So as the rapids begin, let’s start the challenge. Skillful teaching involves challenges. The more I experience good, bad and sometimes the ugly parts of teaching, the more inclined I am to take on the challenges of the rapids. If you have ever been white water rafting, the constant ups and downs in every turn you make creates a sense of adventure that clearly is quite similar to teaching. Class five rapids are very difficult, while class one are calm and easy to manage.
While no instructor wants to feel constantly in turbulent water, success in each rapid makes a person feel confidence and it is with that confidence comes excitement of the next turn that may either be calm or turbulent waters depending on the day. Problems I face as an instructor are exactly like white water rafting because some problems that occur during a day are easily resolved, while other issues pose more challenging, thus the raft is in a much more uncontrollable state.
A good example of the calm water is in the class policy of no eating or drinking in class and only water is allowed but it needs to be kept on the floor is constantly challenged by students. I can think of at least 20 times a week that I have to remind students of this policy. The student I address may make a snippy remark, but complies, thus the calm waters of rafting is depicted. On the other hand, turbulent water starts when the same student marches out of class and into the Dean's office crying that because they had stomach cramps they should be allowed to drink their water in class and leave it on the desktop, and when the student returns to class they win, at least that day. Here the same calm water, became very nasty resulting in a problem that was a proven failure on the student to follow policy, but also a temporary solution that was made. However, that temporary solution to the problem creates more turbulence in the classroom because others follow the leader and as the saying goes "do for one you must do for all" becomes evident.
Now the question of "what will go to the grave with me without having completely resolving them are students constantly late for class. I start class exactly when the announcement is made "good morning" and begin my lecture. Students who trickle in an hour or two late, expect me to go over the materials with them during class and while my policy is I do not repeat lecture materials during class, and make the student accountable for the materials missed, I still have comments on my monthly surveys that state I have not allowed late students opportunity to "get" the necessary lecture material. While I have tried various techniques to help with the excessive tardy students such as hold off on new lecture materials and do a review of materials discussed from the day before, or allow study time, I still get those students who consistently complain that they are not getting important materials from the instructor. I have even gone as far as offering after class tutor time with no success.
Another problem that I will take with me to the grave is the excessive talking while I am lecturing. I have always been an open minded instructor who is willing to listen to other opinions and we have discussion while I lecture so that students can engage actively in the lecture. What happens when I open discussions up to students is that the discussions turn into chat sessions. For example, I will be lecturing on cancer and a student will start talking about how cancer affected them. Other students will engage in the discussion and when we get back onto the lecture students who do not care to listen will take the opportunity to continue talking about anything except what the topic is. I try very hard to get the entire class back on task so that they will be able to succeed with the materials and pass a test.
Problems such as these I know I will always encounter and will take to my grave without completely solving them. In Chapter one, "Experiencing Teaching", I have found that by muddling through the ups and downs of reasoning, the "white water rapids", can be calm one minute and turbulent the next. The solutions to problems can sometimes be challenging as the class five rapids are, while some solutions can be calm class one rapids. At any case solutions to either a calm or turbulent issue is what a Experiencing Teaching and becoming a better instructor is about.
