Is there such a thing as college for grown-ups?

[BonBon]

Truly, I would like to know. This was not the way when I started college in 1990.

- I have to sign in to class.
- 20% of my grade is attendance and participation.
- we spent over an hour on Tues talking about resumes, cover letters, and how to act like a human being in a NUTRITION class (seeing that I started working 25 years ago, I'm pretty sure I've got all that down...but I expect to be learning about...NUTRITION!)

Today I got dinged for attendance because the instructor felt I didn't participate enough. I'm sorry, you make us play musical chairs every damn day to "shake things up" and today I had to sit in the back among kids busy texting. There are 40 people and it's a 75 minute class. Exactly how is everyone supposed to participate EVERY class?

I'm too old for this shit.

Rant over, thanks for reading.

[Sheherezade]

The participation thing is rampant in our K-12. I think it's modern educational theory and fads. So much of what my kids do is based on group projects, interaction scores and how often you "contribute" to the conversation and the quality of your remarks. Dear God. I'd have a heart attack. I sat in the back of every class in college. There was no talking. Only interaction I had was at labs and at work. Of course, I had a social life, too... but lectures were just lectures already.

I wonder if all this emphasis on participation, speaking and interaction is why so many kids these days claim they only want to text and don't like face to face communication. Yeah - I don't like it when it's being GRADED either.

[BonBon]

Yes, the group projects. Because someday in the workplace we have to be able to work together. *sigh* Here's how that goes in school and at work. You have the hard worker or two, and then the slackers who want to ride your coattails. Thanks for that life lesson.

Isn't this giving teachers a ton of crap to deal with? Judge me by the work I produce. This particular instructor says she does it for "accountability", to be sure we're doing our assigned reading. OMG, if people aren't keeping up, let them fail the exam for crying out loud. All the handholding is making me crazy. I think this is contributing to the production of sissies.

[ladymoreta]

Oh goodness, I'd buried this memory... I had a class where we were required to participate twice during each lecture to get full participation credit. People would start saying the dumbest stuff towards the end to get their check marks. That was almost 10 years ago. I can only imagine what it's like now!

[SoonerTexan]

The lower division classes were sometimes like that. Not so much the upper Division and I preferred those.

I loathe group projects. Nothing I have encountered in the workplace this far has been as stressful or annoying as those

[MrsK]

I'd think that this policy would lead to a lot of wasted class time while people talk to hear their own voices and the most obnoxious talkers are rewarded for dominating the conversation.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4

[diggitydot]

WTF? No. Just... No.

[Pollyanna]

I'd think that this policy would lead to a lot of wasted class time while people talk to hear their own voices and the most obnoxious talkers are rewarded for dominating the conversation.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4

I'm pretty sure that is what happens all the time.

[Vanquisher]

Well, I'm at a local college that was a community college just a few years ago. It's now a 4-year college, but only has a few degree programs. Doesn't really matter to me, as I am not degree-seeking. Anyway, I don't know how much of it is my age, or how much of it is the school, or how much is the changed nature of education, but I am finding college much easier this time around. My classes are a lot smaller, with only 25 students as opposed to 300. Luckily, we are not graded on participation, but we are expected to be at pretty much every class. They do take roll. I find that odd. Quizzes are given frequently, many of them pop quizzes, so you really can't miss lecture. Labs are easier. My microbiology class doesn't require that you even do lab reports! Hallelujah for that.

I got 107% last semester in A&P. Sure, I worked hard for it, but that same level of work got me a B+ in 1996 when I took it the first time.

Maybe smaller classes suit me better? Maybe I'm more dedicated now? Maybe this particular college is just easier? I don't know. The kids sure seem dumber.

I do go on ratemyprofessor.com before I register for a class. Best invention for college ever. Man do I wish they had it when I went to college the first time.

[moonlight]

Aren't you paying the instructor to talk, not you and your classmates?

[medpedspouse]

That professor's rules go totally against adult learning theories. If you want students to attend and participate in your class, do not be a talking head behind a podium. I can see that crap on YouTube.

[samssugarmomma]

That would drive me nuts. Not because I can't do it, but because it's dumb. I'd be forced to move sections or drop the class and hope that someone else teaches it next time. LOL

[fluffhead]

This is what we're being told at all our continuing ed days - kids will have to work in groups when they get out in the real world, they need to participate, do group projects, learn stuff by investigation, Harkness tables, yadda yadda yadda.
And it's all true to a point, but bottom line is I need to teach them a certain amount of stuff during the year, and simply don't have time for all this crap.
Most good teachers just teach as they always have, and wait for the fad to blow over. And it will.

[PrincessFiona]

Chris,

The University that I go to caters to adults who are employed....the courses are offered more in the evening and on weekends (though I have a couple of daytime courses). I find that it is much more adult friendly. Yes, there have been a few annoying group projects, but nothing like what you have described. Oral presentations are considered an important learning outcome, so in many of the courses we have to put together group presentations. Usually, all adults do their part on their own and meet once (if at all) to throw it together. I have had some professors who feel the need to torture adults with the whole group learning thing, but for the most part, because the majority of students work full-time and are older adults, there is more independent work. I don't have to show up if it doesn't work for me that night, and there is no attendance policy.

I have to be honest. One of the thing that attracted me to the school was their reputation for working with adults. I could have gone to our local University, but I just didn't feel like taking classes with 22 year olds. At our local U they are big on using clickers to take attendance and all of that crap. I'm just not there in my life anymore.

Kris

[Cleave]

Truly, I would like to know. This was not the way when I started college in 1990.

- I have to sign in to class.
- 20% of my grade is attendance and participation.
- we spent over an hour on Tues talking about resumes, cover letters, and how to act like a human being in a NUTRITION class (seeing that I started working 25 years ago, I'm pretty sure I've got all that down...but I expect to be learning about...NUTRITION!)

Today I got dinged for attendance because the instructor felt I didn't participate enough. I'm sorry, you make us play musical chairs every damn day to "shake things up" and today I had to sit in the back among kids busy texting. There are 40 people and it's a 75 minute class. Exactly how is everyone supposed to participate EVERY class?

I'm too old for this shit.

Rant over, thanks for reading.

I sympathize. as someone who taught a lot of classes with most kids and a few adults, I have to say decisions like an attendance policy we re tough. Did i want to have one? No, I wanted everyone to just show up and do the work. Did I need to have one in order for the kids to come? Yes. Always a tough call.

That said, you post gets to the heart of a tougher issue: to whom do I teach the class? Students vary, attentions vary, etc. But if you do ever find a school that's got only responsible grownups, let me know. I would sign up to teach there in a heartbeat. (I taught in the English department at a big state university, which is different from your experience. FWIW.)

Sorry it's no fun.