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/rant
I am in grade twelve, and I am hoping to go to University next year. I am hoping to achieve a mid to high 80% average, but one of my course could potentially fuck me over. Earth and Space Science. It's not that the course is hard or anything I mean the prerequisite was 10 Academic Science and I am in grade twelve. Currently my mark is complete shit (79%). The reason is...
THE TEACHER, is complete shit! Here's a routine of the day, walk into the class room, sit down take 3 pages of notes from a power point. Bell rings go to next class.
I just had a test and it was on our first month of class. WE were expected to memorize about 90 full pages of detailed little fucking points. I don't even think that is possible. I studied for at least 10 hours, because it was a pain in the cock memorizing all these different things.
Then the test is full of obscure little fucking questions, and shit I am 100% sure we did not learn. Throughout the test, I am thinking to myself "We didn't learn that", "what the fuck how are we supposed to know that?", "dumb crack whore bitch go die".
Since my desk was at the front, and I am a slow test writer (especially when I don't know what the fuck is going on in the test) so I would hear people stand up, to hand their test's in and ask the teacher "I hope this doesn't count for a lot I failed" I heard this many many many times. My Asian friend who is the smartest person in our grade, and most likely school (avg is like 97%, his SAT score was 2250)said that at best he got a 85%.
She didn't give us a sheet that said all the topics on it, she didn't give us review questions, she never gives us questions of any kind. The course is taking notes from power point and then writing a test on them.
I am almost certain I could do a better job teaching then her. When people ask questions in her when we are taking notes class such as "What is a supernova?" SHE will directly read what it says on the note.
She is borderline retarded.
/end rant
*****UPDATE Didn't want to start a WHOLE new blog for same reason...******
/rant
sigh We had an assignment due, which was extremely easy in my oppinion only a small one marked out of 10 but obviously weighted differently. The assignment was basically to take a premade map of a region and make written directions for a theoretical hiker who would be following those directions to get to a certain point. It was very easy for the most part. Except one question that the entire class fucked up on. Now in our directions we were supposed to include a variety of specific things. One of them being to describe the changes in elevation (we were using topographic maps).
So we all make directions such as "you will notice that the inclination increases gently" or a variety of other things meaning the same thing.
We all get it wrong, and lost 2 out of 10 marks, which is 20% obviously which is a shit load.
Our class consists of people who are taking the class to boost their avg so that they can go to a good university, and the class avg is 55% I have the 2nd highest mark sitting at a 73%.
Now i know people in this thread were saying things such as "get used to this because this is how it is in university" well I don't think it is like this in university. Unless in university, your teachers give you pure notes followed by quizes, and assignments, on things that are not in your notes. Or they use a statement on a test that obviously refers to one thing that you HAVE learned, only later to learn that you were incorrect and it was asking something you have not learned about.
Seriously tho the only reason I am getting a 73% is from shit I have learned in other classes. Like on one of our main tests there was an equation we didn't learn in the class but i leanred it in physics. Or the emmission spectra's that I didn't learn in the class and was on the test work about 20%, but I learned in chemistry, some of my friends weren't so lucky unfortunatly.
Me and my friend are going to talk to the VP very soon about her, cause she is actually retarded. I mean imagine Last Shadow, or Combat-ex teaching a course on SC, Just makes you want to kill yourself, or them.
/end rant again
   
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On October 03 2008 06:49 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote: /rant
I am in grade twelve, and I am hoping to go to University next year.
If you plan on going know that if you go it will most likely be exactly the same except that for one class it will be all of them. Read the book it helps out and it gives you things section by section. So you can relate things a little bit easier. And haha "smart asian friend". :p
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On October 03 2008 06:57 BuGzlToOnl wrote:Show nested quote +On October 03 2008 06:49 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote: /rant
I am in grade twelve, and I am hoping to go to University next year.
If you plan on going know that if you go it will most likely be exactly the same except that for one class it will be all of them. Read the book it helps out and it gives you things section by section. So you can relate things a little bit easier. And haha "smart asian friend". :p
Yep yep, in larger classes all it is is powerpoints then a test on said powerpoints/book.
