Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#1

Post by caesarion » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 2:24 AM UTC

I've taken classes with some pretty rotten teachers in the past, but a couple of my profs this term were especially awful. I want to know what I can do about it. I have no interest in being unfair or revengeful, but I do want something to change.

It's my job to take responsibility for getting what I want out of my classes, and while I think that's generally a solid policy, I also think it's reasonable to hold professors to a certain standard. It would be ideal to just avoid the bad ones, but there's often little selection or information.

I'd appreciate some advice on what I can do about it. What can I do during the term? What can I do to complain now that classes are over? I was thinking about writing a letter to the dean, but I have a suspicion that won't have any effect. Has anyone worked in the university system? Is there a best way to do this?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#2

Post by elliott99 » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 2:29 AM UTC

do they have tenure?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#3

Post by caesarion » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 2:40 AM UTC

elliott99 wrote: post #2

do they have tenure?

One does, the other doesn't.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#4

Post by sonabinu » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 3:10 AM UTC

in my experience, there is not much you can do about it. You should try ratemyprofessor.com before taking a class. I decided not to take a particular class because the professor who taught did not have the approach I was looking for and he had bad reviews on the site. In retrospect, I think it was a good decision. I went against the advice this term and took a course where the adjunct had terrible reviews and I regret it greatly.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#5

Post by caesarion » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 3:20 AM UTC

sonabinu wrote: post #4

in my experience, there is not much you can do about it. You should try ratemyprofessor.com before taking a class. I decided not to take a particular class because the professor who taught did not have the approach I was looking for and he had bad reviews on the site. In retrospect, I think it was a good decision. I went against the advice this term and took a course where the adjunct had terrible reviews and I regre…

What have you tried in the past that didn't work?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#6

Post by lutusp » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 3:24 AM UTC

> What can I do about bad professors?

You haven't provided a critical piece of information -- what you think constitutes "bad". Without this information, any advice must be based on guesswork.

Does "bad" mean ignorant of the topic they're teaching, or unskilled in teaching, or unwilling to communicate clearly, or what?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#7

Post by caesarion » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 3:52 AM UTC

lutusp wrote: post #6

> What can I do about bad professors? You haven't provided a critical piece of information -- what you think constitutes "bad". Without this information, any advice must be based on guesswork. Does "bad" mean ignorant of the topic they're teaching, or unskilled in teaching, or unwilling to communicate clearly, or what?

There were two, and they were 'bad' in different ways. Neither had any talent for teaching, both were unwilling to lift a finger to help outside of class. One was a typical powerpoint jockey, and consistently had incorrect statements on his slides. Anything from popular misquotes (Bill Gates saying no one will need more than 64 mb of memory) to downright misinformation. Brutal grammatical errors and typos in EVERYTHING he wrote. Gee, it's almost like he didn't care. Though it's less relevant, I found both obnoxiously holier-than-thou; very much the condescending academics.

Anyway, I just want to know where to direct my complaint. What's the most effective way to be heard?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#8

Post by shail » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 4:33 AM UTC

I would say take to offensive. Its not the revenge I am talking about. Its the fact that its extremely important to not let those teachers ruin any more money and life/career (in some cases).

One possible path: Go talk to your college's administration (take evidences along like slides, etc.) and suggest your college to encourage this behavior among students.

An incompetent teacher has absolutely no rights to teach.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#9

Post by CyberFonic » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 5:31 AM UTC

Most universities have a student representative council or some such body that represents students. You could submit your concerns to them. As @lutusp suggests you would need to be specific, the more specific the better in your submission.

Unfortunately the education system is going the way of corporations. Ever increasing prices and a constant chipping away at costs and thus reductions in quality.,

Re: Ask HN: What can I do about bad professors?

#10

Post by codeonfire » Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 5:31 AM UTC

Writing a letter to the dean will work because in academics all those professors secretly or not so secretly don't like each other. The dean is looking for help to deny tenure and raises. One letter won't do it, but if there is a pattern it is strong evidence. One thing, though is you probably want to have some strong evidence of wrongdoing. People who are struggling with the material usually complain "the professor just doesn't know how to teach." I wouldn't consider this as something that is report-able.

You should deal with bad professors by over-enrolling and then dropping the bad classes after a the first week or so.