When you guys come to class all worried about my expectations of you, keep in mind that I'm just as worried about YOUR expectations of ME. If there is any truth to "safety in numbers," you've got me beat - hands down. My fears may be different than yours, but know that we all have them.
Just a few of the things I wonder . . .
- how many of you are smarter than me?
- can you hear me over the roar of your thoughts while you read your e-mail, facebook posts, and blogs?
- does the class matter?
- are you really in the room when we're having class?
- do you think all the non-traditional activities I work so hard and developing are stupid?
- do you think about them at all?
- can you tell I love what I do?
- does that even make a difference to you?
Well, at the way I look at it, I think it's a bit silly to look at is as any of us students being "smarter" than you! "Smartness" or any synonymous term is so subjective and relative that it has almost no true meaning to me. I mean, sure, any given student of course has the potential to be a top-of-the-line CEO or Scientist, but I believe that with you in the mentor seat there is still valuable things to learn.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it's is obvious that you love what you do. And it does make a difference. It's hard to explain, but it's true nonetheless.
You know, that's really awesome, James! I really hadn't ever thought of my role in the classroom as a mentor. I'll keep that in mind from now on.
DeleteAnd yes, I really do love what I do! Not just MSE, but teaching. Students are awesome; especially undergrads. You guys haven't become so weary yet that you see only what must be done. You see also all the great things that CAN be done!
It's through your non-traditional activities that I can tell you love what you do! Instead of boring lectures and incredibly hard tests to make us fail, you give us options and new and exciting ways to learn. I'll never forget what you said on the first day when you mentioned that this class had a bad reputation but you wanted to change that, you wanted your students to love this material as much as you love it! We are all still learning but what is different is that we are actually ENJOYING what we are learning and will take more from this class than any others!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mariellyn! I really appreciate the kind words. I've had to alter my approach a little at the request of the course administrators, but I'll still try to sneak in some of our playtime!
DeleteTo be honest, I brag about you to all of my friends in other mse classes. I also recommend to everyone taking the class next semester. I feel like I'm learning a different kind of intro to materials because I am getting a hands on experience. I loved it when you brought in different materials and had us play around with them. It was so much fun to learn about the different substances and how they are used in the real world! And i also really enjoyed the days where we split up and designed our own product.
ReplyDeleteOn the whole "am i smarter than you or not" aspect, i feel like everyone is smart in their own way. Everyone is interested in different ways and yours is materials. I can really tell that you love what you do!
Wow, you guys are going to make it difficult to get my head through the classroom door!
DeleteThe wisest thing I can tell you is to follow your heart -- do what YOU love, not what your parents love, your friends love, or your advisors love. Fifty years is a really long time to do something you hate!
Thanks for your kind words.
I think all of your non-traditional activities helps us get more involved and be more interested in the course material. I really love having hands on experience like we did when you brought all those materials to show the class.
ReplyDeleteI've never had a professor that showed as much enthusiasm as you do when teaching. I really like that :)
Thank you, Marines. Like I said above, you HAVE to love what you do. If you don't, you (and everyone around you) will be miserable for the rest of your life. Have fun! Life is way too short!
DeleteI think you're worry about nothing. Yes, the attendance in class lately has been disappointing, but I don't think that speaks negatively of you as a teacher. Actually, I frequently brag about you to my friends who take this MSE class from another instructor. You clearly care about what you're doing and you're trying to anticipate the needs of your students. Really, what more could I ask for? Beyond lots of extra credit, that is.
ReplyDeleteThe wonderful thing, though, is that you don't need our approval. There are inevitably going to be some unmotivated, critical, whiny students who don't want to put in any effort or come to class but still expect great grades. In the same way, there are going to be very intelligent hard working students that complain they aren't being challenged enough. Ultimately, though, it doesn't matter. So long as you are doing what you know to be right - teaching relevant material, fair grading, making time for students, etc. - then we can't ask any more from you. You can only do your best, right? So why allow your "best" to be defined by someone who is inheritely biased against you?
Ha! Ha! Ben, you show wisdom in your words. It's true that you can't satisfy everyone, but it's still worth trying!
DeleteI was really taken back by how many juniors and seniors are in the class. Later, I found out that this class has such a bad rep that everyone puts it off until it just has to happen to graduate! That attitude has to change, and frankly, only the teachers can change it!
It's good to know you are getting something out of it!
As students it's extremely easy for us to overlook the Professor's perspective. When it comes to a student talking in front of a class we can all sympathize with that since we've all experienced those jitters. I can't speak for everyone else, but me personally I just assume that professors aren't phased by it.
ReplyDeleteIn you're probably as comfortable with getting up in front of a class as the rest of us. Working with your hands in a lab where you can personally show students how to conduct an experiment is completely different from standing up in front of 5 times as many students and lecturing. It can't be an easy adjustment but I must say that you've done a great job so far.
Being someone who learns better through examples and hands on experience, I find your method of teaching to be very beneficial for me. I don't think there's any way to make the necessary lecturing part all that enjoyable. However examples you give and the stories you tell to help us relate the material to real life application is what keeps this class interesting. My older brother just recently got is Doctorate in Material Science so I know how boring this subject can be. At the beginning of the semester I was not at all looking forward to this class because of that. Now I would say that this is probably the class which I enjoy the most.
Dan, whoa, I really hope your brother wasn't suffering from boredom because of MSE, but rather because going for a Ph.D. is the best way to beat the passion out of you! I'm a big believer in learning and in taking advantage of every opportunity to learn something new every day. I also know that, having just gotten my graduate degree at age 53, it can kick the #*&@ out of you!
DeleteI'm glad you like the class and I hope you will find what you're learning useful when you get out into that "real" world, whatever that really is!
Oh yeah, and it's a real shame that most of us are just thrown into the classroom to teach with no instruction in how to do it! I think that, if anything, that is our biggest failing for our grad students -- not preparing them to be comfortable in a classroom setting.
DeleteI THINK YOU ARE HONESTLY THE BEST TEACHER. There is no other teacher that I have had at Tech that are as passionate as you. I think that students aren't used to interacting to their professors. Most classes are lectures and so students are conditioned to just listen in class and aren't used to having a say. I think the different environment is so new to most, because for once we have a teacher that cares about our education and growth in learning. I really do appreciate the new spin on this material class and think it is really refreshing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for putting the time and effort into the class that most teachers do not. It really has made this semester enjoyable and a positive learning experience.
Thank you!
Liz Reilly and Dana Krell
Liz and Dana,
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to know what to say, except THANK YOU! I do care deeply that you not only learn the material, but find it as interesting and relevant as I do to the field of engineering.
Honestly, I think students are an absolute delight! Even when I'm not feeling so well and wish I didn't have to go to class, when I get there, it fills me with energy and I feel much more alive. So I thank YOU for all that you've taught me this semester. It can only make me a better teacher in the future.
Diane
I think most of us were probably just afraid of you as you were of us. Especially with the bad reputation that this class has. I think since you told us toward the beginning of the class that you were going to teach it differently definitely made some of us feel some relief. This class matters to a lot of us due to it being a requirement for graduation and the fact that materials are very important to engineering in general.
ReplyDelete