Comments on: My bad side http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/12/my-bad-side/ Economics, Politics, Entertainment and Life in Academia Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:37:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Zach http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/12/my-bad-side/comment-page-1/#comment-4834 Zach Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:17:26 +0000 http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/?p=1178#comment-4834 Dave, Maybe this student interpreted your "bad side" as you being in a zone because I have seen you a few times be very concentrated and be a little short with people (myself included). This student might have caught you at one of these times and thought he was on your bad side. I remember once you walked right past me in the halls and I think I did an in passing hello but you didn't acknowledge me, later I think you sent an email saying sorry because you relized later who it was. Had I not been a student who had known you well and knew your personality a little bit I could have thought I was on your bad side. P.S. I don't want to come off as I am saying you are a bad prof becasue you are a very good prof. I liked both the courses I took with you very much and learned a lot in them. Dave,
Maybe this student interpreted your “bad side” as you being in a zone because I have seen you a few times be very concentrated and be a little short with people (myself included). This student might have caught you at one of these times and thought he was on your bad side. I remember once you walked right past me in the halls and I think I did an in passing hello but you didn’t acknowledge me, later I think you sent an email saying sorry because you relized later who it was. Had I not been a student who had known you well and knew your personality a little bit I could have thought I was on your bad side.

P.S. I don’t want to come off as I am saying you are a bad prof becasue you are a very good prof. I liked both the courses I took with you very much and learned a lot in them.

]]> By: Katya http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/12/my-bad-side/comment-page-1/#comment-4412 Katya Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:40:35 +0000 http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/?p=1178#comment-4412 Dave, I wanted to react to this as an old student of yours as well as being a TA myself right now. First, even the best grading is ambiguous (I think). Especially when teaching a larger class with 60 students and over, it is extremely hard to separate a 85% paper from an 86% paper ot exam. We still have to make the difference (it is of course clear when the answer is numerical, but I know you have essays in your exams). As a student, I did not fully understand the difficulties that come with grading and expected professors to give a grade that perfectly reflects one's knowledge and effort (virtually impossible?). Anyway, about your class though, I was VERY surprised to hear that someone thinks they can get "on you bad side." I have taken 2 of your classes and never thought that way, and do not know anyone who has either. So I personally think you can disregard that comment; most likely the student was angry with the grade they got. I am pretty sure I disagreed with much of your opinion that you might have insinuated in class (or rather it just became clear after a while), but I never thought my grade reflected any of that at all. Regarding the overall class, you knew my position I am sure; I thought the class could have been harder and more challenging (I don't think anyone thought that way though except for me). When you asked us after the first term if we thought you should keep the 2 quizzes a week, I was so for it (and I am sure the students in class hated me or though I was crazy because of that--totally fine!). But you taught the material in a very comprehensive way--that is key (and that is why I took the next class with you too)!! That way you made econ graspable for everyone and you were very generous with your time. I am sure everyone except that one student appreciated it a great deal! Dave, I wanted to react to this as an old student of yours as well as being a TA myself right now.

First, even the best grading is ambiguous (I think). Especially when teaching a larger class with 60 students and over, it is extremely hard to separate a 85% paper from an 86% paper ot exam. We still have to make the difference (it is of course clear when the answer is numerical, but I know you have essays in your exams). As a student, I did not fully understand the difficulties that come with grading and expected professors to give a grade that perfectly reflects one’s knowledge and effort (virtually impossible?).
Anyway, about your class though, I was VERY surprised to hear that someone thinks they can get “on you bad side.” I have taken 2 of your classes and never thought that way, and do not know anyone who has either. So I personally think you can disregard that comment; most likely the student was angry with the grade they got. I am pretty sure I disagreed with much of your opinion that you might have insinuated in class (or rather it just became clear after a while), but I never thought my grade reflected any of that at all.
Regarding the overall class, you knew my position I am sure; I thought the class could have been harder and more challenging (I don’t think anyone thought that way though except for me). When you asked us after the first term if we thought you should keep the 2 quizzes a week, I was so for it (and I am sure the students in class hated me or though I was crazy because of that–totally fine!). But you taught the material in a very comprehensive way–that is key (and that is why I took the next class with you too)!! That way you made econ graspable for everyone and you were very generous with your time. I am sure everyone except that one student appreciated it a great deal!

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