Why I’m No Longer a Professor • Hacker News Board

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#41

Post by nileshtrivedi » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 7:44 PM UTC

jestinjoy1 wrote: post #22

"When I joined another institution that emphasized course evaluations, I saw that as an excellent sign of a more student-focused organization. Promotion and pay were based on achieving the highest student satisfaction ratings. But, I soon learned that statistically insignificant differences in evaluation scores determined wildly divergent financial remuneration. Savvy colleagues whispered that the quickest path to mo…

This is the problem with teaching - the incentives are never perfectly aligned. Students are the real customers - but they don't know what's best for them so they can't do a fair evaluation. Education is such a long-term investment, that it's effectiveness can only be measured after years. Which means short-term gimmicks will continue to be rewarded by the market.

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#42

Post by rawland » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 7:46 PM UTC

Good education is politically discouraged.

That is my impression, too. It is very very disappointing, as I am at the beginning of the trajectory John C. Beck just ended. His decision and words do not surprise me a bit...

I didn't find out why, yet. The gist of my current theory is, that this crumbles down from old minds in politics getting more and more detached from what is actually happening in and around the {academe/increasingly digital} world.

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#43

Post by phreanix » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 7:46 PM UTC

javajosh wrote: post #29

jestinjoy1 wrote: post #22

"When I joined another institution that emphasized course evaluations, I saw that as an excellent sign of a more student-focused organization. Promotion and pay were based on achieving the highest student satisfaction ratings. But, I soon learned that statistically insignificant differences in evaluation scores determined wildly divergent financial remuneration. Savvy colleagues whispered that the quickest path to mo…

Teachers should be judged based on student evaluations - but those evaluations should be deferred until, oh, 10 years later when students can honestly and dispassionately answer the question: "did that teacher enrich my life, prepare me for the livelihood I'm actually earning today?" Of course, administrations can't wait 10 years for feedback, more's the pity.

Student feedback should be valued for sure, but there has to be another way to evaluate a teacher's skills and ability to impart lasting knowledge.

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#44

Post by webhat » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 7:47 PM UTC

tdumitrescu wrote: post #35

jestinjoy1 wrote: post #22

"When I joined another institution that emphasized course evaluations, I saw that as an excellent sign of a more student-focused organization. Promotion and pay were based on achieving the highest student satisfaction ratings. But, I soon learned that statistically insignificant differences in evaluation scores determined wildly divergent financial remuneration. Savvy colleagues whispered that the quickest path to mo…

This played a big role in my decision to leave a tenured position several years ago to go work in web dev. The university's increasingly biz-dev-oriented emphasis on student evaluations and quantity of diplomas pushed through turned the whole thing into a consumer-oriented relationship where you're expected to just give 'em that paper they're paying for. Shouldn't be the purpose of higher education IMO.

Just looked at the impressive list of institutes you attended. What did you teach?

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#45

Post by webhat » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 7:50 PM UTC

javajosh wrote: post #29

jestinjoy1 wrote: post #22

"When I joined another institution that emphasized course evaluations, I saw that as an excellent sign of a more student-focused organization. Promotion and pay were based on achieving the highest student satisfaction ratings. But, I soon learned that statistically insignificant differences in evaluation scores determined wildly divergent financial remuneration. Savvy colleagues whispered that the quickest path to mo…

Teachers should be judged based on student evaluations - but those evaluations should be deferred until, oh, 10 years later when students can honestly and dispassionately answer the question: "did that teacher enrich my life, prepare me for the livelihood I'm actually earning today?" Of course, administrations can't wait 10 years for feedback, more's the pity.

And as a result of these evaluations coming too soon teaching becomes a popularity contest.

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#46

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 7:52 PM UTC

greggman wrote: post #9

Whenever I think about teaching I generally assume I'll run into similar problems. Teaching apparently has tons of politics and strict rules. The only thing I could think of is starting my own school but I haven't gotten myself to make that jump yet.

[deleted]

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#47

Post by webhat » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 7:57 PM UTC

n0rm wrote: post #12

greggman wrote: post #9

Whenever I think about teaching I generally assume I'll run into similar problems. Teaching apparently has tons of politics and strict rules. The only thing I could think of is starting my own school but I haven't gotten myself to make that jump yet.

When you try to get it accredited, you'll have a better understanding of the problem. Only when you threaten to rock the boat do the esteemed gentlemen show their mafia qualities.

I beg to differ, we are in the process of getting accredited and I have yet to find a horses head in my bed. ;)

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#48

Post by webhat » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 8:05 PM UTC

Interesting to read this piece[1] by the same author.

For the first time in my career, I understand why I’m so nervous and irritable every time I walk into a classroom. In my own small way—in the only way I personally will ever be able to comprehend it—I am feeling the burden of preparing the next generation of humans to be more humane and better individuals. It is an awesome responsibility. But it is also why I’m a teacher.

1. http://www.hult.edu/ja-jp/news/blogs/2012/july/why-im-a-teac...

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#49

Post by NewZealandRocks » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 8:13 PM UTC

rawland wrote: post #42

Good education is politically discouraged. That is my impression, too. It is very very disappointing, as I am at the beginning of the trajectory John C. Beck just ended. His decision and words do not surprise me a bit... I didn't find out why, yet. The gist of my current theory is, that this crumbles down from old minds in politics getting more and more detached from what is actually happening in and around the {acad…

It seems like the opportunity is ripe for disruption in this educational community. The cost of education is becoming prohibitively expensive and our public schools are not preparing students well for the real world.

I think if more emphasis were placed on the importance of career development early on, students would have better focus. In addition, teachers need to do a better job at demonstarting how learning can benefit their students. It is in everybody's best interests to have an informed and educated society.

Re: Why I’m No Longer a Professor

#50

Post by fortawesome » Sat, Jun 28, 2014, 8:23 PM UTC

This is, in fact, happening when the stakes are much higher - in hospitals.

The UT Southwestern Medical Center is driven by residents' evaluations of their supervisors, and routinely operate on patients with absolutely no supervision present. The actual doctors are afraid of getting poor reviews and killing their chances for advancement, as has happened to their peers. So the residents do as they wish, often at great risk and harm to the patient.

I unfortunately have experience with this facility. My brother-in-law was operated on by their residents for a routine removal of a skin graft. Their supervisor (one of the faculty members mentioned in the article linked below) was not present. My brother-in-law received 5 holes in his intestines and was unable to eat for 12 months, surviving on TPN alone. The Mayo Clinic finally resected his bowels, leaving him questionably enough intestines for a normal life. Sadly, for state-affiliated medical facilities in Texas, there is little recourse after the fact. The state has limited damages in such a way that no attorney was interested in the case.

More details here: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlin...