Thursday, February 21, 2008
I’m in my third year, and I’ve taken many classes with a wide variety of instructors.
Some classes I enjoyed so much I retook them, solely based on my love of the subject.
Kidding.
I wish that were the reason.
Aside from the knowledge I’ve gained from those classes, I’ve gained a little insight of my own: The instructor makes the class.
In retaking a couple classes, I’ve had completely different experiences. The second time was always better.
My freshman year I took an anthropology class. It was my only class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but that wasn’t my thrill killer.
The class just sucked.
The instructor spoke in soft monotone without a microphone in a decent sized auditorium.
He exhibited no obvious style, flare or enthusiasm for the subject.
I took the class again with a different instructor. It had a completely different format.
The classes were about as comparable as Grey Goose and McCormick’s vodka. Although they are the same type of alcohol and both get you drunk, it’s just not the same.
It’s a different drunk, a different hangover and a different experience. It could be so terrible that you’ll never drink vodka again.
I’m not always going to like certain professors, but if they don’t exude excitement about the subject, how can they expect us to get passionate about it?
One instructor who embodies this passion in his lectures is Craig Martin, professor of biology.
I took Biology 100 my freshman year, and I thoroughly enjoyed that class, so much that I didn’t have to retake it.
Martin was funny and passionate about what he taught, which excited me and kept my attention.
I’ve had countless conversations with friends who have taken the same classes as me, different instructors, different experiences and different grades.
“Some of my best teachers are the ones who can be considered to be somewhat unorthodox,” Whitney Rowland, Olathe junior, said. “They have a deep passion for the subject matter, and that forces us to engage in the class with the same level of passion, whether we like the material or not.”
Unfortunately, when we enroll in a class, we can’t check the past experiences of previous students to decide on which instructor to choose.
It’s fairly safe to say that a majority of students base class choices on time of the class and making sure it works with the rest of our schedule.
Most end up with a lotto pick when it comes to the instructors we end up with and how good they are.
Students shouldn’t just suck it up because it’s not us.
It’s them.
Faculty: Get excited about your class!
Students pay good money to be here, and you get money to teach us.
We’re supposed to be learning, not being put to sleep. Some instructors need to step it up and earn the prestigious title that the school is paying them for.
McNaughton is a Topeka junior in journalism.
Nontraditional student Jennifer Osborn teaches students to ...
She has dropped 12 sizes since taking up a lifting class.
1 ... 2 ... 3 ... OCD
Trying to break free from obsessing about obsessing
McNaughton: Animals teach students lessons
Pets provide valuable student support and should be allowed in college dorms.
Fitness classes’ turnout increases
Turbo Kick and other exercises help students get in better shape thanks ...
McNaughton: Lawrence drivers break for pot holes
Farther outside of campus, around the student ghetto, the roads almost get ...
McNaughton: Pitbulls and owners deserve playtime too
From handball to chemistry: An Irish tale
Irish exchange student Marina Kilduff juggles studies, handball and a busy University ...
McNaughton: Reflection on proper use of speech ...
Question causes reflection speech and sensitivity.
McNaughton: Search for entertainment should end with ...
Look no further than literature.
CLAS hold pauses enrollment for seniors
The college has placed a hold on enrollment for students with more ...
McNaughton: Holiday season prompts recap of what ...
Lots to be thankful for this season
Investigations continue in recent crimes
Latest local misdeeds include graffiti, armed robbery and meth raid.
McNaughton: Smokers refuse to acknowledge health problems
I still don’t understand because smokers smell and taste terrible.
McNaughton: Stop and smell the roses
Students should take time to enjoy life, culture
Scene & Heard: Nest on Ninth, Oread ...
New places, new faces.
McNaughton: Readers should look beyond best-seller’s Christian ...
Focusing on a book's religious inconsistency misses its point.
McNaughton: Plenty of possible money savers, if ...
In a poor economy, sacrifice is necessary.
McNaughton: Time to modify our image of ...
Spate of assaults should concern students.
Stroda: Time as embed fosters understanding of ...
Program leaves reporter with new insights into military culture.
McNaughton: Service deserves tips, especially in a ...
Don’t skip the tip; waitressing is harder than it looks
HOPE Award winner loves job
Since coming to teach at the University of Kansas in 2003, Edward ...
Motivated by a passion for results
Libby Johnson and Gabe Bliss are the KUnited candidates for Student Senate ...
McNaughton: Immigration about more than give and ...
Some people have ignored the reasons behind immigration, letting their biased views ...
Engineers travel to Shanghai for program
The students blogged about their experiences at ProjectShanghai.net.
Lucero: University should help its teachers with ...
Not all teachers come from America, and the University should offer them ...
Students find employment at The Oread
Some restaurants have as many as 50 students working on a given ...
McNaughton: Hate crimes plague society
People shouldn’t live in fear because of their race, gender or nationality
Texting in class a growing problem
A new study found that 91 percent of college students texted in ...
McNaughton: Blood donation worth a little pain
Committing service to provide blood rewarding
12 KU students join Teach for America ...
The non-profit group aims to end educational inequality in the United States.
McNaughton: Fear of ‘the others’ still exists
Many still hold racist or prejudice views towards peers.
Q&A: Remy Ayesh
Because we have questions. Celebrities have answers.
SUA brings in the crowd
SUA is seeing record-breaking attendance numbers for its events.
Singer makes sacrifices for life and music
Ryan King can’t envision a life, even a day, without music
McNaughton: Diversity still lacking
Diversity is often placed on the back burner in today’s society. Students ...
Established scholar adds her experience to KU
Rowland answers several questions about why she loves to teach English and ...
Professor Profile: Sarah Crawford-Parker
A few questions with Sarah Crawford-Parker.
McNaughton: Psoriasis is more than a skin-deep ...
Sufferers of the condition deal with awkward looks and self-consciousness in day-to-day ...
State changing how it handles domestic violence
Parents of murdered student Jana Mackey helping to develop batterer intervention program.
Lawrence hosting old-time holdup
Lawrence will host a reenact of the 1932 heist that started Clyde ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
McNaughton: Class shouldn’t be as bad as McCormick’s
I agree. I too had Martin and I'd go to one of his lectures again even though I'm not in the class. You can check up on some teachers before enrolling at www.ratemyprofessors.com. I use this when I enroll and it's really handy so you know what you're getting into when you sign up for a class.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID