Blog #7- Respect for other students
Now days almost everyone, their brothers, sisters, and mothers has a cell phone, because they are convenient. They are good in case of emergencies, (broke down on side the road, car accident) or even just to keep in touch with friends and family members. Just the same, they can be a large inconvenience as well. As they are cell phones, meant to be brought with you on every adventure, it is important to keep in mind that there are always others around you when answering that phone.
One problem that I have had in school is cell phones. As I do have a cell phone myself, it is appropriate for me to turn my cell phone off, or even silence my ringer if I am waiting for a very important phone call. Before class I will put my phone on vibrate in case of a family emergency. I do not however answer ever phone call that comes in. If I see that it is a friend calling I will press the ignore button and let it go to voice mail after class I will answer all calls on my voice mail. However if there is a phone call that I do need to answer (emergency) purposes, I take in to consideration other students in the class, who have also paid for this class. I will get up and politely excuse myself from the class and go outside to answer the phone. I do it out of consideration of my fellow classmates.
When in a classroom, there are people who may not be able to hear as well as the next person. It is important to continue to be quite. That is why it is important to take all phone calls outside the classroom. People are taking notes for themselves and some instances for other class mates. Please be respectful to others. Like my mother always told me, “Do on to others as you wish done onto yourself!”
It is also important to keep side conversations down to minimal. Although you are having a conversation with students in your class room, it is important to remember at the same time that there are in fact others in that same room. Speaking from personal experience, it can get confusing when you are trying to understand what your professor is saying, and hearing, but not wanting to listen to the conversation that is taking place behind you or even in front of you. Sometimes if you are a student that has a hard time hearing your professors, it might be a good idea to move towards the front of the class. If you are in class and have had to listen to students over and over again talking about their personal gossip, do not be afraid to speak up and ask them politely to take their conversation elsewhere. As they paid for their classes there it is important to know that you as well paid for you classes. Do not be afraid, if they cannot respect you as a student, please go and see Jean. Jean is more than capable of handling situations like such, without putting you on the spot. So please once again, do not be afraid to speak up because it is important that you get everything out of the classes you paid for, and wished to attend.
~~ Michelle ~~
Monday, September 28, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Blog #6- Group Projects
Blog #6- Group Projects
So here we are almost five weeks into classes; group projects should have already been assigned to those who are going to get them. Some classes will assign these kinds of projects, where others will just expect for you to do your own work. There are also some professors who would just like for you to work with phone-bridge (like a group assignment due during class.)The hard thing about working in groups is that you sometimes really don’t have any choice on your group members. Sometimes we have new students arrive, and as new students we as students who have been here a while don’t know if you are as dedicated to your work as we are. It could also be the other way around, as new students you probably don’t know too many people in your class room so you don’t know if they are as dedicated as you are. Well in more instances then not this is the occasion, which makes it extremely hard on us students.
I need to say that some people that work in groups will use their kids as a cop out to not being there. It is one thing when there really is an emergency with your children, or when you children are sick. But I have found with previous experience that people like using this as an excuse to not be there. This also makes a hard impact on the group. Most of the time I am elected as the group president, and most of the time it is against my better judgment. I have had group members tell me they like it when I am in charge because I am persistent in making sure the jobs get done in a timely fashion. When working in groups it is not only your GPA you are working towards but the rest of the groups as well. Within the first couple of weeks, you are assigned a group, and your group usually starts to make a list of what needs to be done and who will be doing what. When making this list, I include the WHOLE group; I also take side notes on who does this and their reaction to this, and even who is there. By the forth week you should already know who is basically going to be there to help you. If they were going to be a person who calls in for class they probably have already done so by this time. In cases like such, I work around them. We still assign them tasks for the groups, but we make them do long before we actually need them there so if we feel as though the student is procrastinating we can begin to do the assignment ourselves as well as bring it to our professors attention. While working in groups during class, professors do watch and see who participates more often. They have the attendance sheets so they know who is there compared to who is not. So don’t stress so much, but never be unprepared for a student to not show up. I had a group in one of my Professional writing classes, it worked out awesome. There were originally four people in the group. One never showed up, so what the girls and I did was split the tasks evenly. We asked who we thought would be the better to write certain aspects and we assigned those tasks to them. Then before the next class we would email them to the other two members in the group to go over in class. If by chance there was an emergency, we still had this part of the group assignment to go over, and make changes where we felt were needed to be made. Then at the following class we would really quickly go over it again to see if the missing student agreed or disagreed. We called each other frequently and exchanged emails at least once a week.
