I am often an active participant in the classroom, which means, I like to raise my hand and comment on or question the lecture. Sometimes this goes over great with the class and triggers great classsroom discussions, other times, people tune me out and don't listen to a word I say. I am usually pretty adamant about keeping my comments relevant to the topic in discussion, so when I get ignored or get blank stares or rolled eyes from my classmates, it frustrates me. The way I see it, by actively participating in the discussion, I am exposing myself to new points of views, getting my questions answered, and getting the best out of my education. I love to learn new things and have my thoughts and feelings challenged. I do not think that some people understand my reasoning sometimes, and they feel that I am just a know-it-all who is trying to get a good grade from the professor. I understand that perspective as well, so I try very hard not to over-take the classrooms, and I challenge my self to keep my input to a minimum, but I always love to ask questions!
I have sat through many presentations that have been very disorganized. My Biology professor for example, is very disorganized. Her syllabus had spelling and factual errors, her presentation is sloppy, she often comes to class unprepared and loses things. She mapped out the class discussions on the syllabus, but it is disorganized and they do not match up with any of the chapters in the book so it is hard to follow along. All of these issues together create a bad image for her, and they give us students a reason to tune out her lectures (especially when she strays off topic, which happens very often). Her lectures are the same way, she will explain one concept using words or discriptors that we have not learned yet and simply say "i will come back to that" and she never does. She offers notes online, but there is no order to them, and we never know which to print out before class because we really have no idea what the class is going to be about.
I think that presentation is important, especially organized presentations. If you are going to teach students, whether at a collegiate level or younger, you have to clearly explain your expectaions and present it in an organized manner. In her case, a simple outline of what we will cover that day, or even week, would help us out a lot.
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I wish that i could be an active participant in class, haha. I think its good that you like to do that because a lot of the time i have questions but i am too afraid to ask them. So when you think that no one is listening to you, or that they are rolling their eyes, just keep in mind that someone is always interested because they were too chicken to ask! As for you bio teacher, i have totally been there! It is frustrating, but at the same time it teaches us a lesson. It shows us how not to be as far as organization, and presentations go! Good job!
ReplyDeleteI have never really had a professor like yours that was disorganized, but reading your story really made me think. When a professor is not organized it can hurt the students. Students are trying to learn and when they don't know what notes to print off or can't follow the Professor, they will get nothing out of a lecture. Not being organized in a speech will be the cause of your audience being confused and they will not get anything out of it.
ReplyDeleteI give u props on asking questions and talking in class, I am usually way to afraid to even say anything in class because I’m afraid of the reaction. you’re the person i like to have in class because I like hearing good class discussions and I like when people bring things up because otherwise the lectures are so boring. So good job and thanks! haha
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