tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post6197339820852889013..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: Dr. Amelia on the New Folks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-79903983945075979432013-07-31T01:26:40.954-04:002013-07-31T01:26:40.954-04:00This wasn't one of those mandated sessions. I ...This wasn't one of those mandated sessions. I had already sat through those. This was a colleague who thought I could benefit from MORE one-on-one training because...??? she wanted to be helpful???The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-13432554308290810752013-07-30T19:43:17.546-04:002013-07-30T19:43:17.546-04:00I started my teaching job about 3 weeks before lec...I started my teaching job about 3 weeks before lectures began. During that time, I suffered through a series of in-service "how to teach" sessions.<br /><br />Our first one was a collective gathering of all the new instructors and things went quickly downhill soon after it began. We were told that our job was to ensure that our students didn't have a "negative learning Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-57187339718934185502013-07-30T18:02:38.699-04:002013-07-30T18:02:38.699-04:00Be sure to supply the newbies with Kleen Kanteens ...Be sure to supply the newbies with Kleen Kanteens full of their adult beverages of choice. It'll help them make it through all the indoctrinformation meetings they will have to attend.Zeke Zymurgyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14103634342855587849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-33473548208390389672013-07-30T17:55:22.328-04:002013-07-30T17:55:22.328-04:00Those are good points, but they're not always ...Those are good points, but they're not always practiced.<br /><br />When I started teaching, my colleagues made no effort whatsoever to make my life easier, almost as if I was being hazed or, perhaps, encouraged to seek my fortune elsewhere.<br /><br />For one thing, I quickly encountered a closed-shop mentality, almost as if the department was a private club and I didn't meet the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-74048496402168634332013-07-30T14:20:37.466-04:002013-07-30T14:20:37.466-04:00Here is where I've seen the most ridiculous Ka...Here is where I've seen the most ridiculous Kafkaesque bureaucratic wrangling. Everyone who works in our department has been sidelined for the first 3-4 weeks of the summer when we were hired, as we arrive to an office that lacks a working phone line, internet connection, a chair to sit at the desk, and, similar to above, a key to get into the office! When we hire someone new, we always go Prof Poopieheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00997969128824319914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-54631535724303594102013-07-30T13:20:25.345-04:002013-07-30T13:20:25.345-04:00Regarding IT: Make it a policy that newbies can t...Regarding IT: Make it a policy that newbies can test out of training. Then make the test a reasonable assessment of the routine tasks involved with the LMS, or the best practices of distance teaching.<br /><br />Admin: Besides what Amelia mentioned, offer a temporary parking pass and make sure the parking office has the newbie on the faculty/staff list.<br /><br />Colleagues: Offer to help the Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02906546940408742913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-67251790068674820902013-07-30T11:47:54.286-04:002013-07-30T11:47:54.286-04:00Rule #4: Hire people who actually listen.Rule #4: Hire people who actually listen.Southern Bubba, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12050992903794385204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-53845098603736589592013-07-30T08:18:28.347-04:002013-07-30T08:18:28.347-04:00I wish I could opt-out of sessions like the one yo...I wish I could opt-out of sessions like the one you describe. My new district uses the same (crappy) software as my old district, but I still have to attend the training sessions. I don't have a choice, as new-hire training and orientation is mandatory. =( watercathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12592663814187083645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-66168629112850428542013-07-30T05:14:30.372-04:002013-07-30T05:14:30.372-04:00Some of the best advice for oldsters regarding new...Some of the best advice for oldsters regarding new faculty is: this isn't a fraternity initiation. The point of the exercise isn't to create as much stress as possible for new faculty. Much better for everyone involved, students in particular, would be to be as helpful as possible to the new faculty. If they don't ask for help, at the very least STOP making things more difficult, in Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-59276669304056452982013-07-30T03:36:39.997-04:002013-07-30T03:36:39.997-04:00Before assuming a newbie needs help, however, make...Before assuming a newbie needs help, however, make sure to ask whether they do. I was grateful for much advice and help that my chair and colleagues provided at each job, and most places were organized enough to have an office space ready for me and to tell me what I was teaching (most places) the day before classes started. <br /><br />But one time... I politely sat through a long unnecessary The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.com