In working with groups it is important to write down all meetings so you don’t forget, have emails and possible telephone numbers as well. Communication is the key to have a good group. Good luck to you all. Remember you are not the only person in the group and that your grade matters just as much as theirs. Put in an effort, and don’t be afraid to speak out if you feel like certain team members are not participating as often as they should be. Thank you for reading this week’s blog and I will be back next week with more.
So here we are almost five weeks into classes; group projects should have already been assigned to those who are going to get them. Some classes will assign these kinds of projects, where others will just expect for you to do your own work. There are also some professors who would just like for you to work with phone-bridge (like a group assignment due during class.)The hard thing about working in groups is that you sometimes really don’t have any choice on your group members. Sometimes we have new students arrive, and as new students we as students who have been here a while don’t know if you are as dedicated to your work as we are. It could also be the other way around, as new students you probably don’t know too many people in your class room so you don’t know if they are as dedicated as you are. Well in more instances then not this is the occasion, which makes it extremely hard on us students.
I need to say that some people that work in groups will use their kids as a cop out to not being there. It is one thing when there really is an emergency with your children, or when you children are sick. But I have found with previous experience that people like using this as an excuse to not be there. This also makes a hard impact on the group. Most of the time I am elected as the group president, and most of the time it is against my better judgment. I have had group members tell me they like it when I am in charge because I am persistent in making sure the jobs get done in a timely fashion. When working in groups it is not only your GPA you are working towards but the rest of the groups as well. Within the first couple of weeks, you are assigned a group, and your group usually starts to make a list of what needs to be done and who will be doing what. When making this list, I include the WHOLE group; I also take side notes on who does this and their reaction to this, and even who is there. By the forth week you should already know who is basically going to be there to help you. If they were going to be a person who calls in for class they probably have already done so by this time. In cases like such, I work around them. We still assign them tasks for the groups, but we make them do long before we actually need them there so if we feel as though the student is procrastinating we can begin to do the assignment ourselves as well as bring it to our professors attention. While working in groups during class, professors do watch and see who participates more often. They have the attendance sheets so they know who is there compared to who is not. So don’t stress so much, but never be unprepared for a student to not show up. I had a group in one of my Professional writing classes, it worked out awesome. There were originally four people in the group. One never showed up, so what the girls and I did was split the tasks evenly. We asked who we thought would be the better to write certain aspects and we assigned those tasks to them. Then before the next class we would email them to the other two members in the group to go over in class. If by chance there was an emergency, we still had this part of the group assignment to go over, and make changes where we felt were needed to be made. Then at the following class we would really quickly go over it again to see if the missing student agreed or disagreed. We called each other frequently and exchanged emails at least once a week.
In working with groups it is important to write down all meetings so you don’t forget, have emails and possible telephone numbers as well. Communication is the key to have a good group. Good luck to you all. Remember you are not the only person in the group and that your grade matters just as much as theirs. Put in an effort, and don’t be afraid to speak out if you feel like certain team members are not participating as often as they should be. Thank you for reading this week’s blog and I will be back next week with more.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Blog #5- Organization
Hello fellow classmates! It is I, Michelle Worthley writing to you from the Rumford/Mexico center. So, before we begin this week’s blog, I wanted to something funny that happened to me during one of my classes today. Okay, so we are four weeks into class, I’m sitting here looking at my books, and note books getting set up for the class to begin. I look up at the T.V. when the professor begins talking, and notice that I do not recognize her. I ask my fellow classmates for her name. It was my professor! She has a teacher’s assistant who has basically been the one teaching the class this whole time and has maybe spent a total of 10 minutes teaching. We all laughed! I guess I just wanted to let you know that it is a possibility and occasions like such do happen. You find yourself looking down at your books and notes more then at the T.V. you begin to forget who your professor is.
