog about letting students in her head. To me, the answer is a no-brainer…of course. In fact, I [...]

Comment on Letting Students Inside Your Head by Barbara Nixon

Barbara Nixon — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:06:28 +0000

Christine — Thanks for your thoughts. And I’d love to see your “Drives Me Nuts” list. (I wonder how similar it is to my pet peeves list?)

Comment on Letting Students Inside Your Head by Christine Smith

Christine Smith — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:59:10 +0000

As a recently retired PR professor and program co-ordinator I surely let my students what was inside my head in more ways than perhaps they wished!

In my PR Writing course, I handed out my “Drives Me Nuts” list. It contained about a dozen of the editorial/typo slips that drive me nuts as an editor. I provided examples and stressed that by knowing what really pushed your editor/teacher’s buttons as student could avoid these errors. Avoiding them would likely mean better grades.

It got to the point where my margin comments on writing assignments was simply a DMN (Drives Me Nuts) notation.

In our “Welcome to the Program” student handbook, much of the content deals with how to be a successful student. All of that content was based on what was in my head: what I’d seen and heard from students that I knew would lead to success.

Comment on Syllabus Scavenger Hunt by Conversations with Professors Summer 2009 « Making Connections

Conversations with Professors Summer 2009 « Making Connections — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:42:17 +0000

[...] Syllabus Scavenger Hunt [...]

Comment on Syllabus Scavenger Hunt by Pam Nevius

Pam Nevius — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:40:30 +0000

Although I usually have the students, in small groups, take an actual scavenger hunt of the campus and my Blackboard site on the first day of class, I also like this idea.

My summer class begins tomorrow, and I definitely plan on using this idea. It will preclude the boring, syllabus quiz I normally give during my second class session.

Comment on In Large Classes, It Drives Me Nuts When . . . by Laura

Laura — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:03:28 +0000

I was in college for ten years–currently a renegade grad student–and the worst misstep in large classes were lights-off moments. There isn’t enough coffee in the world to keep a sleep-deprived student awake when the lights stay off for over 5 minutes.

Comment on YouTube without an Internet Connection by coffee

coffee — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:04:32 +0000

Miss Teen South Carolina answered that question badly, but she’s still got her looks to fall back on…

Comment on A Mnemonic Wrap-up to the Semester by Key Learnings in FYE 1220 Fall 2008 « Making Connections

Key Learnings in FYE 1220 Fall 2008 « Making Connections — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:16:22 +0000

[...] Each student chose a small character (ninja, pirate or rubber ducky) from a basket and named the character. Then they each came up with a word or phrase that started with each letter in the name. (Full directions to the assignment are at my Becoming Learner Centered blog.) [...]

Comment on A Mnemonic Wrap-up to the Semester by » Blog Archive » Key Learnings in Public Speaking Fall 2008

» Blog Archive » Key Learnings in Public Speaking Fall 2008 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:03:17 +0000

Comment on “OMG! You Got My Grade Wrong!” by Pam Bourland-Davis

Pam Bourland-Davis — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:25:44 +0000

As Department Chair, I have found students often try to start the process of grade complaints or appeals with me.

I will always ask whether the student has met with the professor to obtain final grades and to double check all records. Grades may be recorded in error or sometimes students don’t completely understand the grading scale. I can say that I’ve never met a professor who won’t correct a mistake if that’s the cause of the grade discrepancy.

If for some reason, however, the grade is correct according to the professor, and the student feels it is not correct or does not follow the syllabus, he or she should then start a formal appeal. This appeal process is completed in writing and starts with a letter to the faculty member. If that answer isn’t satisfactory, the written appeal goes to the department chair for review.

Note that this process requires a student to have a copy of the syllabus and grades. Any argument or position requires documentation and substantiation. A student must provide a compelling case in any appeal. “Just because,” “Someone else got…,” “I worked hard,” or “It’s not fair” will not provide a strong case and substantiation for a grade change. And not having any of your graded work, record of grades and/or syllabus would not be particularly persuasive (and it has happened).