Mid-Semester Course Corrections
18 Comments
Dear Professors and Fellow Students,
As we approach the middle of the semester, I’m worried about my performance in some of my classes. Do you have any suggestions for how I can turn things around before it’s too late?
A BYU Student
Dear BYU Student,
Jay Silvester, an Olympic record holder, said that “the only time you really fail is when you stop trying.” One of the hardest things to do when classes get tough and you feel like you’re falling behind is to keep going. I have often watched other students and wondered where they get their energy to keep going even when they are so far behind it appears they will never catch up. That kind of motivation doesn’t come easy to me (or many other people, for that matter) so I have had to find ways to make myself keep going.
I have discovered that taking time to make an appointment and talk with the instructor of the class takes me several steps closer in a short amount of time. Not only can the instructor give you tips on survival, but he or she can also provide encouragement. The instructors here at BYU truly do care about their students, their students’ success, and their students’ welfare. Going to talk to a professor has saved me many times… Read More…
What are some ways professors can teach with the Spirit?
15 Comments
Dear Student:
Will you please share your thoughts as to how we as your professors can best follow the direction Brigham Young gave Karl G. Maeser to not even “teach the alphabet or the multiplication tables without the Spirit of God”?
A BYU Professor
Dear Professor:
To teach anything under the influence of the Holy Ghost requires the effort of both parties involved. Obviously, you must create a learning environment that invites this influence. I feel that you should know the names of each student in class; view them as unique individuals, not masses; respond to questions respectfully and with concern for the student’s understanding; and engage the students and respect their agency as they respond.
The student, on the other hand, must first be prepared (the Spirit cannot draw from an empty well), and second, desire to be taught (we are blessed according to our desires). Therefore, I think you could help us to be accountable for this preparation and desire. I have seen this successfully accomplished in a variety of ways; e.g., have us grade ourselves in certain aspects of the course at the end of the semester; begin each class with a short quiz reviewing the material from the previous class meeting; and teaching with enthusiasm and energy (enthusiasm is contagious—it can spark desire in others).
Sincerely,
Seth-Aaron Martinez
BYU Student
