"Hetzel, Rod" wrote: > > Here's my problem: Next semester I am teaching four courses, three of which are new >preparations for courses that I've never taught before. One of the courses that I am >teaching next semester is Tests and Measurements. This is a course that I have >designed specifically around group projects and activities. Well, today I had two >senior psychology majors ask me if I could also teach Tests and Measurements as an >Independent Study next semester. They told me that they both have other >non-psychology courses that they need to have for graduation but which are scheduled >during the same time as Tests and Measurements. I initially told these students that >I would not be able to teach this course as an Independent Study because the course >was specifically designed around group projects and because I was already teaching >four other courses, three of which were new preps. They came back and told me that >if I didn't allow them to take an Independent Study in Tests and Measuremen! ts, then > they wouldn't be able to take the regular Tests and Measurements course that I'm >teaching because of the other required course they need to take, they would not be >able to graduate in May, and would have to wait until the 2005 Spring Semester to >take this course (which is the next time that Tests and Measurements, a required >course, will be offered).
There are times when it is important to be flexible. I'm not sure this is one of them. Chances are these students have been at your university for two to four years. They have thus had ample time to familiarize themselves with university and departmental requirements and to plan accordingly. It is not your responsibility to rescue them from bad planning. Students who wait to take a significant number of required courses until the last semester assume a risk that not everything will go according to the fantasy plan. Second, you seem to be concerned about the time when this course will be offered again. Remember, that these students could postpone the course in the other department which might be offered more frequently. Additionally, they can take the Tests and Measurements course as an independent study at another time such as summer when your schedule might be more flexible. Based on your comments, it is also apparent that you are concerned that the independent study will not be a comparable course. As such, for pedagogical reasons alone you may decide not to offer the course independently. An independent study should not just be a short-cut to graduation. Finally, it is not fair to your other students to funnel your limited energies beyond your known limits. My guess is that you accepted the four courses with three new preps knowing that this will be at the upper maximum of your time and stress thresholds. There are times when you do need to consider the majority as well as yourself, your family, etc. Best wishes, Linda -- Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D. Book Review Editor, H-Genocide Associate Professor - Psychology Coordinator - Holocaust & Genocide Studies, Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Webster University 470 East Lockwood St. Louis, MO 63119 Main Webpage: http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/ mailto:woolflm@;webster.edu "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's (and woman's) best friend. . . . Inside a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