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I'm not sure if this makes you feel any better, but I'm 22, about to finish university and I consider 95% of all kinds of teachers I've ever had in my life have been really really terrible (this includes music, art, sports and foreign languages ones). I consider teaching incredibly serious business, but most of them out there just do it for the wrong reasons, think they're actually good at it and never even bother to give the whole thing a second thought.
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I've only ever seen one of my professors use powerpoint and he only did it one time. :|
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I don't know how you studied, but when I started my law studies at the university, I had to change my style of studying because of the huge amount of literature. While previously I would use a system of memorizing the most important things and cramming in the less important ones, I now use a system which heavily relies on continuous repetition. I will read everything before the lesson while taking notes for a summary. During the lesson, I complete my notes and clarify any details. After the lesson, I sometimes reread the original text and complete my summary. Try it out, if you want to.
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On October 03 2008 07:21 d1v wrote: I don't know how you studied, but when I started my law studies at the university, I had to change my style of studying because of the huge amount of literature. While previously I would use a system of memorizing the most important things and cramming in the less important ones, I now use a system which heavily relies on continuous repetition. I will read everything before the lesson while taking notes for a summary. During the lesson, I complete my notes and clarify any details. After the lesson, I sometimes reread the original text and complete my summary. Try it out, if you want to.
That sounds very good, I think I will try that.
**EDIT** It sounds very time involving how do you manage to play Starcraft and get good grades at the same time? Since grade twelve started I have been playing only about once a week for about 2 hours.
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Well, just wanted to add that your teacher obviously doesn't do such a great job. Why don't you point out some of the things, so she has a chance to improve? If she doesn't, go have a talk with the principal, it's what we would do all the time in high school.
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I'm glad the system here puts all the emphasis on a few tests for each subject at the end of the year.
I had some terrible teachers, but since each subject was almost 100% dependant on one or two papers, all I had to do was cram the revision guide the night before.
I don't advise it though, doesn't work for 99% of people! :D
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I have a similar problem in my U.S. Governemnt class, but its because I believe that we need to check out the course book. I never heard the teacher say this, but in the test, I saw a question that wasn't in the notes, but it was in the book (teacher only has a class set). Try reading the book also.
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I had a teacher like that for Grade 10 Chem... Thank God I'm a Business major
Now I'm in 12th grade too and my Business teacher sucks worse than this.
Typical day in my Business class:
/rant
I walk in class and sign the little sheet that says I am currently present in class. I take a seat along with the other students. Teacher greets everyone and everyone says hi back. Teacher starts talking about investment appraisal. 10 mins later, teacher gives example of investments in buildings. He then talks about mortgages on houses. This then leads to a description of a beautiful house he had back in the States and the disadvantages of renting it even though he lives somewhere else. He then finds a random aspect of his life related to that house and talks about that. etc etc etc...
The class: its a small class with 14 students and 3 rows of desks and a few desks separated from the rest. 7 girls 7 guys Front row: 5 girls 2nd row: 3 guys (including me; im in between the other 2) Back row: 4 guys The other 2 girls sit on the separated desks
So... Front row 5 girls interested in the stories of the teacher and participate in class discussion. the 2 guys sitting next to me dont participate but pay attention and laugh at jokes. Back row guys are all either mentally sleeping or talking amongst themselves 2 remote girls chatting with each other unnoticed by anyone else as for me, im bored out of my skull....
Before we know it the class is ended.
/end rant
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**EDIT** It sounds very time involving how do you manage to play Starcraft and get good grades at the same time? Since grade twelve started I have been playing only about once a week for about 2 hours.
I quit SC some time ago, but I still enjoy watching it and TL.net is a great place to hang out every now and then. Further more, I don't go out so often. Actually, I often study on Friday and Saturday evening (together with my gf), only going out like twice a month. I basically study every day, and thus it is very well doable. You however don't need to apply this learning technique to every subject you take. Just the ones with a huge amount of stuff to read.
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Well I am not a naturally smart person, and the classes I am taking are pretty difficult in my opinion so maybe I will adopt your study habits
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im expecting micronesia to put his input.
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Ive only heard of one teacher who is worse then this, not only is she all of the things listed above but she is also a hypocritical, sexist, bitch. Almost every guy to take her classes fail, but all the girls even the dumb ones, get extremely high marks. Therefore, I conclude that not only is she a lesbian, but she is a pedophile.
