tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post6101139554770950365..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Snowflake Mail. From Cindy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-30877742423055882192016-07-17T17:00:44.893-04:002016-07-17T17:00:44.893-04:00Are you allowed to reply "I believe you'l...Are you allowed to reply "I believe you'll find the answer to your question in [fill in course document]. Please re-read it, and let me know if you have any questions." Because I'd be very tempted to do that. <br /><br />I am, and I do.Ogre Proctor Hephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17428431147495287413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-28844095921534024592016-07-12T12:30:38.105-04:002016-07-12T12:30:38.105-04:00That's extra tuition, right there!<strong>That's</strong> extra tuition, right there!introvert.profhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09042783611716432247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-87980727619055068702016-07-11T20:00:30.226-04:002016-07-11T20:00:30.226-04:00Are you allowed to reply "I believe you'l...Are you allowed to reply "I believe you'll find the answer to your question in [fill in course document]. Please re-read it, and let me know if you have any questions." Because I'd be very tempted to do that. <br /><br />I suppose you could even do an auto-reply (or perhaps a signature line, allowing you to hit "reply" and then "send") during term time. ButContingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-8373102816711299402016-07-11T19:56:33.507-04:002016-07-11T19:56:33.507-04:00It was still a thing when I was in college and eve...It was still a thing when I was in college and even early grad school (or maybe my father, who supplied the phone card, and sometimes called himself, just wasn't that good a shopper). I still think that way for a moment when I pick up the landline; less of a problem with the cellphone (even though I have a pay as you go plan, but I never use up the minimum minutes I pay for per month anyway)Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-13100738815938620632016-07-11T19:53:59.477-04:002016-07-11T19:53:59.477-04:00I think it's analogous to their inability to w...I think it's analogous to their inability to write a simple bibliography entry, working from a model. They're used to it being done by a machine (algorithm), and so just don't see the need to do it themselves (even though the algorithm doesn't work perfectly -- or, rather, the databases from which it's drawing may be incomplete, incorrect, or just plain incompatible -- and Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-80190743970834877322016-07-11T09:51:59.091-04:002016-07-11T09:51:59.091-04:00And another thing ...
The issue of snowflake emai...And another thing ...<br /><br />The issue of snowflake email is infuriating because the majority of the email I receive is the result of students not following directions or seeking information from me directly that they already have through the syllabus or instruction, which I post online. There are some grade-grubbing emails and some emails that tell me that students won't be in class andGreat Lakes Gretahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101613060478193833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-48864348558023302462016-07-11T09:45:35.253-04:002016-07-11T09:45:35.253-04:00Our first summer session ended at the end of June,...Our first summer session ended at the end of June, and at the end of that session, I made it clear that students wouldn't be able to receive their research projects and final essay exams until fall semester. Because so few students want to pick up this final work, I also made it clear that I'd need advance notice in the fall to provide comments on the final work; providing feedback on Great Lakes Gretahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101613060478193833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-71380618648304465692016-07-11T09:40:14.972-04:002016-07-11T09:40:14.972-04:00I have given up on trying to explain the weighted ...I have given up on trying to explain the weighted percentages in my class -- and they're so, so simple. Half of their grade comes from their research project, which is two separate documents: an annotated bibliography and a specifically directed research essay. Getting them to understand this alone is challenging. Some of them never figure out that the annotated bibliography and the Great Lakes Gretahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08101613060478193833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-83326014274204592842016-07-10T22:56:07.472-04:002016-07-10T22:56:07.472-04:00> Try explaining that to a 20-year-old.
