MakBek
New member
I’m eager to hear everyone’s thoughts—there are plenty of seasoned educators here, and I’m sure we can all learn from one another. This was my first semester as an instructor, and the experience was an eye‑opener.
Here are a few take‑aways that may seem obvious, but were hard‑won over the past few months:
Here are a few take‑aways that may seem obvious, but were hard‑won over the past few months:
- Rubrics aren’t magic. Even the most detailed grading rubric can be ignored by students, and they’ll often be surprised (or upset) when the final grade doesn’t match their expectations.
- Never assume senior students are writing experts. Upper‑level coursework doesn’t automatically mean they’ve mastered academic writing.
- Teach proper email etiquette. Dedicate a syllabus section to the right way to contact professors, TAs, and other campus staff.
- Make expectations explicit. Next term I plan to require a short “syllabus quiz” that covers key policies—including a clear definition of plagiarism. My experience as a TA in an advanced class showed me that even juniors can be uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism.