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Wow, just when I thought I could add my 2 cents, Marc Carter and Paul Okami (IMO) hit the nail on the head. We do have extra credit in Psych 100 classes to help with our research pool (they have other options too), but I do not use it in my other classes for reasons Marc stated. Even in the Psych 100 class, the prepared students take advantage of it early and more completely to get the gravy points. I do give "bonus" points on exams and homework to encourage the prepared student and support the efforts of all. About 30-45% of the Gen. Psych students get a failing grade. The passing students are better prepared, know how to take notes, know how to study efficiently, and actually do study. They actually did study in highschool. I work with study groups in my classes to help them develop better study habits, and have developed a "how to" study booklet that some actually use. However, the students who really need it, will not use it because they need help NOW, and do not know how to organize their time and develop the discipline to use the booklet to save their future learning. That is, they want a magic bullet to guarantee they will pass the class now. They often report they studied hard, but they are attributing the difficulty of sitting still and passively reading the text a day or few hours before the exam as being the "hard study" they put in.
As Paul noted, college today is really vocational high school and, while we can still wave the flag of a general liberal arts ideal, it is not realistic, and may not be fair to most of our students. General education is linked to highschool level civics classes and basic skills.
Students who have notdo not made it in my Gen Psych class have come back years later and told me they worked a while, and developed more self-discipline. Some take easier classes where colleagues go thru more contortions to pass them. Some find adjunct faculty easier. I am doing more study groups, work with campus groups (e.g., athletic dept., etc) to help their students, try to get students to see me and work with me more closely during office hours, encourage outside tutoring, etc. I have a super term when only 30% of my Gen Psych class fails to earn a passing grade----which is now 65%. Gary Peterson
Gerald L. (Gary) Peterson, Ph.D.
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Professor, Psychology Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI 48710 989-964-4491 [EMAIL PROTECTED] You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