One thing that I might do in order to help me become more organized before class begins so I know who my professors are is to go over my work for the next week and get a glimpse of what I am going to need to know. Make sure your homework is done prior to class, and know what next weeks assignments are going to be. This also helps you during class discussions, because you are able to identify certain issues and say, “hey, I’m supposed to know this.” This allows you to take additional notes on that topic.
Something that I find works on my behalf is that I am a Virgo. If anyone follows the astrological signs, one of its meanings is that we as Virgo’s are incredibly organized. First thing I do is have my syllabus color coordinated. I get my agenda for the semester, and go through each class two weeks before I have a major assignment or quiz/test due, I will write it. I will do the same for the following week and on the week that it is due, I will write down its exact due date. I go through blackboard, and my syllabus and get all information that I may need to pertains to a major project review it and label it under class projects, making it available for me to refer to as often as needed.
As the week goes on I find myself jumping from one class assignment to the next. It can be stressful, and very hard to stay on top of things, and as class goes on it will get better, in some areas, and worse in others. I find counting the classes helps me realize it is almost over. Get it done and out of the way now and I don’t have t o worry about it later.
If I have a vacation from classes coming up, I sometimes find myself getting ahead of the game so I can take that one week off from school and homework and spend it with my family. I have also found that in doing so, within that week I have some down time to get me more prepared for the following weeks with finals and other major projects and papers due. It is never a bad thing to get ahead of the game when it comes to vacations, and it is possible. Just keep your head on your shoulders and focus. Have fun and good luck through out the semester. I will be chatting with you all again soon.
One thing that I might do in order to help me become more organized before class begins so I know who my professors are is to go over my work for the next week and get a glimpse of what I am going to need to know. Make sure your homework is done prior to class, and know what next weeks assignments are going to be. This also helps you during class discussions, because you are able to identify certain issues and say, “hey, I’m supposed to know this.” This allows you to take additional notes on that topic.
Something that I find works on my behalf is that I am a Virgo. If anyone follows the astrological signs, one of its meanings is that we as Virgo’s are incredibly organized. First thing I do is have my syllabus color coordinated. I get my agenda for the semester, and go through each class two weeks before I have a major assignment or quiz/test due, I will write it. I will do the same for the following week and on the week that it is due, I will write down its exact due date. I go through blackboard, and my syllabus and get all information that I may need to pertains to a major project review it and label it under class projects, making it available for me to refer to as often as needed.
As the week goes on I find myself jumping from one class assignment to the next. It can be stressful, and very hard to stay on top of things, and as class goes on it will get better, in some areas, and worse in others. I find counting the classes helps me realize it is almost over. Get it done and out of the way now and I don’t have t o worry about it later.
If I have a vacation from classes coming up, I sometimes find myself getting ahead of the game so I can take that one week off from school and homework and spend it with my family. I have also found that in doing so, within that week I have some down time to get me more prepared for the following weeks with finals and other major projects and papers due. It is never a bad thing to get ahead of the game when it comes to vacations, and it is possible. Just keep your head on your shoulders and focus. Have fun and good luck through out the semester. I will be chatting with you all again soon.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Blog #4
BLOG #4
Since I talked a little about the importance of finding and using your support systems last week, I thought it would be a good week to go over them in a little more detail this week. Support systems are generally defined as people who you might look to for advice or help to make important decisions in your life. These people may help you through the times you have in completing these decisions. For example, a baby sitter would be your support to take care of your children while you are at work.
My baby sitter happens to be my mother. She watches my son while I am at the college volunteering and while I am in class. She does this to help me make something of my life. She helps out as much as she can, by taking him over night when she knows I have a big paper or group project due the next day, so I can make my finishing touches to it. She sometimes just takes him when she knows I have a lot to do with classes, bills and grocery shopping. If for some reason Dominic’s father could not take he or my mother could not take him, I have back up. These people are also considered to be my support system, because they believe in what I am doing, and how I am trying to provide for my child.