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United States24653 Posts
On October 03 2008 08:16 YanGpaN wrote: im expecting micronesia to put his input. I actually didn't notice this blog until a flag went off that I was mentioned :p
If I was caught doing what this teacher seems to be doing, I would either be fired, or told to stop immediately or I'll be fired tomorrow. I have to admit I'm not that knowledgeable on the proper pedagogy of non-sciences, but it's pretty clear that a teacher needs to do more than present you with notes and then gives tests.
Reading this was also frustrating because I have difficulty getting my students to remember 1 or 2 simple facts even though I try to drill it into their heads over and over, and give them countless examples and practice problems where they make use of these facts (such as for example the fact that the slope of a speed graph is acceleration, the slope of a distance graph is speed, and the area under a speed graph is distance). I demonstrate it with explanations and examples, give them a worksheet with practice problems, go over the worksheet, and answer any questions. Then put similar problems on the practice assignment completed via internet, go over said assignment, and then review the concept briefly before the test, and many people still get it completely wrong!
When I go through hell and get almost no results, it just pisses me off how terrible some teachers are, and how they get away with it.
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On October 03 2008 08:15 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote:Well I am not a naturally smart person, and the classes I am taking are pretty difficult in my opinion so maybe I will adopt your study habits 
Well, then get ready for quite some workload. However, I think putting some more emphasis on school is good anyways, you'll be glad afterwards, believe me.
Oh, and if your teacher really is that biased, you should definately report this to the principal, that's just ridiculous. We had a sexist chemistry teacher in high school as well and he would not stop picking on the women in our class until we reported it. The principal assigned a different teacher to our class and everything was fine.
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Dude, just adapt with your teacher no matter how bullshit he/she is, you have them for your class, and i think its probably too far in the school year to change classes I have teachers like those right now, but im learning to GET OVER IT
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79% is no where near as bad as that common..... 23 % now that's a bad grade. i cant see why people complain about their grades when their passing. Of course unless if u put a fuck load of effort
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Yea I am usually only around a mid 80 student, but the friends that are in all of my classes are super smart. The Asian mentioned above is one of them, and every time they get a test back of like 92% they say "Oh shit that's terrible". So I am sort of starting to use their scale of good and bad marks.
Also with this teacher (I don't mean to bitch or anything) we were told to make a space time line which outlined 20 difference events. But i did this very nice assignment that took me about 7 hours. Mine ended up being about 6 pages full of writing, and the first page being a list mentioning all the important dates in chronological order with the event and page number in my essay thing, which it would then go into detail about.
My friend just did a straight up time line with the 20 events briefly outlined.
I got 13/16 (SHIT) and he got 12.5/16
The reason I got so low was because I made 3 spelling mistakes, and for every spelling mistake you get -1 off your mark. THAT is complete bull shit.
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United States24653 Posts
Next time I have a student complain I'm linking them to your stories rofl
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2250 on SAT isn't that great...
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I hate shit teachers.
my last science teacher was a 40 year old male. The "popular" girls would sit at the front, be sweet talked by him & every now and then learn some science. meanwhile the rest of the class sits at the back saying "what the fuck is a neucleus?!?!".
It was year 8 so it didn't particularly matter but still, having a good teacher, working hard and getting a good mark is better than watching your science teacher pick out the girls he will potentially molest.
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Be patient...
Wax on
Wax Off
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I can't recall having any terrible teachers that I absolutely could not learn anything from in high school. Sure there were some that I really didn't like, but I didn't have any crazy nightmarish experiences. It almost makes me feel like I'm missing out on some experience, as everyone always seems to have that teacher
On October 03 2008 06:57 BuGzlToOnl wrote:Show nested quote +On October 03 2008 06:49 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote: /rant
I am in grade twelve, and I am hoping to go to University next year.
