Just curious as to your opinion . . . Do you think an instructor/professor should prepare for the class he or she teaches - or come to class and decide upon arrival what to do that day/evening?
Do you think a student should have to PREPARE for a class in order to be able to make a good grade in the class? How much time do you think a student should have to put in to a class OUTSIDE of the class in order to be able to do well? What type of activity do you think is practical or reasonable to expect students to do on a weekly basis to prepare for a class in order to make the class time a richer learning opportunity?
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5 comments:
These are some tough questions!!!
Personally, I feel that instructors should definitely prepare for the class they teach. As a student, I can really tell the difference between professors who actually know what they are talking about and did some planning for class, and those other professors who shouldn't be professors at all! I have some instuctors that don't even know the material they teach, and can't answer any questions we ask. I learn better from teachers who are prepared, organized, and know what they are doing than teachers who just wake up and come stand in front of a bunch of confused students. Mrs. White, you are definitely one of the most prepared instructors I have ever had, and I have learned so much from you because of your dedication and help!
On the flip side, I feel that students should prepare for class as well. I think that some instructors forget that students also lead busy lives, and sometimes I feel like my professors honestly think that the only class I take is their own, and I have all the time in the world...which is not true! It is hard for me to take 18 hours, commute here, and also go to work...and I know it is especially hard for students with children and other responsibilities. I think it is reasonable for professors to ask students to read a chapter before class, and do one big project/paper during the semester. But when you take one professor's assignment for a class and multiply that by the 5 other classes I am taking, this ends up being a lot of work each week. I feel like instructors need to keep the out of class assignments and classroom prep for students reasonable so that we have the time to prepare like we should.
Student and instructor preparation seems to make the class run more smoothly and allows us to discuss and ask questions, therefore making class time a better learning experience.
I totally agree with Shawnetha. It is all in what you put into it. However, like she stated, it is hard to work, have a family, and have professors who think thier class is the only important class. On the other hand, if a student does not read over the material for class nor put any effort into the class how are they going to learn anything. I am not one of them, but there are people out there who can retain information with out having to study thier butt off-HA!HA! not that that would hurt me any. The teacher should come prepared for the students who come prepared to learn. (HUH!! what did you say?)That kind of sounds like the song 12 days of Christmas). Seriously, my list would include: reading the material and taking notes, and doing some hands on activities to reinforce what is important. Me personally, (if you could not tell) is getting involved in discussion and participating.
When school is your life and job (like it is for most teachers and students) you should put as much effort in it as what you want back. If you want a bad grade, put in little effort. If you don't care to have poor performing students or care about their lives, don't make lesson plans. I pay (like we all do) good money to go to school, why would a person pay that kind of money for nothing?
I think this is a double edged sword because you do not want to come to class ill-prepared but in the same sense, you do not want to come to class and not be flexible and ready to change your class schedule if something comes up. I think being prepared as a teacher is knowing what you want to get across in that class session and then walking in there and getting it across the best way that fits your class for that period. Kids and classes change from day to day and teachers have to be ready to do the same.
It is very important for a teacher to be prepared for class and to know what he/she is going to teach. I have had so many professors that have not been prepared for class and it loses my interest in learning from them. I also think it is very important for the student to be prepared for class. I think that an activity that would be helpfull is for the class to write a summary of what they learned from the last class period. This will help the student remember what they had learned in the previous class and show the teacher that they are listening and learning
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