I had to comment on your students (and your) lament as shown below. Of
course you are correct in saying that his difficulty is not uncommon. In
fact we used to hear it to the point of nausea. Your point #5 was
absolutely correct but don't blame him completely for thinking he might
pass without learning anything, after all, he has done it many times in the
past. Most of his high school classes and many of his other college
classes were done in this manner. There is very little, if any, connection
in his mind (and he is not alone) between learning and getting through a
class. I also thought you made a good point about trying to convince him
that life is ... etc. However I firmly believe that no matter how many
times you tell him all that he won't be convinced until he experiences it
so you may as well save your breath (or e-mail). I finally got so tired of
this sort of thing that we devised a system for teaching algebra that
eliminates, almost, all the gripes, requests for extra credit, excuses
(we've saved lots of grandparents lives), and protests to the dept. chair
or dean about teachers failing people. More of them succeed and the ones
who don't are fully aware and believe that it was simply because they
failed to try, not because the teacher flunked them. Its wonderful. Don't
despair, it is possible to convince people that they must learn something
in order to pass.
wayne
Hi, my name is ***** and I am in your 10:00am class on Mon., Wed., and Fri..
I am having a really hard time keeping up in your class. I know that I am
failing your class and it isn't because of you or even me it is because I
have a full time job that is probably going to end up being my career and I
need to get a Degree in Business management to advance. I was wondering if
there is anyway you can help me get a better grade. I have tried to pass all
your tests, but I have been coming to your class with no sleep because I work
all night and the days I am off I get a little sleep and then have to go back
to work. I tried to drop part of the load on me by dropping one of my classes
but that didn't seem to work and I do study for your tests and understand the
homework and it is just when I get to the point where I have to take the test
I go completely blank. Please if there is anyway you can help I would greatly
appreciate it.
Now, some comments from me:
1. Note: Failure to accept personal responsibility. ("...it isn't because
of you or even me...")
2. Paradox: I have a job that is going to be my career. To have my career
I need a degree. My job is keeping me from getting a degree.
3. I understand all the homework, but I can't do the exams. (He made a 30
on an exam that exclusively consisted of assigned homework problems.)
4. Two weeks before the final he wants to know what he can do to pass.
5. Implicit in this e-mail. He wants to pass the course without learning
the material.
6. My administration wonders why 2 out of 3 of my students fail to make a
grade of C or higher.
I talked to him in class today. I will respond to this e-mail. I'm going
to try, one more time, to convince him that life is a series of decisions,
based on priorities, that lead to consequences.
Wayne F. Mackey
Director, Math Resource Center
ScEn 301
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
501-575-7661
wmackey@comp.uark.edu
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