And that’s a wrap – Fall 2024

Posted byazperryPosted inUncategorized

12.10.24

While grades aren’t *technically* due until next Thursday, December 19th, our last lecture was last Thursday, and students have a final reflection paper due on Friday. This semester has been filled with trials and tribulations of being a new instructor, and despite the challenges, I walk away from the semester with my head held high and a renewed passion for teaching. I had an inkling that I would feel this way when teaching, but gaining this experience has reaffirmed my commitment to academia and where I see myself headed.

Despite what I would consider a relative success (only one student out of 109 in jeopardy of failing), I do find myself wishing for deeper relationships with my students. Hopefully, I will get the chance to know them next semester on a more personal level: Social Research Methods is going to be capped at 25 students, which is a stark difference from classes over 100+ people.

Anyways, as the traditional semester is 15 weeks long, here are the 15 most important things that I learned this semester:

  1. It takes time to create homework and in-class assignments
  2. It takes so much time to write good exam questions
  3. Grading is the bane of my existence
  4. There is a fine line between being a hardass and being a pushover
  5. Knowing everyone’s name is really hard in a class over more than 50 people
  6. Most students have little exposure to “academic” reading and writing
  7. While I love creating lectures, I need to stop being a perfectionist and just be one step ahead
  8. There are a select few students who warm your heart and inspire you with their kindness, curiosity, and intellect
  9. You’re not supposed to be students’ friends
  10. Students will beg and invent all sorts of excuses to make up work
  11. What’s extra credit? Most students expect that all classes will offer makeup opportunities
  12. Office hours are a great way to forcibly divide up your time into research and teaching
  13. There will always be students who are knowingly disrespectful and disruptive; it’s not your fault
  14. Teaching non-traditional, older students is awesome because you can have a proper conversation about “real world” things that the 18-something year-olds have limited exposure to
  15. Just like camp, you can’t try to please everyone

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