Hi Payam: I think I've got it. You are stressing over the 5-10% of students who are not getting with the program. You are not talking about all students, in general!
I think that what I'm finally getting from this on-going discussion is that you want to reach 100%. I think we all went into teaching wanting to reach 100% and probably most of us still feel some pangs of regret for those who slip away from us. But at some time I eventually realized that I was draining myself completely in putting so much of my mental and psychological effort in to that minority. (Didn't we have this discussion about 2-3 years ago on TIPS, framed just a little bit differently, or is this deja-vu?) Anyway, I was short- changing the students who really wanted my energy and attention because there was only so much of me to go around, and to take care of my family and.....myself! There are clearly some students who don't care--who are in college for all the wrong reasons. I was that kind of student my first year of college--fortunately in the late 60's it was chique (sp?) to drop out and "find yourself" so by the time I went back to school I was the totally devoted student most of us love to teach. But that first year, I was a real poop-head. Didn't try, except as the mood moved me, didn't care, didn't see where it was taking me, etc. As I look back I really think I was a late bloomer and that's that, but it took me a whole year of college to figure out that it wasn't my time yet. Well, my point in that self-disclosure is that we are all going to come across students whose time hasn't come yet, for a multitude of reasons, and there is probably little we can do, except welcome them back eventually. Unfortunately, these days, most students feel they must finish up the BA degree so they can afford to drop out and still support themselves....so they hang around and exhibit all of the many signs of apathy you've been talking about. They need that degree, but it is meaningless in its truest form. I think there is an underlying theme of just not having figured themselves out yet--although I may be projecting. Anyway, I think it's wonderful that you are plugging away are finding an answer- -not giving up even if an answer is not forth-coming. How about sitting down with your students over coffee, during intersession, and talking about it with them????? OK, so even if I am still out in left field, I must go back to grading papers. Annette Quoting Payam Heidary <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > Tim, > > Thanks for the elaborate explanation of your > experiences with student apathy and how you have tried > to overcome them over the years. I do agree with you > that sometimes if we change our approach or behavior > as instructors we can see changes in student apathy. > However, I do not believe this will solve most > problems with students apathy. I think student apathy > is a far more serious problem and despite how you > change your teaching styles you will still see lots of > apathy among students. Also, your solution only > addresses a few of the many 12 most common "apathy" > items I listed before. It still does not solve the > many other problems with student apathy such as > excessive student absences, late assignments, not > taking notes, sleeping in class, etc. This is a > difficult and widespread problem and the solution to > this is not that simple. > > Payam > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Find a job, post your resume. > http://careers.yahoo.com > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Annette Taylor, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology University of San Diego [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