If you plan on going know that if you go it will most likely be exactly the same except that for one class it will be all of them. Read the book it helps out and it gives you things section by section. So you can relate things a little bit easier. And haha "smart asian friend". :p
I dunno, I've had a pretty good success rate with profs that actually care and do a good job of teaching. Maybe my standards are just low, but if they can communicate in a way that everything I need is presented, and that I actually get something out of the class, I'd say that's an OK job. If they go above that and actually teach in a very effective way that I can do assignments by just referring to my notes, that's a bonus. I'd say about 2/3 of my profs have done a good job
Oh yeah, and yes to the reading the book part. Helps a shit load. Even in classes that you understand pretty well, reading the book to get an idea of how things are usually presented is good to practice, as there WILL be times where you'll need to flip through a bunch of books just to figure out how to do one stupid assignment. It's a time consuming exercise, but it's a good idea, and it'll provide lots of details that the lectures just won't cover (and likely fill in any gaps of understanding that you may have)
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I've had teachers of all sorts, some are good and some are bad. It doesn't matter in the end because if you cared enough to find out what a nucleus was you'd open your text book or you'd google it. Good teachers are a blessing but you can't sit and cry about bad teachers when its 100% on you to learn in the first place.
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Since it's a new course this year, we don't have text books yet ...
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On October 03 2008 08:15 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote:Well I am not a naturally smart person, and the classes I am taking are pretty difficult in my opinion so maybe I will adopt your study habits  Well, then you should be happy with a 79%. Wait until university where people who arent naturally smart get 65% even with hours of studying. High school is mostly about how hard you work, not how smart you are. Now you are in a class that it doesnt matter how much you study, you actually need to be smart. thats what university is like. I suggest you get use to bad grades now because if you dont you are in for some real pain in university. Depending on what courses you take in university, many may be just taking notes off of powerpoints and trying to write down the extra shit the prof says. You will have to figure out on your own what is important and what isnt. You will have to do extra reading and shit. No more easy mode. Toughen up, because your profs will not babysit you.
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THE TEACHER, is complete shit! Here's a routine of the day, walk into the class room, sit down take 3 pages of notes from a power point. Bell rings go to next class.
That's basically every class in University. Get used to it.
If you don't understand the material, ask for extra help outside class. Apart from that, there's nothing you can do about a bad teacher.
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On October 03 2008 06:49 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote: /rant THE TEACHER, is complete shit! Here's a routine of the day, walk into the class room, sit down take 3 pages of notes from a power point. Bell rings go to next class. Welcome to the university!!! 
Hopefully for you the test is base on a curve. It reminds me of course in university that are overwelming with information. In the end, I learned a lot even if I could only grasp 60% of it.
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Fuck the curve. If they're curving on a standard curve, then A is 2 SD away, 2.5% of the entire fucking class (assuming they do what my university does, where C is the mean). Flat curves are fine, but either it's standard or it's no curve.
Also, read the textbook or something. What you described is basically about 90% of all university classes. You read the book, try to understand as much as possible before going to class, and hope the professor explains the part you don't know in lecture. If not, bother him to high heaven during his office hours.
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United States24653 Posts
On October 03 2008 10:27 PsycHOTemplar wrote:Show nested quote + THE TEACHER, is complete shit! Here's a routine of the day, walk into the class room, sit down take 3 pages of notes from a power point. Bell rings go to next class.
That's basically every class in University. Get used to it. If you don't understand the material, ask for extra help outside class. Apart from that, there's nothing you can do about a bad teacher. I wish that were true lol
On October 03 2008 10:58 SIUnit wrote: Fuck the curve. If they're curving on a standard curve, then A is 2 SD away, 2.5% of the entire fucking class (assuming they do what my university does, where C is the mean). Flat curves are fine, but either it's standard or it's no curve.
Also, read the textbook or something. What you described is basically about 90% of all university classes. You read the book, try to understand as much as possible before going to class, and hope the professor explains the part you don't know in lecture. If not, bother him to high heaven during his office hours. He said that there is no textbook. Note the following:
On October 03 2008 10:02 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote: Since it's a new course this year, we don't have text books yet ...
To all the people saying 'this is what university is like; get used to it' that's pretty irrelevant since this is not a college preparatory course.
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United States47024 Posts
On October 03 2008 11:15 micronesia wrote: To all the people saying 'this is what university is like; get used to it' that's pretty irrelevant since this is not a college preparatory course.
Not to mention, highly variable depending on which university you're at.
