Comments on: Fester, Fester, Fester. Rot, Rot, Rot.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:36:56 +0000

When I realized how much I didn’t like writing grant proposals, or doing mindless sociology research, or writing papers I realized that maybe PhD was not the right path for me. But I do love to teach. I’ve guest lectured a few times and TAed. It’s so much fun.

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:49:48 +0000

I would love to love being a professor. But I would hate to hate it. But I think I’m going to apply a few places, and see what it’s like.

By: k

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:47:15 +0000

I’m a professor. And I love it.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:41:15 +0000

Yeah, teaching math students who don’t have the prerequisites down is a real pain. In fact, the internet basics class I teach DOES have prereqs, specifically basic familiarity with a mouse and with Windows, but even then the majority of the students haven’t ever used a computer of any stripe before. And since it’s just an hour-long course, that means that most of my time is spent bringing them up to speed on how to maximize their browser window without accidentally closing down the program.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:18:12 +0000

If you can get through multiple offerings of the web training and still feel encouraged to do it, then I would say “Go for it!”.

My biggest struggle is with students where the majority of my time is spent teaching them the pre-requisites that they SHOULD’VE learned before taking my class. But, once in a while, you get a student or two that really did have the requisite knowledge to take the class and catch on to what you’ve been tasked with teaching.

When that happens, it makes it worth it. Otherwise, it’s normally frustrating and a waste of everyone’s time.

But, since it’s an “intro” class, you’re the one that is tasked with teaching them the basics.