TAKING MIDTERMS IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Tomorrow my college students have their midterm exams in both political science (Texas Government) and American History from Exploration to Civil War (not much to cover there.) I have done adjunct work for nearly 25 years and each year I find it, like teaching at any level, rewarding, frustrating, and at times, just darn tiring. First, let me say this with the understanding that I may anger someone who stumbles across this; teaching at the college level is a giant piece of carrot cake with a good cup of coffee compared to teaching K-12. It wasn't until I started teaching only at the college level did I realize exactly how RFD (see above adjectives) teaching was. I felt the need to take a step back and remember all of my colleagues/former students still "in the trenches," teaching 7-8 periods per day, with 150 students (secondary level), benchmarking this, testing that, meeting this, meeting that, modifiy this, discipline that, call six parents, do your bus duty, oh! don't forget to eat and go the bathroom! You get the picture. And, should you not understand anything about the previous sentences, talk to a teacher friend immediately. of any time in my teaching career.

Back to the topic teaching at a community college is a unique experience and it, too, comes with its own set of challenges. When I open class tomorrow morning at 6:30 am , I will have the most diverse students walk through that door than I have ever experienced. The diversity is not just based on race/ethnicity; it is based on age, military service, family issues, work issues, language issues, and ones that I don't even know about yet. These students come for many reasons to the doors of a community college. Most of the reasons are legitimate, some are questionable.

For example: 

I didn't have anything else to do.

I was told everyone had to go to college.

My parents made me go to college.

I don't want to work.

Here is what I know: these reasons usually result in wasting money for classes not attended and nothing being learned. You would be surprised how many times those four items are listed as the reason for college. We need a "gap/public service" option in this country. Just saying...

Then, there are the students who are there, but don't know what they are going to do past their time at the community college:

Clueless about their skills/talents/personalities. So , they all major in general business or some other generic degree program. Don't hate the messenger; it is a major problem.

Do not know details about how to get to the next level of education or training.

Taking courses they don't need because of their current plans or training. (this happens frequently)

Believe that what they do at the community college level doesn't follow them FOREVER! 

Trying to undo the damage done at a four year university that was too big, too much, and they made a 1.5 GPA. Now they have to undo the damage, lose the paid expensive tuition, and do not realize how hard it is to bring that GPA up.

Before I go further, the ONE THING that causes the above list is the student's do NOT know how to become self directed. The information and people are there for almost anything they need, but because college is usually impersonal, transitory, and very few personal bonds are made with professors, they have no guidance. Some of these students are "victims" of the infamous "helicopter" parents who did everything for them leaving their grown child helpless. I spend much time on trying to teach DUE DILIGENCE which is my fancy way of saying "you have to dig out the information for yourself." The other thing I have to tell them is TINSTAFL (?) THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH...you have to work for that degree...for that A or B. Don't get me started on how everyone wants an "A." These are the kids who a trophy for showing up for soccer, football, etc. I need to be quiet now.

And, then there are the students who

Work 40-60 hours per week.

Work the over night shift and come to the 7:00 am classes every time.

Work two-three jobs and never miss a class.

The "older" student who does everything "old school" and actually survives very well "Thank you very much."

The veteran who doesn't want "Thank you for your service:" they want the Veterans Bureau to follow through quicker than six months to two years for benefits and services. By the way, Lonestar does have an outstanding Veterans office or some of these men and women would not make it.

The 25-30 year old who realizes that minimum wage is just that...the bare necessities.

The FIRST in their family to go past high school.

The student who has left their family in Vietnam, China, Latin America, Africa, etc. and are here ALONE! The look on their faces when the typical American student attitudes surface is awesome. And, then they have to try and comprehend the glory and the chaos that is a democracy and a complicated history.

Most students want someone to say "Good Morning, etc." "How are you?" There are some very solitary students on these campuses, which is another blog.

As an adjunct professor who is able to teach two separate courses, I have been blessed to have some students take me for FOUR courses. Those students have enabled me to better understand their lives which are rather typical of their peers. It is amazing how they will "latch" on to a professor they believe cares about them for advice and mentoring. Such is the way it has been since the first classroom.

The overall benefit of teaching at the college level is that there is minimum invasive curriculum limits. There are very few and vague learning outcomes and course expectations, but professors can go where the "teachable moment" takes them. And it is done at the right "moment" it is the one thing the students will recall as their favorite time in the class. There's no "walk throughs" when your "favorite student" decides to have a melt down; there's not professional development to knock out in the summer.

I believe that the community college is the most democratic institution in America. People of all persuasions, religions, races, political leanings, or however one wants to "spilt" people into sub-categories can come with minimal costs with a bunch of class options: online, face to face, half face /half online, short mini semesters knocking out one course in 15 days, late start, and enough campuses to fit every part of the city. Not everyone wants to go to college now--what if they change their mi