tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post5651884091074690540..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Don't Ask MeFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-38611733179454050822010-11-13T11:17:45.325-06:002010-11-13T11:17:45.325-06:00I am delighted to have found this blog, even thoug...I am delighted to have found this blog, even though I'm in a much "softer" field...<br /><br />My response, a variation on one of my favorite "please get out of my face and use your own grey matter" techniques, would have been to look sagely at the student and say, "Take the test home. Examine the question overnight. If you still have not figured it out by the next class, come fully prepared to defend your answer and why it should not have been marked as incorrect, to your regular professor."<br /><br />(I like Doctor Pion's though!)<br />--JennJennnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-58974624235180517392010-11-11T23:08:58.031-06:002010-11-11T23:08:58.031-06:00I don't know the details (IT'S NOT MY CLAS...I don't know the details (IT'S NOT MY CLASS), but apparently the grad student was unable to grade in a correct, consistent, and fair way, even when given an answer key, resulting in chaos in this large class.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-44429615707743891052010-11-11T22:48:11.914-06:002010-11-11T22:48:11.914-06:00I'm curious 1) why the TA got fired - never he...<i>I'm curious 1) why the TA got fired - never heard of such a thing in the middle of a semester for a large class-must have been pretty major offense</i><br /><br />Perhaps he or she stabbed the last student who tried to ask the same question 11 times in a row? :DBagelsannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-15596820145244414932010-11-10T10:04:07.221-06:002010-11-10T10:04:07.221-06:00I am not usually willing to see these conversation...I am not usually willing to see these conversations to the bitter end. I guess I was just in a strange mood at that moment and curious about what would happen.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-60115963243779079712010-11-10T10:00:22.420-06:002010-11-10T10:00:22.420-06:00Future career: Car salesman!
(Credit that to my hu...Future career: Car salesman!<br />(Credit that to my husband, also a professor. Had to share this column with him!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-90918413473323957142010-11-10T02:19:11.549-06:002010-11-10T02:19:11.549-06:00Your patience is amazing, FSP. As a young FSP, I ...Your patience is amazing, FSP. As a young FSP, I would have stopped them on #3. Are you more patient now than you were? My students are good at boxing me into corners (I have a small class and there is often discussion).jerseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01955374915415521207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-31814105812184138322010-11-09T15:20:43.119-06:002010-11-09T15:20:43.119-06:00I like the ones that think you're omniscient. ...I like the ones that think you're omniscient. I was subbing in my wife's class last week, and one of the students looks at me and asks:<br /><br />"What's the answer to number 5"<br /><br />Me: "I don't know. What?"<br /><br />Student "Number five... right here."<br /><br />Me:"what's it about?"<br /><br />Student "Number five."<br /><br />At this point, I start to feel like I'm talking to Yoko Ono. <br /><br />Me:"No, what is question number five asking?"<br /><br />Student, turning book around "Here!"<br /><br />They don't realize that our approach to understanding the material is NOT memorizing the specific questions and their answers, but internalizing the concepts that enable us to solve them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-79496209817498006212010-11-09T07:28:07.931-06:002010-11-09T07:28:07.931-06:00"Can I have your name?"
Student Snowfla..."Can I have your name?"<br /><br />Student Snowflake. <br /><br />"Thanks. I'll be sure to tell Prof. X that you had a question about problem 9 but didn't pay attention when you were told not to ask me any questions about the exam."<br /><br />Why? <br /><br />"Because if you were my student, I'd want to know. I'd take off one additional point for annoying a substitute by failing to follow directions." <br /><br />Student exits right, to nearest bar.Doctor Pionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12513786840852469648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-34406215037984719732010-11-09T02:08:45.507-06:002010-11-09T02:08:45.507-06:00I had a very similar experience. I subbed for a fe...I had a very similar experience. I subbed for a fellow TA in week 2 of the lab. All students had to be there week 1 or else they were dropped from the class. Real TA is male with beard, glasses and earrings. I am female, no beard, no glasses, and no earrings.<br /><br />Student comes up to me post lecture to explain why he didn't email me the data for the assignment due that day and wanting to know how he could get credit. <br /><br />Me: I didn't discuss the assignment with Real TA. His wife is in the hospital. You'll have to speak with him.<br /><br />Stu: But I didn't email you the data. Can I email you later and get credit? <br /><br />Me: I know you didn't email me the assignment. I am not your TA. You need to discuss this with Real TA.<br /><br />Stu: But can I email my data later and get credit?<br /><br />Me: No. You don't have my email address. I am not your TA. Email Real TA.<br /><br />Stu: But...<br /><br />Me: Were you in class last week?<br /><br />Stu: Yes.<br /><br />Me: You should recognize that I am not the same person that taught you last week. I am not Real TA. I am not male. I do not have a beard. Do you remember your TA?<br /><br />Stu: No. So, I can email you my data?<br /><br />Me (looking at Stu's group): Can one of you explain this to him?<br /><br /><br />I am glad I wasn't his TA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-59706376096643297262010-11-09T00:10:42.312-06:002010-11-09T00:10:42.312-06:00I'm curious 1) why the TA got fired - never he...I'm curious 1) why the TA got fired - never heard of such a thing in the middle of a semester for a large class-must have been pretty major offense 2) how did you manage to hand back the exams to a large class when you didn't know anyone without the process taking forever?<br /><br />Also, a bit off topic (except it's about clueless students) what is your opinion of students swearing within earshot of instructors? I am a TA for a large class and today, before class started, a student sitting right next to me said loudly to another student a few seats to my other side that the term paper was worth "a shit-ton" of credits toward their grades. I felt oddly annoyed, not sure why.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-79088967055606225612010-11-08T23:36:19.439-06:002010-11-08T23:36:19.439-06:00Love it! I'm guessing it was a., just because ...Love it! I'm guessing it was a., just because I've had too much experience with puppies to think that any comparable being would give up so easily.NatChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15027470799663614643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-10744785712298232382010-11-08T22:00:34.424-06:002010-11-08T22:00:34.424-06:00@Nicole: What rude, intolerant students you have!