Things get hard; stress is more likely then not to occur in a full time student’s life, especially if they have children and other lives happening. It is really important to have a support system because, on bad days, they remind you of why you made the choices you made. They remind you of the good things that will come of you graduating from college, and then they will remind you of all the bad things that could happen if you were to not finish school.
Sometimes you might not like to hear what they have to say, because the truth is that, “the truth hurts!” Always keep in mind that they love you and they are only their to help you. As much as it is hard for you to do what you are doing, think about all the time you are doing what you are doing. Now think about the person who is their supporting you and multiply your time by two. Because they are there supporting you when you are gone and then when you are there all the time. They are the ones taking care of your kids if you have any when you are gone to school for the day.
I thank my mother every day for being the wonderful person that she is. I thank Ryan (Dominic’s father) every day for being the great, kind, sensitive being that he is. I thank Mary, my back up everyday for being their when all else fails. Telling me I can do it, and hearing it over and over again, is just as important as saying thank you to those who are there helping you. Some times I will buy my mother a card and flowers just to say thank you for being you and being there. I have even bought Ryan flowers for being so great to me, and dealing with all the stuff I put him through. Because, really when you think about it, no one really knows who you are and what it’s all about unless they live, eat, and sleep in the same house as you every night. If it was not for all my support systems, I honestly could say that I really do not think I would have made it as far as I have. So when you’re thinking you are having a bad day, and you need to vent to someone. Pick up that phone and call, or go there. Where ever you end up, they are going to be considered a support for you, because they are there for you. One think that you should remember is that everyone needs a little reassurance, so don’t forget to thank your support systems. You can never really show anyone enough appreciation. So one last thing, thank you mom, I love you! Thank you Ryan, I dont know where I would be with out you, and thank you Mary for all the last minute phone calls, you are all awesome, and I love you.
Since I talked a little about the importance of finding and using your support systems last week, I thought it would be a good week to go over them in a little more detail this week. Support systems are generally defined as people who you might look to for advice or help to make important decisions in your life. These people may help you through the times you have in completing these decisions. For example, a baby sitter would be your support to take care of your children while you are at work.
My baby sitter happens to be my mother. She watches my son while I am at the college volunteering and while I am in class. She does this to help me make something of my life. She helps out as much as she can, by taking him over night when she knows I have a big paper or group project due the next day, so I can make my finishing touches to it. She sometimes just takes him when she knows I have a lot to do with classes, bills and grocery shopping. If for some reason Dominic’s father could not take he or my mother could not take him, I have back up. These people are also considered to be my support system, because they believe in what I am doing, and how I am trying to provide for my child.
Things get hard; stress is more likely then not to occur in a full time student’s life, especially if they have children and other lives happening. It is really important to have a support system because, on bad days, they remind you of why you made the choices you made. They remind you of the good things that will come of you graduating from college, and then they will remind you of all the bad things that could happen if you were to not finish school.
Sometimes you might not like to hear what they have to say, because the truth is that, “the truth hurts!” Always keep in mind that they love you and they are only their to help you. As much as it is hard for you to do what you are doing, think about all the time you are doing what you are doing. Now think about the person who is their supporting you and multiply your time by two. Because they are there supporting you when you are gone and then when you are there all the time. They are the ones taking care of your kids if you have any when you are gone to school for the day.
I thank my mother every day for being the wonderful person that she is. I thank Ryan (Dominic’s father) every day for being the great, kind, sensitive being that he is. I thank Mary, my back up everyday for being their when all else fails. Telling me I can do it, and hearing it over and over again, is just as important as saying thank you to those who are there helping you. Some times I will buy my mother a card and flowers just to say thank you for being you and being there. I have even bought Ryan flowers for being so great to me, and dealing with all the stuff I put him through. Because, really when you think about it, no one really knows who you are and what it’s all about unless they live, eat, and sleep in the same house as you every night. If it was not for all my support systems, I honestly could say that I really do not think I would have made it as far as I have. So when you’re thinking you are having a bad day, and you need to vent to someone. Pick up that phone and call, or go there. Where ever you end up, they are going to be considered a support for you, because they are there for you. One think that you should remember is that everyone needs a little reassurance, so don’t forget to thank your support systems. You can never really show anyone enough appreciation. So one last thing, thank you mom, I love you! Thank you Ryan, I dont know where I would be with out you, and thank you Mary for all the last minute phone calls, you are all awesome, and I love you.
Blog #3
BLOG #3
Recently I turned 26 years old. I have a little boy and his name is Dominic, my grandfather calls him Demonic. Dominic is a two and one half year old little boy. He is full of possibilities, adventure, and terror as most two year olds are. Dominic is enrolled in early head start here at the Rumford center. Once a week we have his teacher come to visit with us here at home. Dominic demands our every attention, and being a full time college student this can be hard. Playing and running around from one appointment to the next, baby sitter to baby sitter, one class to another, it can be tiring. By the end of the night when Dominic goes to bed, I am ready myself for bed. Everyday is always a long day, so by the time I get to relax at night, the last thing I want to do is homework. I want sleep! It makes it even harder knowing that at 2 Dominic is still having a really hard time sleeping through the night.
If anyone knows what it is like being a full time mother, full time college student, full time multi-tasker than you know how we feel. Over the last few years it has been really hard. At first it was almost like a walk in the park, because I did not have any kids. Then I found out I was pregnant, I was excited, scared, and curious to see how things were going to turn out. As I was approaching the end of a semester, and looking at my last semester towards my Associates degree, I went into labor. It was in December, the week of finals. Oh my god I was a wreck, and did not know what to do. I went into labor on a day that I had off from school, thank god. But I could have been studying for a math final; we all know how much we “love” math! 2:30 in the afternoon was when I started feeling contractions. 1:17 in the morning was when my son was born. They made me stay in the hospital all that day, and the next morning I was released at noon time, I went home and got settled in with my first baby. After arriving at home and settling down, I left to go to school, and take my last final, less then 48 hours after giving birth. I PASSED!!!! We had about 3 weeks off from school, and then my final semester began. I finished. I made the deans list both semester’s, and have never been so proud in all my life. I had this wonderful bundle of joy, family, friends, and the dean’s list. What else could you ask for?
Starting school again for my bachelor’s degree became harder. My mother was unable to babysit as often for me. I needed to come up with a schedule and quick. I couldn’t have my mother around all the time when I was home so I could do homework, and then when I was gone to school. Most people are able to put their children in day care while they go to school. If this is the case then that is great. Make all your classes so you are able to go while they are there. Always leave yourself enough time within that time span to be able to do homework. Sometimes, you could be in situations like mine, not able to afford a day care cause you are already going to school full time and raising a child full time, with little income. I was thankful my mother was there.
I made a schedule, on days where I had a seven am class, when I got home was the time Dominic was usually sleeping, so I would go and take a nap myself, because I was so tired from the night before then having to get up with him for 5, and then class at 7. If I did not have a rough night, and did not have a morning class, then I would take these two hours of free time, and use it to get some homework done. I also worked part time here at the University, so I found that this was like a free time for me. If I had nothing to do, then I would use this time also to get some studying done, or some homework done. Another thing I found useful was that Dominic was on such a good schedule, it made it easier for me to be on that schedule, I new what I did and did not have for time, so I used what I had and I went with it. Dominic would be in bed by 8 every night, so I would do homework until 9 or 10 every night, and then I would go to bed.
I guess the moral of me telling you all of this is that it is not impossible to raise a family, be a multi-tasking mother, and a full time student. The most important thing for us to do is to make a schedule that works for you and stick by it. Remember what I said last week, what may work for me may not be so convenient for a mother of three. Find those support systems that work the best for you and use them to better your lives. Life is grand, and we should all try making something better with them. If not for ourselves than do it for your children, or even the children you may wish to have in the future. Smile, be happy, and stay focused on living and leading a healthier life.
