One of my biggest pet peeves about teaching is how the students really do want everything explained out to them in minutia. I am trying to prepare them for when they are in the workforce. A boss is not going to give them a project accompanied by a grading rubric.
For instance, earlier this term my chair came up and asked if I would develop a new MBA concentration related to HTM. I am pretty sure he didn't give me a hand out with step by step instructions of how to finish the project. I am certain he didn't give me a rubric of how I was to be evaluated on the assignment because these things do not happen in the work world. Shock of all shocks, we have to figure stuff out on our own. That is called being a competent professional.
Now, I am not complaining about the students per se because I know the school system is not set up in that manner. They are not asked to think for themselves very often. I do however, object when they whine about it. Perhaps they prefer I do not adequately prepare them for the work world?
Grading rubrics and step by step instructions make life easier for me as a teacher. It is quick grading and requires very little of my time. It also reduces how much time I have to put in working with students to help them figure out the assignment. It is so much simpler to say read the instruction versus actually have to sit down with my more diligent students and provide guidance.
In the end, while I know they will look back several years from now and be able to see why I laid out these projects in this manner. It is still frustrating to think how they fight this mentality so.
Grrrrrrrr.
Wayne.
Hang in there! Students are like children, they may not always like what their parents tell them, but eventually they'll look back and appreciate you.
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