...@Nicole: What rude, intolerant students you have!<br /><br />Do you know where I can get some?EscapedWestOfTheBigMuddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-19174222267293285652010-11-08T21:03:22.968-06:002010-11-08T21:03:22.968-06:00My students this semester are really really squirr...My students this semester are really really squirrelly in one of my classes... what would have happened in that case is that ask #3 a bunch of other students would have said, "Dude, she ALREADY SAID X, so SHUT UP"<br /><br />I know this because it has happened many times this semester.Nicolehttp://nicoleandmaggie.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-27146777047440272752010-11-08T19:48:05.949-06:002010-11-08T19:48:05.949-06:00Answer Key:
bAnswer Key:<br /><br />bFemale Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-26049022548269441612010-11-08T18:19:19.828-06:002010-11-08T18:19:19.828-06:00I suspect it's an issue akin to pitting your p...I suspect it's an issue akin to pitting your parents against each other. The student probably feels okay with asking you the question, because it's not *really* a grading thing, it's an issue of Dr. SoAndSo not understanding the student's description of how Science works. And if he can get someone else on his side confirming that his method of Science works, *then* it will be a grading thing, and he'll totally speak to Dr. SoAndSo about that, making sure to mention that you agreed. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-51804903774140918132010-11-08T16:31:58.270-06:002010-11-08T16:31:58.270-06:00It could be some kind of neurological damage -- I ...It could be some kind of neurological damage -- I know it sounds extreme, but I once mentioned I'd missed class for a medical procedure (in a 20 student class). A student asked me what it was, and I said I didn't want to go into details. He asked me three times, until the other students told him to shut up; it was so obnoxious..... but then I found out later that he had been in a bicycle accident a year earlier, and could not read a lot of social cues. I ended up feeling so bad for him ....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-15443887466341368082010-11-08T13:27:14.726-06:002010-11-08T13:27:14.726-06:00My bet - 11 times and you gave in first.
Listenin...My bet - 11 times and you gave in first.<br /><br />Listening seems to be such an issue with students. I can't believe how much time I'll spend explaining what's due on an assignment - only to have students ask me 5 minutes later "what's due next week?". Maybe it's always been this way but I remember writing things down in college - you know things my prof told me. I have honestly had to tell them to get out paper and pen and write the assignment down (it's a sophomore/junior class). Has college just become highschool+?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-51761351123483499072010-11-08T13:15:25.106-06:002010-11-08T13:15:25.106-06:00you're pretty stubborn, i think it's b. :...you're pretty stubborn, i think it's b. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-63400717780196009192010-11-08T12:25:11.754-06:002010-11-08T12:25:11.754-06:00D, but only because I love unexpected humor.D, but only because I love unexpected humor.Candid Engineerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01722793931639972423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-2773987229481083682010-11-08T12:14:52.958-06:002010-11-08T12:14:52.958-06:00B.
I have 2 dogs who like to fetch, one tore his...B. <br /><br />I have 2 dogs who like to fetch, one tore his MCL before stopping and the other will tear the pads off her feet and never give in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-50414047988769539292010-11-08T11:57:25.004-06:002010-11-08T11:57:25.004-06:00@ Klaas
ROFL! Could it be that we have the same...@ Klaas<br /><br /><br />ROFL! Could it be that we have the same sales rep?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-45087219094643309842010-11-08T11:49:09.194-06:002010-11-08T11:49:09.194-06:00There were no apparently cultural aspects to this ...There were no apparently cultural aspects to this interact. The student was a Caucasian male, native English-speaker. I have no idea whether he was a first year or nth year student.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-66689320510893818772010-11-08T11:43:12.839-06:002010-11-08T11:43:12.839-06:00When somebody keeps asking me essentially the same...When somebody keeps asking me essentially the same question over and over, I give my answer and follow it with "I can repeat this as many times as you deem necessary."<br /><br />What always gets me is the students in my class who want me to fix their grade right then and there. I try to explain that no matter how wronged they were, the only fix that matters is the one I apply when I'm in my office in front of my grades spreadsheet, so they should come to my office if they are seeking amends.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-48412891517544613982010-11-08T11:42:56.465-06:002010-11-08T11:42:56.465-06:00Was the student a freshman or alike? Maybe the pro...Was the student a freshman or alike? Maybe the problem is the way a student sees the job of a professor: someone who knows everything about all his/her university-related concerns. So to him/her, you are the same as your other colleague - as all bartenders are the same.<br /><br /><br />I think many kids have similar perception of the world when they are in the primary school. When do they understand the concept of specialization in the work? I don't know, but maybe a bit late! (;SoloGenhttp://www.SoloGen.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-4657179313271777052010-11-08T11:09:20.612-06:002010-11-08T11:09:20.612-06:00I *knew* you were a dog hater (it goes with the ma...I *knew* you were a dog hater (it goes with the man-hating, no?)<br /><br />I hope it was B. But, if it was A, I do think that he has a future in some career where rejection is common and accepted (sales, someone mentioned. politics?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com