tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post7044355931652505281..comments2023-07-05T06:55:53.577-04:00Comments on College Ready Writing: Efficiency =/= Innovation =/= QualityLee Skallerup Bessette, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243750156552824701noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-21072029500299536702011-09-18T11:58:04.358-04:002011-09-18T11:58:04.358-04:00I suspect that protoscholar meant truism as someth...I suspect that protoscholar meant truism as something like trope, political talking point. That these views are common (outside education) and influencing policy for the worse. Seen that way, protoscholar's got good points. I'm in a similar position as CRW and teaching loads of students is very important in getting my contract renewed, regardless of whatever pedagogical innovations (as CRW and many of us think of the phrase) we incorporate in our teaching.<br /><br />And yes, I love my job (that's why I keep doing it), but I also wonder how much money I could be making screwing around with numbers in the private sector.Rosemarynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-15533002690239019192011-09-18T09:11:04.384-04:002011-09-18T09:11:04.384-04:00Protoscholar: seriously? College is just about a...Protoscholar: seriously? College is just about a credential? People can learn what they need to know by accessing knowledge anywhere? Teachers are losers?<br /><br />Under what conditions are you interested in a self-taught dentist, nurse, police officer, President, investment banker, electrician.....<br /><br />I mean,what a douchey comment.<br /><br />Great post here --Tenured Radicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703980598547163290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-7890624734915947832011-09-16T08:21:48.073-04:002011-09-16T08:21:48.073-04:00Chattyprof, welcome to the world of the adjunct- w...Chattyprof, welcome to the world of the adjunct- we are paid by the class. We don't get "release time" for anything. We don't get time for research. Heck, we usually don't even get an office. We teach full loads of classes without the benefits, and at half (or even a quarter) of what a "full-timer" makes. Our local college went from 10% adjunct to 80% adjunct for course teaching, and still put the tuition up. None of those adjuncts got raises. Where is the money going? And is the model we really want for our students?Joeymomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08254601805621175842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-65797191276362551132011-09-16T00:55:46.981-04:002011-09-16T00:55:46.981-04:00This post reminded me of a sad fact: At both colle...This post reminded me of a sad fact: At both colleges I've worked for (I'm tenured and was previously on tenure-track), faculty are not granted any release time for curriculum updating, renovation, etc. It's considered "part of the job." I agree that vastly changing our methodology takes thoughtful planning, research, and reflection--and this all requires time. It also cannot happen for more than one class at once. This is why I hope, Lee, that you will celebrate the incredible path of the classes you've been blogging about. It's completely inspiring... and I'm sure utterly exhausting! Ellen Bremen, M.A. @chattyprofchattyprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01364615784442638410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-55937923892981768172011-09-15T18:12:10.295-04:002011-09-15T18:12:10.295-04:00Just saying, McDonald's actually isn't tha...Just saying, McDonald's actually isn't that cheap. It's actually kind of expensive nowadays.Girlhttp://www.tigerunie.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-91542878184222091452011-09-15T13:55:31.867-04:002011-09-15T13:55:31.867-04:00p.s. When I say "we" I mean american...p.s. When I say "we" I mean american's in general. Those of us in higher ed hate all of these things, but we are fighting a losing battle. The broader society sees college as having an economic goal, and teaching as an optional item. <br /><br />Heck, look at the K-12 system. We talk endlessly about how students are getting worse, and at the same time we see states griping about a teacher making $50k/year and complaining about the quality of teachers they get. Why would a really smart college student go into teaching when they know it means sacrificing their income for most of their life. Why not take those smarts and make twice or MORE as much in private industry?<br /><br />Our culture continues to demand more and more for less and less, and doesn't realize that eventually there comes a point where that stops working.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-5073794765472987522011-09-15T12:59:22.346-04:002011-09-15T12:59:22.346-04:00I'm sorry, but I think you are missing the poi...I'm sorry, but I think you are missing the point. There is a fundamental disconnect between 3 truisms right now:<br /><br />- COLLEGE FOR ALL: Everyone needs to go to college and it is almost a fundamental right that they do so, regardless of preparation or aptitude.<br /><br />- THOSE THAT CANNOT DO, TEACH: Teaching is not a valuable skill, so we shouldn't pay a lot for it, if anything at all. A person can learn from access to the right materials without the assistance of a teacher.<br /><br />- CREDENTIAL INFLATION: College isn't about learning to think. Its about a credential so that you can get a job. Anything that prevents a student from getting the credential (whether they learn or not) is bad.<br /><br />The result is that culturally we DON'T value good teaching. Innovation is aimed primarily at either efficiency (teach more students for the same instructional costs) or getting students who wouldn't otherwise pass to do so. We give lip service to helping students learn better, but in fact what we mean is helping the ones that are failing to pass so they get their credential as well.<br /><br />That triumvirate of forces is meeting now to force radical change to how the university system works, for better or worse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-70603399502282693972011-09-15T12:50:06.081-04:002011-09-15T12:50:06.081-04:00I hear your pain and appreciate your dedication. A...I hear your pain and appreciate your dedication. All I can say is I believe higher education is going to undergo a transformation into what you want it to be. A place where learning is the most important thing, not schedules and quotas. Hang in there and remember, revolution happens from the bottom, not the top. You will get your chance!Crudbasherhttp://www.educationstormfront.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6529647435872563341.post-62868915705281984722011-09-15T12:37:21.417-04:002011-09-15T12:37:21.417-04:00Agreed wholeheartedly -- and by the way, why the h...Agreed wholeheartedly -- and by the way, why the hell is IHE taking advice from the CEO of a for-profit edu-company, the sort that happens to benefit most from the perception that traditional ed is "inefficient"? Hmmmmmm? Critical thinking here, anyone?<br /><br />Bah humbug.WorstProfEverhttp://www.worstprofessorever.comnoreply@blogger.com