Recently I turned 26 years old. I have a little boy and his name is Dominic, my grandfather calls him Demonic. Dominic is a two and one half year old little boy. He is full of possibilities, adventure, and terror as most two year olds are. Dominic is enrolled in early head start here at the Rumford center. Once a week we have his teacher come to visit with us here at home. Dominic demands our every attention, and being a full time college student this can be hard. Playing and running around from one appointment to the next, baby sitter to baby sitter, one class to another, it can be tiring. By the end of the night when Dominic goes to bed, I am ready myself for bed. Everyday is always a long day, so by the time I get to relax at night, the last thing I want to do is homework. I want sleep! It makes it even harder knowing that at 2 Dominic is still having a really hard time sleeping through the night.
If anyone knows what it is like being a full time mother, full time college student, full time multi-tasker than you know how we feel. Over the last few years it has been really hard. At first it was almost like a walk in the park, because I did not have any kids. Then I found out I was pregnant, I was excited, scared, and curious to see how things were going to turn out. As I was approaching the end of a semester, and looking at my last semester towards my Associates degree, I went into labor. It was in December, the week of finals. Oh my god I was a wreck, and did not know what to do. I went into labor on a day that I had off from school, thank god. But I could have been studying for a math final; we all know how much we “love” math! 2:30 in the afternoon was when I started feeling contractions. 1:17 in the morning was when my son was born. They made me stay in the hospital all that day, and the next morning I was released at noon time, I went home and got settled in with my first baby. After arriving at home and settling down, I left to go to school, and take my last final, less then 48 hours after giving birth. I PASSED!!!! We had about 3 weeks off from school, and then my final semester began. I finished. I made the deans list both semester’s, and have never been so proud in all my life. I had this wonderful bundle of joy, family, friends, and the dean’s list. What else could you ask for?
Starting school again for my bachelor’s degree became harder. My mother was unable to babysit as often for me. I needed to come up with a schedule and quick. I couldn’t have my mother around all the time when I was home so I could do homework, and then when I was gone to school. Most people are able to put their children in day care while they go to school. If this is the case then that is great. Make all your classes so you are able to go while they are there. Always leave yourself enough time within that time span to be able to do homework. Sometimes, you could be in situations like mine, not able to afford a day care cause you are already going to school full time and raising a child full time, with little income. I was thankful my mother was there.
I made a schedule, on days where I had a seven am class, when I got home was the time Dominic was usually sleeping, so I would go and take a nap myself, because I was so tired from the night before then having to get up with him for 5, and then class at 7. If I did not have a rough night, and did not have a morning class, then I would take these two hours of free time, and use it to get some homework done. I also worked part time here at the University, so I found that this was like a free time for me. If I had nothing to do, then I would use this time also to get some studying done, or some homework done. Another thing I found useful was that Dominic was on such a good schedule, it made it easier for me to be on that schedule, I new what I did and did not have for time, so I used what I had and I went with it. Dominic would be in bed by 8 every night, so I would do homework until 9 or 10 every night, and then I would go to bed.
I guess the moral of me telling you all of this is that it is not impossible to raise a family, be a multi-tasking mother, and a full time student. The most important thing for us to do is to make a schedule that works for you and stick by it. Remember what I said last week, what may work for me may not be so convenient for a mother of three. Find those support systems that work the best for you and use them to better your lives. Life is grand, and we should all try making something better with them. If not for ourselves than do it for your children, or even the children you may wish to have in the future. Smile, be happy, and stay focused on living and leading a healthier life.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Blog#2- Professors
BLOG #2
To all my fellow classmates, hello! Today I think we are going to discuss professors. Professors come in all shapes and sizes, some are down to earth, and some you have to reach to unhealthy lengths to meet their standards. Some are patient and some not so much. Some understand, while others don’t want to hear your excuses. The truth of the matter is if they are a professor then the chances are that they have been in your position before.
One thing that I have found to work on my behalf is to ask my classmates about their experience with professors that I have never had before. Usually if they didn’t work for them, they are not going to work for me. I would ask people who I know, people who I have worked with on projects before. In cases like this I knew what they were like as students, so if I felt that they were being unfair then I took the class anyway and found out on my own. In some cases, I have found I had a delightful experience with these professors, where in other cases I wished I would have listened to my classmates. (We as students are not advised to give other students academic advice.) However if a student asks for your opinion about a certain professor, it is our opinion and the other student can either agree or disagree with your opinion it is their choice in the end.
