OT: Teaching - SO Frustrated! - long

Anybody else on here teach?  I know there are a few of you. 

My degree is in mechanical engineering.  I didn't even finish my minor in math (I lack one class).  But for the last 5 years I've been teaching developmental math at a local community college.  Both my parents are retired teachers and my mom still teaches math at the same community college.

I LOVE teaching, especially the developmental classes I teach.  Up until recently I've worked a day job and taught two night classes.  Most of my students were non-traditional (over 25) students with kids and jobs and *****ally, really wanted to learn. 

I've played around with different classroom setups but I'd settled with lecture in class where I introduce new material followed by time with me in the room to work on homework.  I gave homework assignments on paper that I *gasp* graded.  The homework solutions were available online after the homework was due.  I thought it was working very well.  I have one of the highest pass rates in the school and I know from talking to my former students that they have been doing well in their "regular" classes. 

This summer we were informed that all developmental math classes will now be online.  I will still have a class in a classroom for 3 hours a week but all homework and testing will be done online.  Each student will be able to redo all homework and tests until a passing grade is reached including the final.  Testing and homework will be done in class but no lecture per se.  That's because everybody in the class will be at different points because they have to retake stuff until they pass it.  If they pass 4 of the 7 units, they'll get a grade of MP (making progress) and be allowed to take the class again starting where they left off.  If they don't pass 4 of the 7, they'll have to start over the next semester. 

I won't have to write any tests or grade anything.  That's already done for me.  I HATE it!!!!!  Class starts in 2 weeks and "they" haven't finished setting up our classes.  I can't see what I'll be doing.  The gal who handles the online stuff was on vacation most of the summer.  So I had two months to fret over this but obviously less than 2 weeks to prepare. 

If by some miracle, I get a job I don't plan to continue teaching.  I hate to give it up but I really don't like the way things are being done now.  I'll have to cover my two this fall but please GOD let me get a job before spring. 

One of the consequences of this I believe will be fewer adjunct faculty because they can seriously raise the number of students in each class.  Why not when there's no grading and we're basically overpaid tutors? 

Anybody else having to deal with something like this? 

How I would love to have a teacher like you!  I never finished my degree because of the one Algebra class I had to take.  You sound like someone *****ally cares!  Hang on, something will turn up you can live with! 

 I'm an adjunct for medical terminology at our local community college.  I've "taught"... "led" may be the better word for three semesters now and I have to say...... I create the course content but I feel like I'm not actually teaching.  It's almost like I'm an email buddy to my students.  They teach themselves and if they have questions they call or email me.  

I definitely understand your feelings. 

 As a student with a budy schedule, I sometimes take online classes and I can feel your frustraition.

I really dislike online classes because I feel like I am not being taught. I am teaching myself, and then some random teacher gets to grade my paper. I pay the same amount of money as student who actually get lectured. It makes no sense. 

The only reason I have don't online classes and because some classes are not offered in the evenings, and also, because I don't drive so it can sometimes be a strugle to get a ride.

This semester, I signed up for online, and I just got hire for a new position, so I can change my class to one actually in class because it will now work with my schedule. I am so relieved.

I'm sorry they fixed it like this. Maybe if enough students complain and/or struggle to complete the class they will change this policy. That will probably be a few semesters away though. 

Hello, I've taught 7th grade English for 11 years - I can understand your frustration. Although it's different because some of my students don't want to be there, they have to, I also don't like when the state changes things without putting anything into place to help. They expect local schools to shoulder the cost and problems that come up. I see you live in KY - I'm not sure how the state runs the schools there, but I know I have complaints about NY. Hang in there - there is a huge need for teachers who care and who put in extra effort to make sure their students learn.

I teach history in a suburban high school.  Additionally, I teach a class after-school to teens who have failed a history course because of a few units. The class is designed so that the specific units kids fail, they retake.  So, for example, last semester I had a class of 20, each student working on different units from different history classes taught originally with different teachers.  I never know what exactly I am going to be covering until they show up on the first day with their grades in hand.  It is extremely stressful, and like you, I don't really teach, but tutor.  The kids do most of the work on their own, which can be a problem, as there are reasons they didn't pass to begin with!  Or, in your case, reasons why they need developmental math classes.

Some suggestions:

1. See if there are common skills sets that everyone is weak in and use your 3 hour classtime for teaching those common weaknesses.  

2. Once you learn the specifics of your students, you could put them into groups.  These groups could be set up whereby each group has a common area of weakness and you can rotate among the groups, teaching them, while the others work on online material.  

3. Or, you could create groups where your students abilities are mixed and they each bring strengths to the group in which to help the others.  Then they could work on material together, helping each other understand.  This could take the pressure off of you to be everything to everyone.

I would plan the first class around getting to know them and their needs.  I know how stressful it can be if you don't feel prepared.  My "back to school nightmares" will probably begin in a week or two.  Every year I get them and they are always about being unprepared on the first day of class.

Good luck!