Stuart said: "However, we have an obligation to offer our teaching services to students who want to be there and have paid to be there. Unless one is personally ill, I cannot see why we would not just buckle down and rise to the occasion. There could be students in the class who had similar feelings but dragged themselves out anyway."
Stuart et al I couldn't agree more with what you said here but I'd add one more thing. We are not necessarily the best instrument for measuring the effects of what we have said. I can name specific instances where I was "on" for a discussion or lecture only to have the students email me with question after question- "this wasn't clear"- "I was confused by what you said about X"- that kind of thing. Or even having something appear on post-course evaluations to the effect that- "The course was mostly good but what happened to you on that day- I didn't understand anything you were talking about!" I've also had days when I was exhausted, frustrated, whatever and "did the best I could". Or days when the computer and projector didn't work or the network was down and my notes, video, etc were absent so I "winged it" (while "giving it my best shot" or being Nike-ish). On multiple occasions I had that happen and had both the experience of having a student follow me out and say, "Wow. You looked tired today." and having one say then and/or later, "That lecture changed my perspective on things" or something of the sort. I prepare the best I can, take care of myself the best I can and deliver the lecture the best I can everyday. But you don't know how it will be received. That is my humble opinion on "bad days". I attended a lecture on the liberal arts last year where a philosophy professor said something that sticks with me. "Each day as I walk in to my class I stop outside the door and say to myself, 'This is important'". I think his wise words sum up my "philosophy" on this issue quite well. Tim _________________________________________________________________ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Professor and Chairperson of Psychology The College of Idaho 2112 Cleveland Blvd Caldwell, ID 83605 teaching: Bio and neuropsychology, history and systems, general, psychopharmacology [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=1092 or send a blank email to leave-1092-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
