Help! I hate my teacher!
“I like your class...but the guy who teaches my math class is the worst!”
A new semester means a new set of classes, and those classes come with instructors-some of whom you have never met. Getting used to a teacher can be difficult. Every instructor has their own teaching style, expectations of classroom behavior, homework policies, and preferred methods of communication. It is very common to go from a class with a “no late work” policy and a rigid schedule to a class with no real topic outline and ever shifting deadlines. Learning the course material is hard enough, but navigating all of the different rules, policies, and personalities of 5 or 6 Professors can be overwhelming. There is no easy fix to this dilemma and you will have to tolerate the discomfort to some degree, but you can ease the stress. Here are some common problems/complaints and how to handle them.
“I don’t like my teacher”
Instructors are people, not robots. They have their own personalities and styles and while you may not “like” them, you do need to respect them. Your teachers were hired for their expertise, so as long as you can learn the content from them and they are not breaking larger policy rules (FERPA, Diversity Statement, etc.) you will just have to accept that you are not going to like all of your teachers. However, if when reflecting on why you don’t like a particular teacher you can pinpoint a tangible reason, you might be able to avoid similar teachers in the future.
“My teacher doesn’t put in grades”
It is IWCC’s expectation that instructors keep attendance and grades in ROC. However, you might have an instructor that gets behind in grading or is struggling with using ROC. Take a look at their grading policy in the syllabus and see how long you should expect to wait before getting assignments back. Remember your instructor doesn’t have “your paper to grade”, they have 95 papers to grade, and that takes time. Additionally, in a career and technical class (something skills based like practicum or production) the instructor needs to be able to DO the skill they are teaching. This often means hiring instructors from industry who are not professional educators. The upside is that they have a depth of knowledge and can help students get jobs. The downside is that the paperwork and ROC site may not be their strong suit. In classes like this communication is key. Don’t just get frustrated, tell your instructor what you need.
“We go too fast!”
Most students don’t take notes (unfortunately) because they think they will be able to understand better if they just listen and pay attention. That might work for a short lecture, but if your instructor talks for more than 5 minutes you start to lose information. Taking notes is really essential for recognition and studying, so if you are getting lost try to take notes. Another way to keep track of the lecture is to record it. Ask your instructor if you can either video or audio record the lecture, or take a picture of the board after a lecture is complete. Most instructors will be happy to accommodate your request. Finally, if you still aren’t keeping up you need to get help during office hours. Which leads me to…
“I need help and I can’t find my instructor”
Whether your instructor is a full-time or adjunct, they have other responsibilities. Your full-time instructors often teach 5-8 classes per semester, and adjuncts have other jobs. There are meetings, tours, committees, and trainings that fill our time out of class. It is not reasonable to expect that there will be an instructor available at the exact moment you need one. However, if you come in during office hours or make an appointment with an instructor it is their job to assist you and help you get on the right track. Don’t wait until the last minute to get help!
Don’t forget - we believe in you, and we want you to succeed
As you approach a new school year and a schedule full of unfamiliar names, remember that your teachers are people and are all a little bit different. Part of a college education is life experience. Learning to coexist and thrive in cohorts with different leadership styles is preparation for your future career. If you have an issue with an instructor, talk to them to see if you can work it out. If for some reason you cannot, or if there is a more serious issue (safety concern, discrimination, etc.) follow the process outlined in your syllabus.
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