Why can't my Math prof be Mathman?

[Tonichelle]

My College Algebra prof scares the bleep out of me! He's very unapproachable. He basically went on an hour long tirade on how he hates college students attitudes these days - how they want their hands held and blah blah blah....

The way he came off he was going to eat everyone of us.

You ask him a math question and he tells you to talk to a tutor he's a 'coach' not a 'teacher' that we should know most of the operations, it's just applying them now.

He's the only prof I've not talked to about being gone (he says if we're going to miss class we might as well save him the trouble and drop it )

I want to drop the class, but I'm already so behind that I want to at least give it a try, but his 'teaching' (or coaching) style scares me to the point where I am not sure I'm going to focus... I don't know what to do...

MM, how much do you charge to tutor?

 

[gsrossano]

Sounds like your prof is the one who should be dropping the course!

 

[STL_Blues_fan]

is there a "math lab" or regular tutoring offered by the department?

university that i graduated from had about 10-12 college algebra classes per semester and we had a "math lab" staffed by students from 8-2 pm. It was actually one of the best jobs I had while in school!

if that doesn't work, look for a grad student, they are always low on cash and usually have to do some TA so they may be a better bet that chasing unresponsive professor or worse yet, dropping a class.

good luck!

 

[Tonichelle]

they have a 'learning center' that has math tutors, but you have to pay for it... and I don't have the funds for something like that (yes I realize me whining when I'm getting ready for nationals makes little or no sense... lol)

He was a little less scary tonight... but I still don't get his style of teaching. He doesn't complete ANYTHING. it's all abbreviated in writing and thinking and it's frustrating...

but one of my classmates from grade school is in the class and he's a math whiz (I assume he just started up here at UAA) so I might beg him for help lol

 

[bronxgirl]

My freshman Calculus prof greeted us all the first day with "I care about you people about as much as you care about my salary". He ranks as one of the worst teachers I've ever had, and one of the reasons, I couldnt solve a differential equation if you no matter what. Mathman, there are too few like you!

 

[NJSk8Fan]

Toni, as someone who shook in her shoes with a lot of teachers just through high school and absolutely no courage for college....but am a mature and somewhat stronger person now...My advice would be:
Life is too short to be so stressed over a college 'teacher' who sounds like a real a$$....drop the class and figure out an alternative!

 

[Ptichka]

they have a 'learning center' that has math tutors, but you have to pay for it... and I don't have the funds for something like that (yes I realize me whining when I'm getting ready for nationals makes little or no sense... lol)

Look at it this way - if it's cheaper than having to take another course then it may still be worth it.

 

[sillylionlove]

I had a similiar professor when I was in college. If you can get some people together, maybe you can go to the dean and discuss the situation with them.

 

[Tonichelle]

Look at it this way - if it's cheaper than having to take another course then it may still be worth it.

true... *sigh*

 

[fenway]

This guy sounds like an idiot. I've got news for him. A professor IS a teacher no matter what his enormous ego might choose to believe. Dump the class. But if you don't & you decide to stick with it, I suggest you write a scathing evaluation.

 

[heyang]

Watch out Toni. Mathman's rate might involve your tickets to Nationals!

 

[Tonichelle]

no I'll just have to say nice things about MK for the rest of my life

 

[babyoscar]

Great college professors are hard to come by. Not everyone is a born teacher AND researcher. To my understanding, the professors has to teach AND show advancements in research/publishing papers in order to be kept tenured. It isn't just research OR teaching anymore.

I was a TA for some college courses. I will agree with your professor's comments about the attitudes of today's college students. For granted not all of them are bunch of babies, but some of them wanted me to "hold their hand" in learning. The students aren't little kids, they are 18, 19 year olds in high level science classes. I had students flat out ask me answers in a test, cheat right in front of me and didn't care getting caught, sleeping and talking during lectures, and intentionally creating drama during class time. I asked the professors I TAed for if all the classes were like that, and they said no. Even few years back the students were much more respectful of each other and the teachers. But you do get a bad class here and there.

