I'm thinking what questions I have through the semester so far. Hmm... questions.... Sometimes I'm even confused even at the fact whether I do have a question or not. Honestly, it's just all grey area in my head at times, and I don't even know if I really know this subject. Thinking back with the brain half burnt out, all I could recall now is the topic that we had pretty recently.
It was about the error, the discussion led by Jake. I vaguely remember we were talking about the errors that freshmen made, to what extent we can overlook those, so and so forth.
I know we've been hearing that we should be nice and not too mean to freshmen when grading, but I've slightly disagreed with that. As Jake said, they are in college now, not in high school any more. So, it's imperative that they be required to show some degree of professional mindset and formality in writing as long as they are IN the college. Okay, then let's just accept the fact that we should help them not to be terrified by bitter, harsh, and painful comments so they won't run away from the chance they get better. Then, when are we going to do that? When are we starting to give them unpleasant-to-hear real help? Isn't it true the proverb urging us that spare the rod, spoil the child? Once you want your child to eat with the silverwares, you should teach how to use it from the very first time. If you overlook the first time when they grab food with their hands, they would think it is okay to have it without silverwares because they know their moms will be happy anyway with only the fact that they can eat by themselves. But, the fact is that we expect them to behave in more sophisticated manner as they grow up, and this is why we need discipline at the first moment. The earlier they learn and we explain why, the sooner they become aware of the importance.
3 comments:
Wow! Thanks for saying that! I agree that these students are in college now and we should prepare them for the working world by insisting on professionalism. If we don't take the responsibility of teaching that to them, where will they learn it? They will suffer once they graduate because they have not learned how to behave in a professional manner.
I think it is possible to both be critical of students for poor work, but also supportive. The typical way to do this is to begin with some praise, then move to suggestions for improvement, and then maybe move back to closing praise.
Of course, you can't allow the praise to soften too much the criticism such that they don't hear it. And there are moments of exasperation when we all will be more blunt in our criticism, perhaps skipping the praise altogether. This would be the case especially if someone continues to make the same mistake over and over again, or obviously is not doing the work.
So true. I think the main thing that we have to keep in mind is to remain professional when we are telling them. That's what it really boils down to. I know that when correction is done in a kind way, I am much more open to it and I learn from it much more quickly. If it is harsh, I just get bitter and think "what does he know, anyway?"
So, yeah, completely agree. We just have to be professional when we are telling them to be professional . . . which can be hard sometimes.
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