Teachers - SiOWfa13: Science in Our World: Certainty and Controversy
JON A WISE | November 30, 2013 5:05 PM | Reply
"I like the idea of us picking what topics interest us, but I have yet to learn anything because these topics get twisted into puzzles of facts I do not understand."
It sounds to me like you just don't understand the topics you are choosing. But I do agree with you on the point that teachers have a big impact on their students, whether it's their grade in the classroom or even their life after school. This study conducted by economists Raj Chetty and John N. Friedman of Harvard and Jonah E. Rockoff of Columbia suggests that teachers who have a high VA (meaning that the average test score for his/her students is high, accounting for improvements on prior test scores) are more likely to have a long lasting impact on their students. These students tend to be more likely to go to college, make more money, live in nicer neighborhoods, etc.
Although teachers can only do so much for a student, it has been correlated that a teacher's effort and good-teaching can result in better grades and even a better life for the student. Therefore, it is very important for a teacher to do their job well and do everything they can to help their students learn.
I could not agree more with you on this post! I was never… and will never be a science type of person. HIgh school science was hell for me. I never learned anything and the classes were impossible for me. Which is why, when coming into college I made sure that I picked a major that had nothing to do with science. What really bugs me is that I picked this major, and I am still required to take science classes…. which I still find myself struggling in. Like you, I picked this class because I heard it was for non science majors, but I sit there taking the exam asking myself "what the heck does this even mean" and then I sit in class and hear that people bang out 100s on the exam and can't help but ask myself what I'm doing wrong. Teachers do have a huge impact on their students, in fact I still talk to a few of my high school teachers who I became very close with. I feel that all students should a good relationship with a teacher because that will help them learn!
Palmira, I couldn't have put this better myself. I don't have a personal problem with any of my science teachers, it's just that I don't understand any of it and there's literally no help for me. I like facts. I'd like to leave the exploration and formulas and studies to those who are truly interested in them! I have appreciation of science and scientific work, but I will never like or love science like Andrew wants us to. I think teachers need to be more realistic, and not so formal. They need to prove to the students that they see them as equals. Or maybe try to treat us as equals most of the time. Just because we may not be educated in a certain field as much as a teacher does not mean we are below them.
In high school I had an anatomy class and the teacher hated me from the very beginning, she never treated the class as equals and was the most formal class in high school I ever had. I hate that in college we're required to take classes that are not relevant to our majors. I understand they want us to have a well rounded education but we waste time and our efforts on classes that aren't going to help us with our major. I like Andrew and they way teach he teaches his class but I will never enjoy science. I completely agree that teachers need to try and make an impact on us so we can really understand the matter because if they can't passionately teach it, why should we passionately care to learn it?