tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post7885303511022883575..comments2024-03-14T04:16:20.472-07:00Comments on In Socrates' Wake: don rags: a different sort of student evaluationMichael Cholbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02012523929044363216noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-46585161396149947392009-06-10T14:42:03.111-07:002009-06-10T14:42:03.111-07:00I went to a small liberal arts college in californ...I went to a small liberal arts college in california where the department in which I majored used the 'Don Rag' model.<br /><br />Three observations that I have of this type of student evaluation are 1) it seemed like this kind of evaluation was most effective as a sort of general critique of a student qua student, rather than specific critiques of individual assignments. Written comments on work are still necessary (though I imagine that most people who read about this method guessed that). 2) On a related note, a written summary of what was discussed in the don rag might help a student remember the specifics of the conversation and be able to better make use of the advice the faculty offer. 3) For some students, the experience of the don rag can be VERY intimidating and cause lots of anxiety; we regularly had people, even very good students, reduced to tears even before the meetings. Some efforts by the faculty to reduce the stress might be helpful.Noah Biglinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-30123868344037761022009-05-10T11:32:00.000-07:002009-05-10T11:32:00.000-07:00This sounds similar to an 'Academic Review' as it ...This sounds similar to an 'Academic Review' as it was called at my college. Reports were sent by my tutors (instructors) to my Moral Tutor (academic mentor), the Master (President) and the Senior Tutor (Academic Dean), who would discuss them with me. <br /><br />The difficulty was that, particularly because of the presence of the Master, the occasion was too formal and polite. There was a reluctance to issue harsh criticisms of a student in the presence of the Master. I'm not saying that this never happened. Some students did have bad academic reviews, and many students worried about the possibility, but it was a threat reserved for extreme cases. <br /><br />In my cases, the reports were always good, and so I really learned nothing useful from the process. So I think this kind of process can only worky well if it is possible to create an atmosphere were criticisms can be made without everyone feeling very uncomfortable.Ben Murphyhttp://mailer.fsu.edu/~bmurphy/index.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-44292580843995143982009-05-08T14:31:00.000-07:002009-05-08T14:31:00.000-07:00The goal of learning is understand. Teachers must ...The goal of learning is understand. Teachers must know how students think, and build from there, and then test their understanding. See "Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better" on amazon.Dr. Sanford Aranoffnoreply@blogger.com