 

[Tonichelle]

yeah but if you're expecting a bad class you're going to get one...

 

[heyang]

Let me start off by saying that I am not directing this at anyone on this board or anyone I personally know....

My college roommate's SIL is in market research. They have done studies on general work force ethics. Generationally, the studies have judged the war generation and baby boomers to have strong work ethics and a high level of innovation and creativity. The following generation know how to work, but are a bit less innovative.

The thought about the current generation graduating from college is that they have an attitude of entitlement and don't know how to work for their goals, if they have them. Many expect to immediately earn $60K+ a year and go directly to management positions without experience. If they don't get into low level management, they only do what is expected of them and argue if you ask them to do more than their job title entails and still expect to be promoted.

Based on my co-worker's 2 sons, the above does seem to be somewhat true. Both sons expected to get their dream jobs and be able to get their own dream apartments.

My other co-worker has a son who is graduating next year. He told his mother that he didn't feel as though he had fun in college - so, she asked him why he didn't have fun doing his semester in Spain and why he and his friends went on all those road trips to Canada if he wasn't having fun. She also pointed out that he had not kept to his budget while he was in Spain and that she was footing the bill for everything. His response was that he was grateful. She also pointed out to him that she is retiring in a few years and has no intention of helping him with his expenses after graduation, although he can live at home as long as he helps around the house.

I'm guessing that part of the sense of entitlement is because these kids grew up doing the go-go 80's where people were apparently making money easily because the economy was stronger. Also, people were very much into brands starting in the late 70's.

 

[Tonichelle]

Well I completely agree

but I also blame parenting... the current trend that basically came with my generation was 'don't say NO, it hurts feelings, redirect the child (ie distract them with something else)'

that's just my view though. I'm the product of parents that spoiled their kid rotten and I'm paying for it now lol

 

[fenway]

Oh I don't argue that a lot of college students today (& back when I was in college) have a strong sense of entitlement. I do however think it's unfair of the professor to paint such broad strokes. What about those students who genuinely need help or need his assistance. They're not going to get it because he's made up his mind that all of his students are essentially spoiled brats? Hardly seems fair.

 

[babyoscar]

students

yeah but if you're expecting a bad class you're going to get one...

actually, I wasn't expecting a bad class, it was the first class I ever TAed. I was reluctant to TA again after that class so I had a talk with the professor. The professor assured me not all the classes were like that. And guess what, she was completely right. Of the 60+ (it was a lab/lecture class) kids from that first TA class, about 20 of them are just what Heyang described. Kids who felt they are entitled to have fun in college and still have their teachers baby them because they are so smart. And yes, they are incredibly smart kids or they wouldn't have been taking that class. And I used to tell those kids that your education is yours, I can't learn for you. If you choose not to learn, that is your loss not mine. Some of them smartened up pretty fast but some of them still acted like the way they always did. Some of them are doing really well career wise, some of them I am pretty sure didn't make anywhere close to graduation. I think in a class of 60+ kids, about 3-5 kids are the bad ones, the rest are pretty good kids.

However, just like the students, the professors have bad days too. I had professors who were going through family problems and they weren't around as much. But the next time I took his class he was around a lot. He did tell me why he wasn't available as much, and for some of their problems I can totally understand. I actually had a professor who fell asleep during a class presentation! That was the biggest joke among us, none of us could believe the professor actually nodded off. I also had professors who were always late to office hours or ones that just refuse to schedule extra office hour. So just like the students, not all professors are the same.

 

[nyrac07]

For some reason, many math and science professors are like that. My Calculus professor was like that, and I would have failed if it were not for my campus tutoring center. I would suggest trying to learn as much as you possibly can during class, and seek help (as much as you need) with a tutor. Many colleges provide this service. Good luck!