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Everyone has their own experiences with school, but it seems like my experiences with good profs is in the minority
On October 03 2008 10:26 Mastermind wrote: High school is mostly about how hard you work, not how smart you are. Now you are in a class that it doesnt matter how much you study, you actually need to be smart. thats what university is like.
a) I don't have sufficient info to address this properly, but from the guy's description, someone that studies random material and happens to study the right insignificant points are the ones that luck out with the mark. Remembering random petty details that aren't even covered in the class isn't what I would consider smart. Then again, you can argue that some uni courses are bs like that, so I won't pursue this any further
b) Again, your experience with school seems to be vastly different from mine. It differs from school to school and major to major, but in my experiences being able to get good marks in a undergrad engineering program is way more about hard work than it is about natural ability. Don't know about any other programs. Maybe it's true with social science. Maybe it's true for math. But not true from where I come from. That's what I felt anyway.
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On October 03 2008 06:49 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote: My Asian friend who is the smartest person in our grade, and most likely school (avg is like 97%, his SAT score was 2250)
Wow you just made me feel a lot better about myself... I got a 2270 <3
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Being a lazy teacher is one thing, but incompetence is another.
If she really is the way I think she is, she doesn't know anything and her tests are so hard because she just opens the book, looks at a random sentence, puts that sentence on the test with a blank word, and if you don't fill in the exact same word you are wrong.
In essence.
I bet she couldn't pass her own tests from last year.
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Sydney2287 Posts
I've been in similar situations to this a few times. You have two options.
Option 1) You can keep bitching at/about the teacher. Yes this makes you feel great, this is what this thread is. No this won't get you anywhere, in fact you'll stop paying any attention, making things worse in the long run.
Option 2) You take the initiative and start teaching yourself. Find the syllabus, find textbooks, look up communities for students where they discuss courses (If they have this in Australia, which they do, then I'm positive a similar thing exists in Canada). Your teacher isn't helping you, or at the least her method of teaching isn't working with you.
If you are truly committed to the 80% average, option 2 is the way your'e going to have to go.
Edit: Also, you could try explaining the situation to your parents. It's possible they will be able to help you out with buying textbooks, maybe organising tuition. This really depends on a lot of factors though.
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Hm try talking to your teacher, and do it with a good attitude / good manners. At least in high school, most teachers are responsive... from my own experience, most teachers care about students and actually are teaching because they like it. Rarely do they teach because they hate kids and want to ruin your lives ... think about it, why would they become teachers?
GL with your situation. Is the class curved?
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MrHoon
10183 Posts
My highschool science teacher was a pedo.
One day in school we see all these FBIs bust into our school and cuff him
Source Link
Funniest thing was that our whole school suspected he was a pedo (even the teachers lol)
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On October 03 2008 11:15 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On October 03 2008 10:27 PsycHOTemplar wrote: THE TEACHER, is complete shit! Here's a routine of the day, walk into the class room, sit down take 3 pages of notes from a power point. Bell rings go to next class.
That's basically every class in University. Get used to it. If you don't understand the material, ask for extra help outside class. Apart from that, there's nothing you can do about a bad teacher. I wish that were true lol Show nested quote +On October 03 2008 10:58 SIUnit wrote: Fuck the curve. If they're curving on a standard curve, then A is 2 SD away, 2.5% of the entire fucking class (assuming they do what my university does, where C is the mean). Flat curves are fine, but either it's standard or it's no curve.
Also, read the textbook or something. What you described is basically about 90% of all university classes. You read the book, try to understand as much as possible before going to class, and hope the professor explains the part you don't know in lecture. If not, bother him to high heaven during his office hours. He said that there is no textbook. Note the following: Show nested quote +On October 03 2008 10:02 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote: Since it's a new course this year, we don't have text books yet ... To all the people saying 'this is what university is like; get used to it' that's pretty irrelevant since this is not a college preparatory course.
I fail to see how saying that is irrelevant because the course is not meant to prepare you for college. Just because it's not meant a college preparatory course has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not it is like a college course or not. It could be a clown school seminar and still be structured like a college course.
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United States24653 Posts
On October 03 2008 19:20 NoobsOfWrath wrote:Show nested quote +On October 03 2008 11:15 micronesia wrote:On October 03 2008 10:27 PsycHOTemplar wrote: THE TEACHER, is complete shit! Here's a routine of the day, walk into the class room, sit down take 3 pages of notes from a power point. Bell rings go to next class.