When you have finally enrolled in classes for the semester, you have chosen your professors for the next several weeks. Get to know your professor, e-mail them frequently if it is an online or ITV class. They enjoy hearing from us, and they like to know we are listening to them, and they are not running on about nothing for two hours and forty-five minutes. After all we are graded on class participation as well. Even a friendly note telling them how much you enjoyed their lecture ensures them you were paying attention.
Respect your professors; we are not in high school any more ladies and gentlemen. It is what it is! If you can respect your professors then they too will respect you. If your can not understand what they are asking for, ask them questions do not just assume this is how they want it. Do not be judgmental; they are just professors not mind readers. Most professors are more then willing to help you succeed in your academic endeavors.
Read your syllabus prior to class so when the professor goes over the syllabus, if you have questions regarding certain subjects ask. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone if this is the situation; again they are not mind readers and can not tell if you have a question. Know what the professor is expecting of you, and let the professor know in a respectful manner what it is that you are expecting from them, and what you expect to get out of the class, so they can ensure we get what we are looking for.
Most professors are wonderful, and give you a memorable experience; some are there just to teach. If you feel that in any way you are being disrespected as a student then, please do not be afraid to report it. We do not want you to have a bad college experience, we do not want you to walk the halls afraid, and this is an enjoyable experience. So, live it up and get the best out of it, you will be surprised how much fun you and your professors can have if you can come to an understanding and communicate with one another!
Thank you all for reading and stay in tuned for next weeks segment. Also, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to add.
~~Michelle~~
To all my fellow classmates, hello! Today I think we are going to discuss professors. Professors come in all shapes and sizes, some are down to earth, and some you have to reach to unhealthy lengths to meet their standards. Some are patient and some not so much. Some understand, while others don’t want to hear your excuses. The truth of the matter is if they are a professor then the chances are that they have been in your position before.
One thing that I have found to work on my behalf is to ask my classmates about their experience with professors that I have never had before. Usually if they didn’t work for them, they are not going to work for me. I would ask people who I know, people who I have worked with on projects before. In cases like this I knew what they were like as students, so if I felt that they were being unfair then I took the class anyway and found out on my own. In some cases, I have found I had a delightful experience with these professors, where in other cases I wished I would have listened to my classmates. (We as students are not advised to give other students academic advice.) However if a student asks for your opinion about a certain professor, it is our opinion and the other student can either agree or disagree with your opinion it is their choice in the end.
When you have finally enrolled in classes for the semester, you have chosen your professors for the next several weeks. Get to know your professor, e-mail them frequently if it is an online or ITV class. They enjoy hearing from us, and they like to know we are listening to them, and they are not running on about nothing for two hours and forty-five minutes. After all we are graded on class participation as well. Even a friendly note telling them how much you enjoyed their lecture ensures them you were paying attention.
Respect your professors; we are not in high school any more ladies and gentlemen. It is what it is! If you can respect your professors then they too will respect you. If your can not understand what they are asking for, ask them questions do not just assume this is how they want it. Do not be judgmental; they are just professors not mind readers. Most professors are more then willing to help you succeed in your academic endeavors.
Read your syllabus prior to class so when the professor goes over the syllabus, if you have questions regarding certain subjects ask. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone if this is the situation; again they are not mind readers and can not tell if you have a question. Know what the professor is expecting of you, and let the professor know in a respectful manner what it is that you are expecting from them, and what you expect to get out of the class, so they can ensure we get what we are looking for.
Most professors are wonderful, and give you a memorable experience; some are there just to teach. If you feel that in any way you are being disrespected as a student then, please do not be afraid to report it. We do not want you to have a bad college experience, we do not want you to walk the halls afraid, and this is an enjoyable experience. So, live it up and get the best out of it, you will be surprised how much fun you and your professors can have if you can come to an understanding and communicate with one another!
Thank you all for reading and stay in tuned for next weeks segment. Also, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to add.
~~Michelle~~
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