First Week!

The first week is in the can! I don’t get any feedback from students, so I’m never sure how they are doing at the end of this week; after I’ve explained my standards, requirements, policies, and expectations. Do they feel like this?

Group Work - Learn the Skills to Successful Group Dynamics Now Because You'll Be Doing Group Work in Your Careers!

Group work is important. But many (most?) students either do not like or shy away from group work. The importance of group work in college is two-fold. First, students need to learn how to work as a member of a team now because they will be doing so for probably most of their professional lives. And, when they interview for that job, one traditional question is “Tell us about your experience in working as a member of a team.”

Second, students are capable of teaching each other just as well as their professors can teach the students. Students need the self-assurance in their capabilities, which comes with practice in the group setting.

Of course one obvious problem with group work is inevitably one member will fail to do his/her job. The same thing will happen when you go to work for Halliburton, GE, or Boeing. So, group work in college affords you the opportunity to learn how to deal with such a scenario. Learn how to accomplish the goal even though at least one group member has not lived up to his or her responsibilities.

https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/students-teaching-students-and-student-engagement

Prying or Helping?

There is a trend in higher education that faculty and staff (but primarily faculty because we are in close contact with students more often than anyone else) really get to know students, be aware of their students, watch their students, listen to their students, and try to determine the students' needs outside of the classroom. Needs that would affect their ability to succeed inside of the classroom.

But that means I am no longer your professor. I am your professor/social worker. I am trying to determine your external needs -something I am not trained to do. And, if I determine that you need assistance with food or housing or that you are using your student loans to pay for your parents' rent, how do I talk to you about that? Do you even want me doing so?

What's the line between helping and prying?

Maybe that line is different for each student. For some students, they might feel what I am doing, trying to get involved in their lives outside of the classroom, is a invasion of their privacy. While other students might welcome the help because they do not know how to ask for help or who to turn to for help.

One thing I do know is that my job description in definitely changing. I noticed that several years ago when I identified my first homeless student and when I figured out that some of my students did not have enough nourishment because they lived in a food desert. So, I started to help where and when I could. I have not received any blow back. Nothing but thanks and gratitude so far.

But still, I do wonder what is the line between helping students to succeed in class by meeting their needs outside of class and prying into their personal lives. One of these days I might find out.