Eve...> <i> Try explaining that to a 20-year-old. </i> <br /><br />Even in my mid forties that's kind of a nostalgic thing. It was a big deal when I was quite young, but the dissolution of Ma Bell came while I was in middle-school and the differential dropped rapidly thereafter.dmckeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18052641757203089416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-87434977269292597772016-07-10T20:10:31.689-04:002016-07-10T20:10:31.689-04:00I'm guessing this student sleeps with hir phon...I'm guessing this student sleeps with hir phone by her pillow, with all alerts turned on, and doesn't imagine that anyone would do anything else (or not install their work email on their phone at all; actually, I have mine installed, just in case, in a separate app, but almost never check it). <br /><br />Just another case of how all the technologies are blending together: emails read Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-17391834530391811192016-07-10T20:05:46.026-04:002016-07-10T20:05:46.026-04:00I now have an explanation/demonstration of a weigh...I now have an explanation/demonstration of a weighted average on my syllabus (which is not as long as yours, Frod, but it's getting there). Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-59704237627347104612016-07-10T10:08:47.083-04:002016-07-10T10:08:47.083-04:00If you accepted, she would have told you her name....If you accepted, she would have told you her name. If you refused, you wouldn't have been able to know which student argued with you. This may also have been a collective effort. If you said yes, several students would have asked for the extra credit. Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08103879727877816655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-83318432226200411232016-07-10T09:09:59.404-04:002016-07-10T09:09:59.404-04:00I understood a weighted average in 4th grade, not ...I understood a weighted average in 4th grade, not long after I'd learned fractions. I suppose if one never learns fractions, a weighted average could look like sleight of hand. I then explain, "No, this is worth this much, and this is worth THIS much..."Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-68233754479927009932016-07-10T05:02:39.158-04:002016-07-10T05:02:39.158-04:00"There wasn't a name attached to this e-m..."There wasn't a name attached to this e-mail, either. "<br /><br />A student at a part-time gig I once did created an anonymous mail address to ask for extra credit.<br /><br />Not sure how s/he thought that would pan out, as eventually s/he would have to tell me who s/he was....EC1https://www.blogger.com/profile/13414931249618049097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-45611590639232857162016-07-09T22:35:24.756-04:002016-07-09T22:35:24.756-04:00Sharing time!
Now, I should say that I feel some ...Sharing time! <br />Now, I should say that I feel some sympathy for this student's obvious befuddlement. I also believe that meaningful, living-wage work should be available to ordinary people, not just those exceptional candidates with whatever magical blend of <a href="http://business.time.com/2012/06/04/the-skills-gap-myth-why-companies-cant-find-good-people/" rel="nofollow">skills, Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15711314415244801354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-82168183025537260052016-07-09T19:36:21.160-04:002016-07-09T19:36:21.160-04:00Once when I was in the navy, some yutz who liked m...Once when I was in the navy, some yutz who liked me woke me up in the middle of the night to say good-bye, because he'd decided to desert. I said, "I'm turning you in!" He said, "What for?! Deserting?" I said, "No, for WAKING ME UP."<br /><br />Once, after having told that story at a dinner party with other college faculty, I was told, "You know, Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-67101475906955421782016-07-09T19:33:59.743-04:002016-07-09T19:33:59.743-04:00Do you really think professors are who set tuition...Do you really think professors are who set tuition? If you do, then how come most of them these days are adjuncts?Froderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-13340763983494387872016-07-09T19:31:06.408-04:002016-07-09T19:31:06.408-04:00Just as disturbing is when students can't do a...Just as disturbing is when students can't do an assignment, and simply write, "This was confusing." I write, "This won't impress a boss in any job you might get after graduation."<br /><br />Students often react resentfully when I tell them there's no extra credit in my courses, because they are used to having it. It's very common in high schools. Still, sayingFroderick Frankenstien from Fresnohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11653942918068535424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-82574415874503185602016-07-09T15:02:46.721-04:002016-07-09T15:02:46.721-04:00Wow. A real intellectual giant there, Cindy. Whe...Wow. A real intellectual giant there, Cindy. When they graduate, start work and make a mistake, do they think their bosses will give them a chance for extra credit? <br /><br />Obviously, students that ask for extra credit are struggling. They can't do the work we give them, so the solution is extra work? Sigh.Perplexed Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-39774110540926778012016-07-09T14:22:25.659-04:002016-07-09T14:22:25.659-04:00"Dear anonymous student,
Allegedly, your sit...<i>"Dear anonymous student,<br /><br />Allegedly, your situation, for you, would be concurrently improved if I had two hundred dollars in my back pocket right now."</i><br />Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-56738158297642571932016-07-09T14:18:18.710-04:002016-07-09T14:18:18.710-04:00No extra credit, but extra tuition.
No extra credit, but extra tuition.<br />Eric Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00843385029998374248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-69411657658340477552016-07-09T13:24:57.632-04:002016-07-09T13:24:57.632-04:00Some snowflakes are incensed when you tell them th...Some snowflakes are incensed when you tell them there there is "no extra credit in this class." For others their shoulders just slump a bit. It's in the syllabus, by the way.<br /><br />I have always wanted to tell them that I could give them an "extra credit" assignment, but the grade on that assignment will only replace the grade on the assignment they screwed up... Professor Dumashttps://www.reddit.com/user/professordumasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-76957181840014376102016-07-09T10:16:41.195-04:002016-07-09T10:16:41.195-04:00There wasn't a name attached to this e-mail, e...There wasn't a name attached to this e-mail, either. Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815313561677464295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-2836721760228182552016-07-09T02:14:52.651-04:002016-07-09T02:14:52.651-04:00Emailing me in the middle of the night is unforgiv...Emailing me in the middle of the night is <i>unforgivable</i>!<br />You fail!!!Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.com