How to recover from a miserable professor.

[QuarkCharmer]

I have a miserable professor. It's an easy lower level course. Half of the class has already dropped. I cannot afford that option, as it would put me under full time. I am essentially teaching myself the material with the help of some friends of mine who have taken it previously. I am not kidding when I say that she lectures through just the introductions of each chapter, spends the rest of the course talking about how important the chapter is, and then dismisses the course. She does not even cover the critical concepts in the chapters. It almost feels like she is disgruntled or something and not doing her job on purpose.

I'm basically going to teach myself for the remainder of the semester, and despite my answering every single question correctly, I will still end up with a B most likely. She posts example problems of the things we are supposed to know how to do, and about 30% of the problems have a fatal error that makes it unsolvable, typos, incorrect mathematics, that sort of thing. The other day we had a quiz that consisted of information that she specifically told us not to work on. Afterwards she said "well, it's in the syllabus so you all should know it". Seriously?

Is it even worth my time complaining to someone?

 

[Pengwuino]

She tenured? :P

 

[QuarkCharmer]

I believe so.

 

[flyingpig]

My chemistry professor once linked us to a discovery channel video on youtube before our final for our "review".

Just read the book and ask here to recover.

 

[Dickfore]

Is this a summer course? What kind of school gives Physics courses in summer? No wonder she is doing a terrible job.

 

[flyingpig]

Is this a summer course? What kind of school gives Physics courses in summer? No wonder she is doing a terrible job.

Lots of schools have summer classes. I think OP just picked the wrong professor...

 

[Dickfore]

Could you please link me to a respectable school that offers Physics in summer?

 

[mege]

Could you please link me to a respectable school that offers Physics in summer?

http://www.mtu.edu/catalog/undergraduate/course-descriptions/pdf/undergraduate.pdf


PH2100 and PH2200 are both listed as available Summer.

 

[QuarkCharmer]

Could you please link me to a respectable school that offers Physics in summer?

I think these guys are reputable, so I am told at least.
http://web.mit.edu/catalog/summer/course_08.html

I wish I were over exaggerating the severity of my circumstance, but sadly I am not. I have no problem teaching myself, though it is frustrating because you know, I am paying them!, but even self study leading to full knowledge of the material seems frustrating because of the phrasing of the test/quiz questions. There are always a few questions that do not come from the lecture (if you can call it that) or the book.

 

[Pengwuino]

It's too hot to do physics in the summer

 

[Dickfore]

http://www.mtu.edu/catalog/undergraduate/course-descriptions/pdf/undergraduate.pdf


PH2100 and PH2200 are both listed as available Summer.

MTU is hardly a reputable school. Besides, their lab schedule says it takes 15 weeks. I wonder how they fir 15 weeks from 9 May till 11 Aug, the period the Summer 2011 semester lasts.

I think these guys are reputable, so I am told at least.
http://web.mit.edu/catalog/summer/course_08.html

From that website:

Registered MIT students can take arranged-unit subjects (such as UROP, Special Studies, Research, Internship, Co-op, Independent Study, Thesis Preparation, or Thesis) during the Summer Session by prior arrangement with a faculty member.

So, nope, no teaching in summer there.

 

[osnarf]

http://catalog.caltech.edu/pdf/catalog_10_11.pdf

Offered in third term (March 28th - June 8th - exact same length as my summer term, just starts/ends earlier).

https://esa-oas-prod.itap.purdue.edu:9011/prod/bwckctlg.p_display_courses

PHYS 17200 - Modern Mechanics
Credit Hours: 4.00. Introductory calculus-based physics course using fundamental interactions between atoms to describe Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, energy quantization, entropy, the kinetic theory of gases, and related topics in mechanics and thermodynamics. Emphasis is on using only a few fundamental principles to describe physical phenomena extending from nuclei to galaxies. 3-D graphical simulations and numerical problem solving by computer are employed by the student from the very beginning. Typically offered Summer Fall Spring.

 

[physics girl phd]

Could you please link me to a respectable school that offers Physics in summer?

http://www.sce.cornell.edu/ss/courses/on/courses.php?action=roster&f=DEPTID&v=122"

They look to offer standard algebra-based and calc-based intro courses in summer.

