Teachin talk

I think it is interesting to think about how dynamics change from class to class. While this is the first time that I have had to teach 1020, I have taught Popular Culture for a few years and used a similar syllabus. Now, something that is very successful in one class may bomb the next year. In fact, you really never know how something is going to go over with an intro class at BG. Interestingly, when I go to my gifted summer camp, most of my lessons work very well. Perhaps this is because of the culture of learning in the camp because they tend to jump on the opportunity to try something new. Also, I have done some activities where I have taught in front of a group of my peers and they tend to really like my activities. I think teaching introduction classes are very challenging at this school. I am also curious to talk to my old professors at St. Lawrence University about their experiences teaching intro classes because I may be romanticizing the whole experience. Maybe teaching intro classes anywhere kind of sucks and we just remember our own great experiences because we enjoyed learning.

My own class is going well. The kids really like the group activities and hate the lectures. I feel like lectures are a very important part of an college education, so occasionally use them when I think they need some help figuring something out. The issue is that if I am not jumping up and down and/or showing youtube videos they just roll their eyes into the backs of their heads and stop listening. Even the best of my students look bored out of their mind. I try and make it as interactive as I possibly can, but no matter what I do they do not like it. I understand that we are supposed to work to every one's learning abilities, but at the same time I feel like they need to work with me. I can't make everything super interesting to everyone all the time. I find the stuff I am talking about to be very interesting and I think I show it, but at the same time it doesn't really help. We tend to blame ourselves, or the system, or the parents, or the states, or the governments, but when does the responsibility go to the actual student?