I'm not sure what I find most frustrating in life, whiny students who don't take responsibility for their own learning, an overwhelming sense that so much of what we do in our daily lives is pointless, the knowledge that no one alive in 100 years will remember me or care what I did in/with my life, the realization that at mid-life (hopefully) that I still have so far to go to attain nirvana, or that most of the people on the planet are simply ignorant cattle. Of course there are many more thoughts to accompany these but right now, education is on the front burner.
I've noticed over the past few years that student evaluations have become super important in developing/shaping curriculum, evaluating faculty, and guiding the educational experience. Honestly, I wonder what the prison system would look like if the inmates got to shape it to their liking. I've been a student and faculty member for many, many years and I think I have a fairly decent perspective on the issue. How is a student supposed to have any idea of the larger picture? Yes, they have their own life experiences and perspectives, but their opinions seem to be amplified to an amazingly high level all of a sudden. When they complain the administration listens because, of course, they know best.
I know that not all students appreciate my perspective or how I choose to run the courses I teach, but that is life. I teach from a very specific place . . . self-directed learning. I do so not because I'm lazy but because I want my students to take responsibility for their learning. As adults we do not always have the luxury of having someone structure a learning environment for us. We have to seek, understand, and incorporate information and processes into our lives of our own accord. As an instructor it is my obligation to expose students to new ideas, concepts, and resources but it is up to the student to evaluate and respond. I cannot and will not tell them how to interpret things. That is the learning process. I offer my perspective and they are free to listen or not.
I am sorry if you feel left on your own or that you have to "teach yourself" about certain topics. That's the bloody point. We constantly teach ourselves about new things and formal education is no different. If you want someone to show you everything and hold your hand, then go back to elementary school. As a graduate student I took on a thesis topic about which I knew virtually nothing. By that I mean that I had never had a formal class in primatology and I wrote my thesis on primate behavior. It was something of a unique situation but I TAUGHT MYSELF primatology by reading, by seeking out new literature, by THINKING about what I found and EVALUATING what I read. I TAUGHT MYSELF out of need and let me assure you that I paid money for the experience because that is how institutions of higher education make money.
Honestly, graduate school is the point where you learn to walk on your own. If you think that you are paying good money and not being led by the hand then you are really clueless about the process. You should be an independent thinker by that point. You need a guide/mentor not a teacher. I can guide you to lots of information but criticizing my class on library reference work for not providing you with articles to read is rather ridiculous. Here's a thought, use some of your new found knowledge to FIND some articles yourself. I take the time to record video responses and share a global perspective in a more visual format rather than just typing away in endless chat rooms but some folks seem to feel that I am disconnected. I'm sorry, but I'm not coming to your living room and holding your hand and showing you the path through the gingerbread forest. THAT is what this process is about. You have to find your own way. You will learn this when you are out in the working world and you have to do it there. I can honestly hope that you will look back on the experience and be glad that there was an instructor in your past who allowed you the time to figure out how to navigate the process on your own. I hope that you will have the wherewithal to think, "wait, I've done this before and I will be fine. I had someone who cared to show me a few things and let me get my feet wet before I had to jump into the deep end of the pool."
For those of you who enjoyed my classes and "got" what I kept preaching, great. You are the few of exceptional talent, understanding, and intellect who will succeed and excel. For those of you who whined that I didn't hold your hand or that you had to teach yourself or that you could have just "read the book" and saved your money . . . good luck. Those in the latter category are the speed bumps who keep the profession underpaid and undervalued. For those who cried about substantive feedback . . . here it is. I have laid it out for you. It's quite simple. I've given you many opportunities to play with resources and see how they work for you. I've given you many, many questions to see how and where to find answers. There is no "one" path to an answer. There are many resources and many paths. I refuse to beat students about the head with the "one way to the light" ideology of reference.
I could go on ad nauseum but I believe I'm just out of steam and caring at this point. I have had the pleasure of working with many wonderful, intelligent students over the years. I've also had the pleasure of working with many average students who are happy to learn a little and then go on with their lives. Unfortunately, I've also had the great dishonor of dealing with some whiny little shits who don't get it and probably never will. To those I can only say that yes, you should believe your mommy when she tells you you're an angel . . .
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