Edit: oop -- you beat me to something, osnarf, one minute. I googled "physics classes summer" and cornell was the first to pop up.

 

[osnarf]

I don't see how taking it over summer changes anything? It just is expected that you read faster.

 

[Dickfore]

http://catalog.caltech.edu/pdf/catalog_10_11.pdf

Offered in third term (March 28th - June 8th - exact same length as my summer term, just starts/ends earlier).

So, it means the third term is already finished.

 

[osnarf]

Sounds like it. Are you seriously suggesting that the time of year matters? I thought the problem was that the class was condensed. FYI harvard offers a 8 cred hour class over summer also for non majors combining phys 1 and 2. I like how you didn't comment on purdue or cornell.

Yes, finished yesterday, not tomorrow like you originally said.

 

[mege]

MTU is hardly a reputable school. Besides, their lab schedule says it takes 15 weeks. I wonder how they fir 15 weeks from 9 May till 11 Aug, the period the Summer 2011 semester lasts.

Define reputable then? MTU may not be a large school, but not-reputable is pretty harsh.

Why wouldn't a school offer lower-level physics durring the summer?

The point though - QC, what did your friends that had the class previously say about the professor? (or did they have someone else?)

 

[osnarf]

To the op - not that I doubt that your professor may be less than enthusiastic, but how do you figure on getting a B if you answer everything correctly?

 

[osnarf]

And many times I feel there are errors in examples and after about an hour of staring at it I realize it was correct and I was wrong, perhaps you should post some of these on here? Maybe you're missing something.

 

[physics girl phd]

I have a miserable professor... It almost feels like she is disgruntled or something.

These statements worried me... but phew: at least some things in your post tell me you're not talking about me. I'm pretty sure I'm covering key concepts and doing decent examples (in fact LOTS of decent examples - in class and not via "posting") and I'm sadly abandoning some of WHY the chapter is important (due to limited time and favoring tons of examples). I also don't "quiz" and as "term staff" I am certainly not tenured.

I'm teaching a summer calc-based "electricity and magnetism for engineers" course at a "Biggie State U." type. They all hate it, even during full Fall/Spring terms (it's a tough course and they don't have great preparation from their engineering fundamentals (statics/dynamics classes not offered through physics). Rumor surprisingly seems to have it, however, that I'm now a favored teacher in the class, because (after some really yucky summer terms) I decided to turn half the classes into recitations and then make tests problems-based where they pick 3 of 4 problems (it's worked for them and me). There are some conceptual parts b or c to these problems, usually based on symmetry or something simple like limits... and there's some conceptual stuff in HW. But doing all the practice and example problems has retained the standard of the course relative to other institutions while making it bearable to my students.

 

[osnarf]

These statements worried me... but phew: at least some things in your post tell me you're not talking about me.

This is really funny. I'm always trying to make sure I don't mention anything TOO specific... just in case :)

 

[AlephZero]

She posts example problems of the things we are supposed to know how to do, and about 30% of the problems have a fatal error that makes it unsolvable, typos, incorrect mathematics, that sort of thing. The other day we had a quiz that consisted of information that she specifically told us not to work on. Afterwards she said "well, it's in the syllabus so you all should know it". Seriously?

This sounds like an excellent introduction to the way the real world works.

Best get used to it. You will have to deal with lots more of the same in the next 30 or 40 years of your life.

Complaining probably won't change anything, unless you can get the majority of the class to make a joint complaint (and trying to organize that will be another "real-world educational experience" for you )

 

[QuarkCharmer]

To the op - not that I doubt that your professor may be less than enthusiastic, but how do you figure on getting a B if you answer everything correctly?

It's quite simple really. The course has 5 tests and daily quizzes that all amount to the weight of a sixth test. The quizzes are essentially written examinations and the questions often ask us to describe/explain particular phenomenon that are not within the scope of the course. "Why do you think that..." types of questions. Even with the correct answer(s), (I verify them with the department tutors) you ALWAYS lose points because she will write something like "A more efficient way would be to <do something differently>". I think this is absolutely asinine. How are we expected to answer questions that are not within the scope of the course. There are many different correct ways to do things, and we basically lose points for her criticism. The quiz questions mine as well be written like "What are the professors feelings on some subject"?