That's basically every class in University. Get used to it. If you don't understand the material, ask for extra help outside class. Apart from that, there's nothing you can do about a bad teacher. I wish that were true lol On October 03 2008 10:58 SIUnit wrote: Fuck the curve. If they're curving on a standard curve, then A is 2 SD away, 2.5% of the entire fucking class (assuming they do what my university does, where C is the mean). Flat curves are fine, but either it's standard or it's no curve.
Also, read the textbook or something. What you described is basically about 90% of all university classes. You read the book, try to understand as much as possible before going to class, and hope the professor explains the part you don't know in lecture. If not, bother him to high heaven during his office hours. He said that there is no textbook. Note the following: On October 03 2008 10:02 nAi.PrOtOsS wrote: Since it's a new course this year, we don't have text books yet ... To all the people saying 'this is what university is like; get used to it' that's pretty irrelevant since this is not a college preparatory course. I fail to see how saying that is irrelevant because the course is not meant to prepare you for college. Just because it's not meant a college preparatory course has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not it is like a college course or not. It could be a clown school seminar and still be structured like a college course. I appreciate you trying to clarify and get us on the same page..... but you should probably stop.
That didn't seem very convincing, so...
First of all your first sentence does not make sense.... I'm not saying this to nitpick but rather it took me a little while to actually understand what point you were trying to make.
Second, your claim seems to be that my claim that comments about 'getting used to it' are irrelevant, is in fact wrong, because there is not a connection between those comments, and the fact that this is not a college preparatory course. However, this seems to ignore the fact that the OP was about him having a bad high school teacher. The proper responses to this have to do with either explaining why he shouldn't complain about having a bad teacher IN HIGH SCHOOL, or sympathizing with him. Comments implying that he is somehow in the wrong because of something having to do with college are all but completely irrelevant.
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Yea I'm going to have to agree here, I'm in the class with nAi getting a 93% and I think that she is a bs teacher. The only reason I can get this high is because of previous knowledge from past sciences courses (that are not prerequisites). The majority of marks on tests are pure/half guesses or bs-ing your way through it making yourself seem knowledgable with big words.
Overall, the course itself is fairly interesting and has the potential to be great. Because of this teacher who has never taught the content before (and makes no attempt to learn it before coming to class that day), the course is the most dreaded 1 hour fifteen mins of the whole day.
/gg powerpoint > quiz > test
Would like to see some class discussion/taking up the rare questions from the textbook. Maybe if we skip class and read the textbook in the library we'll have better luck haha.
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ask the teacher which book she is teaching out of and borrow the book from the library and study it. If you must make photocopies. If you are lucky you can probably find the entire book online in pdf format
bother the teacher at lunch on how to do well on tests, ask how to study and point out that the tests don't represent the notes given in class.
try to change teachers if there is more than one teacher teaching the teaching
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This really does sound like the teacher from hell. Good luck taking your case to the VP, I hope you succeed! To be honest, university isn't as bad as people here make it out to be and it most definitely is nothing like your situation.
Profs usually do the powerpoint -> test thing but they actually test you on what's covered in class. Granted the material may be a ridiculous amount and they might ask detailed questions on that one fact you forgot to memorize, but it's still in the lectures This is just from someone in science, I have no idea how things work in the arts/humanities departments.
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That sucks man. Complain your heart out to the powers that be.
And some Unis do have teachers like that unfortunately. It's a crapshoot. Make sure you make friends with a lot of people above you in the same major and ask them what professors to get. That's your best bet.
I've had at least 3 teachers like this one (who couldn't teach and random stuff was on their tests).
Although I don't sympathize with the spelling mistakes. There's TONS of teachers in Uni that burn you down in flames for that. Just be VERY careful.
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...Oh...so this blog ISN'T about a teacher with flatulence.
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I live in Vancouver, and in our highschool, we have "blocks". There are 8 in total, 4 each day. So my friend basically went 2 days without sleep to do his homework and in the end complained to the principal. School is tough dude, my social teacher gives pop TESTS that's worth 25 percent of my fuckin term. I'm about to kill him.
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