you should definitely share it with the school and this professor
He's not very amenable to advice. In fact, when he decided (arbitrarily, at the last minute) not to grade our first stories, I suggested that he give students in their conferences an idea of where they stood. Otherwise, if they're suprised, they're more likely to challenge their grades. Also, he was leaving a lot of grading for the end of the quarter. (In the same email I mentioned an assignment I turned in was still sitting in his box.)
His reply:
"Which box? The one upstairs or in the CW office? I checked both of them recently. Didn't I tell you you didn't need to turn it in anyway?"
Oh, he's not defensive or anything. And since we were being graded on those assignments not turning it in seems like a bad idea.
"Anyway, about the grading thing, I don't think it'll be as big of an issue as you would imagine. In 131, teachers were not allowed to give grades before the end of the quarter and it seemed to have work out okay."
The difference between this class and 131 is that in 131 that was the game plan from the start. Students were told the first day they wouldn't receive grades until the end of the quarter. In this class, he changed his tune mid-stream so students were expecting grades and were disappointed.
"Most of the writing workshops I've been in did not have grades either."
Again, announcing on the day the grades were due "I've decided not to grade your stories and here's why..." is a far cry from having planned it in the first place.
"Yes, I was worried about not giving grades, but hopefully thorough criticism is better."
Actually, I would expect both. I received his critique. It was not thorough. I'm under the impression that he just ran out of time for grading, or didn't have the courage to grade, one or the other.
"Plus, quantitative evidence has shown that people don't return to work when they get a grade."
Which begs the question why he didn't set the class up this way in the first place.
"Most of my peers are doing the same "portfolio" style grading, so it shouldn't be an issue."
Obviously, it is an issue if I'm mentioning it. I fully intend to challenge my grades if I'm surprised by them.
"This will be my fifteenth college course that I've taught and I know pretty well what my time limits are for grading at the end of the quarter."
More defensiveness. Fifteenth college course? That's... why, that's two years of experience, all of it as a T.A.
"I've had students challenge grades before, and it's not the end of the world."
Funny, I'm not surprised by that. And he's only taught 15 classes (as a T.A. leading discussion groups).
"Anyway, thanks for your concern, but I'm okay with how things are going so far."
He's okay with how things are going?
He has no clue. Three students have decided not to apply to the creative writing program based on how bad this class is. I just ran into somebody who's in the class who feels the same way I do, quote, "I've learned nothing in this class." She also is already typing up her professor review and is going to bring in a printed sheet. I've only spoken to four students, and this is bad, this is very bad.
no subject
He's not very amenable to advice. In fact, when he decided (arbitrarily, at the last minute) not to grade our first stories, I suggested that he give students in their conferences an idea of where they stood. Otherwise, if they're suprised, they're more likely to challenge their grades. Also, he was leaving a lot of grading for the end of the quarter. (In the same email I mentioned an assignment I turned in was still sitting in his box.)
His reply:
"Which box? The one upstairs or in the CW office? I checked both of them recently. Didn't I tell you you didn't need to turn it in anyway?"
Oh, he's not defensive or anything. And since we were being graded on those assignments not turning it in seems like a bad idea.
"Anyway, about the grading thing, I don't think it'll be as big of an issue as you would imagine. In 131, teachers were not allowed to give grades before the end of the quarter and it seemed to have work out okay."
The difference between this class and 131 is that in 131 that was the game plan from the start. Students were told the first day they wouldn't receive grades until the end of the quarter. In this class, he changed his tune mid-stream so students were expecting grades and were disappointed.
"Most of the writing workshops I've been in did not have grades either."
Again, announcing on the day the grades were due "I've decided not to grade your stories and here's why..." is a far cry from having planned it in the first place.
"Yes, I was worried about not giving grades, but hopefully thorough criticism is better."
Actually, I would expect both. I received his critique. It was not thorough. I'm under the impression that he just ran out of time for grading, or didn't have the courage to grade, one or the other.
"Plus, quantitative evidence has shown that people don't return to work when they get a grade."
Which begs the question why he didn't set the class up this way in the first place.
"Most of my peers are doing the same "portfolio" style grading, so it shouldn't be an issue."
Obviously, it is an issue if I'm mentioning it. I fully intend to challenge my grades if I'm surprised by them.
"This will be my fifteenth college course that I've taught and I know pretty well what my time limits are for grading at the end of the quarter."
More defensiveness. Fifteenth college course? That's... why, that's two years of experience, all of it as a T.A.
"I've had students challenge grades before, and it's not the end of the world."
Funny, I'm not surprised by that. And he's only taught 15 classes (as a T.A. leading discussion groups).
"Anyway, thanks for your concern, but I'm okay with how things are going so far."
He's okay with how things are going?
He has no clue. Three students have decided not to apply to the creative writing program based on how bad this class is. I just ran into somebody who's in the class who feels the same way I do, quote, "I've learned nothing in this class." She also is already typing up her professor review and is going to bring in a printed sheet. I've only spoken to four students, and this is bad, this is very bad.
Icarus