 

[Dickfore]

http://www.sce.cornell.edu/ss/courses/on/courses.php?action=roster&f=DEPTID&v=122"

They look to offer standard algebra-based and calc-based intro courses in summer.

Edit: oop -- you beat me to something, osnarf, one minute. I googled "physics classes summer" and cornell was the first to pop up.

The summer session is offered by the School of continuing education and lasts only 6 weeks. So, it is definitely not a regular session.

These are the instructors' positions for the offered courses:
1101 and 1102 - Senior Lecturer and Research Associate;
1112 - Not listed anywhere
2213 - Visiting Associate Professor
2214 - Co-principal Investigator
6501 (A course offered only in Summer Session) - Visiting Scientist

Non of these is a Tenured Faculty. So, I would say it's not really Cornell that you are getting.

EDIT:

FYI harvard offers a 8 cred hour class over summer also for non majors combining phys 1 and 2.

The bolded text further supports my point, but you had not even provided a link.

 

[capandbells]

Ohio State offers intro physics (for physics majors) in the summer. (Here's the link, but it won't let me link directly to results, you have to search for them: https://courses.osu.edu/psp/hcosuct/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/COMMUNITY_ACCESS.CLASS_SEARCH.GBL)

PHYSICS 131 - Introductory Physics: Particles and Motion

0010-LEC(13814)
Days & Times Room Instructor Meeting Dates
MoWeFr 1:30PM - 2:18PM
Smith Lab 1005
Thomas Edward Barrett
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011

0013-LAB(13817)
Days & Times Room Instructor Meeting Dates
We 10:30AM - 12:18PM
Smith Lab 2064
Geoffrey Nathan Smith
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011

0014-REC(13818)
Days & Times Room Instructor Meeting Dates
TuTh 2:30PM - 3:18PM
Smith Lab 2186
Geoffrey Nathan Smith
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011

PHYSICS 132 - Introductory Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
...
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011
...
PHYSICS 133 - Introductory Physics: Thermal Physics, Waves, and Quantum Physics
...
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011
...

If you try to say Ohio State isn't a real school, then you're just an ***.

 

[Dickfore]

Ohio State offers intro physics (for physics majors) in the summer. (Here's the link, but it won't let me link directly to results, you have to search for them: https://courses.osu.edu/psp/hcosuct/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/COMMUNITY_ACCESS.CLASS_SEARCH.GBL)

PHYSICS 131 - Introductory Physics: Particles and Motion

0010-LEC(13814)
Days & Times Room Instructor Meeting Dates
MoWeFr 1:30PM - 2:18PM
Smith Lab 1005
Thomas Edward Barrett
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011

0013-LAB(13817)
Days & Times Room Instructor Meeting Dates
We 10:30AM - 12:18PM
Smith Lab 2064
Geoffrey Nathan Smith
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011

0014-REC(13818)
Days & Times Room Instructor Meeting Dates
TuTh 2:30PM - 3:18PM
Smith Lab 2186
Geoffrey Nathan Smith
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011

PHYSICS 132 - Introductory Physics: Electricity and Magnetism
...
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011
...
PHYSICS 133 - Introductory Physics: Thermal Physics, Waves, and Quantum Physics
...
6/20/2011 - 8/22/2011
...

If you try to say Ohio State isn't a real school, then you're just an ***.

Apart from sucking at football, they're ok

But, seriously, the first Instructor is again a lecturer. Are you trying to tell me that Ohio State does not have tenured faculty teaching introductory Physics Courses in the Fall and Spring Semesters?

 

[Ryker]

Dickfore, what's your point, anyway? I mean, what are you trying to achieve here?

 

[Dickfore]

My point is no sane person should take Physics courses in the summer semester. If you had taken it, you should not be surprised that some novice is practicing teaching skills on a minimum wage on you.

 

[Geezer]

Could you please link me to a respectable school that offers Physics in summer?

I believe UCLA offers some lower-division physics courses in the summer. And they offer math, too.

 

[Geezer]

I don't want to give away much more of my identity than I already have, but I took Classical Mechanics (a junior-level course) at my Big State U during the summer as an undergrad. And it was taught by a tenured professor who received his PhD from a Top 10 physics program. There was no slacking off during that course, that's for sure.