tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post6228244390255518118..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Academic Monkey Gives Unsolicited Advice!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-5537242347787559132013-10-04T15:38:40.612-04:002013-10-04T15:38:40.612-04:00All good suggestions.
We've become less sel...All good suggestions. <br /><br />We've become less self-reliant over the years. Now, if something's wrong, THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW!Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00331203839723194193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-13807013548180029202013-10-04T01:14:47.742-04:002013-10-04T01:14:47.742-04:00@Cassandra: Those are beautiful comments. Thank yo...@Cassandra: Those are beautiful comments. Thank you. <br />Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-30784849800679708492013-10-04T00:09:52.029-04:002013-10-04T00:09:52.029-04:001) It's nice to erase the blackboard for your ...1) It's nice to erase the blackboard for your colleagues, so I do it. 2) It's civilized to pick up after yourself, so I only let my students eat/drink if they do that. 3) What is the big deal with arranging desks the way you want them, yourself? The person who teaches before me does rows. I rearrange them into two concentric semi-circles. The next person in can do whatever it is theyFrog and Toadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377542172335502858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-42546431671296078632013-10-03T22:45:52.119-04:002013-10-03T22:45:52.119-04:00I'd write a note on the blackboard. "Only...I'd write a note on the blackboard. "Only douchebags leave their classroom a fucking mess for their colleague to clean up." Make sure to use handwriting that is different from your usual style. If someone takes umbrage, feign ignorance. Repeat this every day.Prof Poopieheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997969128824319914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-76563601535798441372013-10-03T19:39:41.527-04:002013-10-03T19:39:41.527-04:00I share a classroom space with three other proffie...I share a classroom space with three other proffies. We have different sized classes and teaching methods. Proffie One has hir students arrange the furniture at the end of class for the next proffie. Proffie Two has hir students do the same for Proffie Three, and Proffie Three does it for Proffie One. It works well. Just have to actually talk to each other. Annie Oakleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02396950355961607377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-82157011553764142902013-10-03T17:21:24.928-04:002013-10-03T17:21:24.928-04:00I won't be impressed unless the proffie gets t...I won't be impressed unless the proffie gets the statehouse to nullify and then re-ratify hir school's charter. This is a messy room, after all. Oh, fuck the statehouse... I'm calling Obama right now.Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-57584600093180174422013-10-03T16:42:17.545-04:002013-10-03T16:42:17.545-04:00So for awhile now, I've been thinking that onl...So for awhile now, I've been thinking that online forums are an ideal platform for faculty meetings. So much of faculty meetings is listening to someone go on and on, or observing a debate between just two faculty members. With an online platform, everyone can see the conversation, but only those really interested have to engage.<br /><br />This sort of thing could streamline collaborate Academic Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07086078244493768565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-46366000564032796002013-10-03T16:18:20.864-04:002013-10-03T16:18:20.864-04:00Teaching rooms that fit different styles of teachi...Teaching rooms that fit different styles of teaching don't solve a thing if there is no method by which an instructor can get into the room that fits the course. I've been given a room with a tv but no computer/ projector for an art history course. The rooms that most faculty on my campus love--the ones in the newest, eco-friendly buildings--are awful for showing images, since it is hard Ana Thyrosishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381573932405845715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-4812634969336922942013-10-03T15:29:26.284-04:002013-10-03T15:29:26.284-04:00I absolutely agree; I don't think anything is ...I absolutely agree; I don't think anything is going to change anytime soon. I'm simply pointing out that architecture and furniture reflect institutional assumptions and priorities, and that the style of rooms most of our universities have available for "small" (actually medium-size) classes are not really good for discussion (and perhaps for any style of teaching). It would Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-81751276666048538492013-10-03T15:14:57.643-04:002013-10-03T15:14:57.643-04:00I don't know why this is a big deal. You could...I don't know why this is a big deal. You could always just make your students put the room back together before you get started. That's what twenty-year-old students are for--moving heavy objects around.Gone Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17545285786616979495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-8145616563429481012013-10-03T15:14:06.969-04:002013-10-03T15:14:06.969-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gone Gradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17545285786616979495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-18142112350407906672013-10-03T14:19:04.921-04:002013-10-03T14:19:04.921-04:00While the character of Walter White in Breaking Ba...While the character of Walter White in Breaking Bad did have his own moral failings, he was adept at solving problems. I would consult those DVDs for inspiration and examples. Mercury fulminate or dissolving in hydrofluoric acid may be your first idea - such approaches are not without their own pleasures - but I'd try something more simple first, like running him over with your car.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-12302623370137436442013-10-03T14:14:27.370-04:002013-10-03T14:14:27.370-04:00I appreciate your thoughts on the matter, but part...I appreciate your thoughts on the matter, but part of me is thinking of all the administrative things that would have to happen if we had spaces dedicated to specific styles of teaching (seminar versus larger discussion room versus lecture hall). Sure, some places have that kind of building money, but most institutions are in such crisis mode that even having a room is an achievement!Academic Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07086078244493768565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-92137508721969893282013-10-03T14:11:06.286-04:002013-10-03T14:11:06.286-04:00At a minimum, they will need to revise the univers...At a minimum, they will need to revise the university's mission statement to address the problem of messy rooms. In practice, this situation usually calls for a site visit by a regional accreditation board.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-22229718951112553492013-10-03T12:25:22.304-04:002013-10-03T12:25:22.304-04:00Of course, we'd almost certainly be better off...Of course, we'd almost certainly be better off if we had actual, verbal conversations about physical classroom arrangements, and why we prefer them, across disciplines, rather than conducting proxy wars with the furniture (or trying to work things out via notes on the board). My institution is experimenting with larger classroom formats that encourage group work/active learning/collaboration,Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-19566700857170529802013-10-03T12:15:23.995-04:002013-10-03T12:15:23.995-04:00While your colleague appears to be a bit of drama ...While your colleague appears to be a bit of drama queen/king, I must say (s)he has a nice grasp of simile for someone who apparently isn't an English professor. <br /><br />Also, the trash and furniture questions strike me as separate, and best dealt with separately. The trash problem would be solved if students used the trash cans, and a note on the board reminding them to do so, out of Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-50582682419472252912013-10-03T11:16:02.660-04:002013-10-03T11:16:02.660-04:00Leaving it in the classroom seems like a good idea...Leaving it in the classroom seems like a good idea. The students might see it too and internalize the message. You could write it on the board a couple times until everybody gets it.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16403289509523215570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-55904068654140019792013-10-03T10:59:53.479-04:002013-10-03T10:59:53.479-04:00Requesting a university-wide policy is only mildly...Requesting a university-wide policy is only mildly ambitious. If this proffie really wants to get anywhere, s/he needs to aggressively demand that a new committee be formed to study the best practices for creating a committee to form new university-wide policies.Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.com