Some Heretical Thoughts on What Our Students Are Telling Us

Author(s):  
Roald Hoffmann ◽  
Brian P . Coppola

There is a time, twice a year, when those of us who teach introductory courses sit down in a comfortable chair, pour ourselves a middling portion of single malt Scotch whisky, and begin to read the comments that students write about our teaching. For the overall ratings, numerical in nature, we can bear to wait—the computer will dutifully compile these single point undifferentiating indicators. What we settle down to read are the “free-style comments,” where the students are encouraged to write (anonymously, of course) what they think of the book, the exams, and, of course, of the lecturer. Many, not all, universities give students the opportunity to express themselves in this way. Some of us have learned to avoid asking silly questions with predictable responses, such as “What is the best part of the course?” So we sit down, perhaps turning on some Chopin to complement the whisky, and face those student responses. Many are positive, as (with a trace of mild astonishment) “I didn’t think I’d like chemistry, but Prof. Coppola made it fun!,” “I actually enjoyed going to the lectures,” or “I didn’t get a very good grade, but I sure learned a lot.” It’s not always easy for a student (or us) to say a word of praise, to give thanks graciously harder still. Positive feelings generally wash over us leaving small marks. Happiness is often diffuse. But pain is sharp—the small pain of a torn cuticle, the stronger incapacitating pain of a broken bone. Or, negating the validity of the familiar litany “sticks and stones . . . ” the mental anguish of reading an evaluation such as “Prof. Hoffmann spends all his time on digressions, relating chemistry to politics, history, God knows what else. Who cares how hemoglobin or catalytic converters work? I want to know what’s on the MCATs.” Or “I got an A by memorizing equations and doing exam problems that were exactly like the problems that I had seen on the previous tests . . . ” Or, “As far as I am concerned I did not need to go to class.”

Author(s):  
Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar

Abstract: This study examined the relationship between metacognitive revision and writing achievement. Since American students often have had little strategic writing instruction in high school, they frequently come to college as non-proficient writers. By focusing on self-improvement rather than agonizing over the quality of the final product, struggling writers’ fears and lack of confidence can be mitigated, allowing growth. Requiring students to revise their essays and explain these revisions may influence the likelihood of completing the stages of the writing process, including using feedback. Results indicated that students who received high scores in revision explanations often received higher scores on the final essays than their peers. Additionally, from the pre- to post-intervention attitudinal survey, student responses showed more positive feelings about writing, increased confidence in ability and self-efficacy, and greater interest in providing feedback to classmates. Despite these gains, fewer students at the end of the semester felt that feedback, revision and reflection affected their writing performance, suggesting feelings of frustration at the multi-faceted process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 469-478
Author(s):  
Sarah Allen ◽  
Robert Mayo

Purpose School-aged children with hearing loss are best served by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. The purpose of this research was to assess school-based speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) perceptions of their access to, involvement of, and working relationships with educational audiologists in their current work setting. Method An online survey was developed and distributed to school-based SLPs in North Carolina. Results A significant difference in access to and involvement of educational audiologists across the state was found. Conclusions This research contributes to professional knowledge by providing information about current perceptions in the field about interprofessional practice in a school-based setting. Overall, SLPs reported positive feelings about their working relationship with educational audiologists and feel the workload is distributed fairly.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-299
Author(s):  
Julie G. Arenberg ◽  
Ray H. Hull ◽  
Lisa Hunter

Purpose From the Audiology Education Summit held in 2017, several working groups were formed to explore ideas about improving the quality and consistency in graduate education in audiology and externship training. The results are described here from one of the working groups formed to examine postgraduate specialization fellowships. Method Over the course of a year, the committee designed and implemented two surveys: one directed toward faculty and one toward students. The rationale for the survey and the results are presented. Comparisons between faculty and student responses are made for similar questions. Results Overall, the results demonstrate that the majority of both students and faculty believe that postgraduation specialization fellowships are needed for either 1 year or a flexible length. There was a consensus of opinion that the fellowship should be paid, as these would be designed for licensed audiologists. Most believed that the fellowships should be “governed by a professional organization (e.g., American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Academy of Audiology, American Doctors of Audiology, etc.),” or less so, a “separate body for this specific purpose.” Potential topics for specialization identified were the following: tinnitus, vestibular, cochlear implants, pediatrics, and intraoperative monitoring. The highest priority attributes for a specialization site were “abundant access to patient populations,” “staff of clinical experts,” and “active research.” The weight put toward these attributes differed between faculty and students with faculty prioritizing “university/academic centers,” and “access to academic coursework in the fellowship area.” The faculty rated “caseload diversity,” “minimum hours,” “research,” and “academic affiliation” as requirements for a fellowship site, with less weight for “coursework” and “other.” Finally, the students valued “improved personal ability to provide exceptional patient care,” “the potential for increased job opportunities,” and the “potential for a higher salary” as benefits most important to them, with lower ratings for “recognition as a subject matter expert” or “potential pathway to Ph.D. program.” Conclusions As a result of the survey, further exploration of a postgraduate specialization fellowship is warranted, especially to determine funding opportunities to offset cost for the sites and to ensure that fellows are paid adequately.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Laura R. Umphrey ◽  
John C. Sherblom ◽  
Paulina Swiatkowski

Abstract. Background: Cultivating positive feelings of self in relationships with others can affect perceptions of belongingness and burdensomeness. Aims: The present study examines the relationships of self-compassion, hope, and emotional control to thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation. Method: Participants were 481 college students who completed scales measuring self-compassion, hope, emotional control, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation. Results: Correlation and parallel mediation analysis results show relationships between self-compassion, hope, and emotional control with perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation. Limitations: The study is limited by its cross-sectional design, sample demographics, and inability to distinguish between individuals with suicidal ideation and those who attempt suicide. Conclusion: The results show that the relationships of self-compassion, hope, and emotional control to perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation are worth further investigation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Evi Rahmawati ◽  
Irnin Agustina Dwi Astuti ◽  
N Nurhayati

IPA Integrated is a place for students to study themselves and the surrounding environment applied in daily life. Integrated IPA Learning provides a direct experience to students through the use and development of scientific skills and attitudes. The importance of integrated IPA requires to pack learning well, integrated IPA integration with the preparation of modules combined with learning strategy can maximize the learning process in school. In SMP 209 Jakarta, the value of the integrated IPA is obtained from 34 students there are 10 students completed and 24 students are not complete because they get the value below the KKM of 68. This research is a development study with the development model of ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation). The use of KPS-based integrated IPA modules (Science Process sSkills) on the theme of rainbow phenomenon obtained by media expert validation results with an average score of 84.38%, average material expert 82.18%, average linguist 75.37%. So the average of all aspects obtained by 80.55% is worth using and tested to students. The results of the teacher response obtained 88.69% value with excellent criteria. Student responses on a small scale acquired an average score of 85.19% with highly agreed criteria and on the large-scale student response gained a yield of 86.44% with very agreed criteria. So the module can be concluded receiving a good response by the teacher and students.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document