Saturday, 5 May 2007 - 5:07 PM PDT

I can relate well to what you say. How refreshing it is to start something new, especially something like education after having been working for “too” long. I myself am on and off at the college and seem never to get enough, even though I have to take breaks and “work” in order to pay for the college.

But every time I get back I get this push of motivation and energy and I know that I want to pursue my goals and finish with a diploma. I must say however, that the evening classes are very exhausting and many teachers think that their classes are the only ones one has to study for. It is a lot of hard work and I’m trying to do the best I can.

But I often ask myself, at the end of a semester, what did I really learn in this class? Am I satisfied with the knowledge I gained? Is the grade justified? Right now I’m a little bit frustrated about a speech class I’m taking. Throughout the whole semester we needed to read every week a chapter from the book and every single time we had a quiz. The speech class is very much theory oriented, and I’m wondering if that is right? We have only one personal speech and one group speech and these two happen in the last 3 weeks of the semester. So, I’m really questioning the teacher’s technique? Until now, we didn’t get any chance to practice more of public speaking, so I must admit I was very overwhelmed when it was my turn for my personal speech. Practicing in front of the mirror or friends, doesn’t really count, as it is an audience you know well, the outcome is not the same as speaking in front of strangers.

I do expect to learn when taking a certain class, I know that I myself have to put effort in it in order to succeed, but I also think that the teacher is the tool and if he/she is not guiding the student in the right direction he/she fails it the job. I really am unhappy with that particular class and I hope that I will be able to talk about it to my teacher. I really wish there would be something like an evaluation form for the teacher given at the end of each semester. If I would be a teacher, I would like to know what my students think about me and my way of teaching, and if I succeeded in teaching them all they need to know to move on to the next level.

Sunday, 6 May 2007 - 11:28 AM PDT

After years of working in a pretty solitary field, I need to get used to the social surrounding of being in school and the city. Alot of adjustment was necessary to come here, and I'm still adjusting. I wish i could absorb some of your enthusiasm, as our goals are the same, but our focus is different.

Sunday, 6 May 2007 - 7:09 PM PDT

You have raised a very interesting point. At the beginning of each semester teachers (I would think) have one primary goal for their class - to cover the course material. Usually they spell it out during the first class meeting by giving students a class schedule outlining the books required and the assignments due and their due dates.

As a student I have never been asked or given the opportunity to share what my goals or expectations are for the class. Since City College is so "community" oriented perhaps teachers could be encouraged to solicit student goals and expectations on day one. That way everyone is clear from the outset and students have an opportunity to transfer to another class if they think it appropriate.

In your case, the teacher would advise, that contrary to what one might expect from a speech class, 90% of class time will be spent on quizes and the theory of speech and only 10% on speech practice or presentation in front of the class.

I'm in a similar situtation with a computer graphics class I'm taking. Our professor lectures all evening and the students are never given an opporutnity to put into practice what has been covered. Its particularly difficult for those who do not have the particular program on their personal computers.

There is power in numbers and our entire class should have spoken up earlier in the semester to persuade our professor to incorporate 15-30 minutes of practice time each evening. The benefit to the students would be tremendous and instead of complaining about the teacher we would be spreading the word "Come to City College and take Professor ____'s class, it's brilliant."

Monday, 7 May 2007 - 10:13 AM PDT

Yes, I agree with you on the point, that it would be great if students would actually get the chance to define their goals, instead of being put into the teacher’s frame of goals for the semester. Unfortunately, I don’t think this is ever going to happen, because even though the CCSF is supposed to be “community” oriented, it is “cheap” and therefore a student needs to take what he/she gets without putting any demands on the faculty. I could imagine the situation is a bit different when your parents pay thousands of dollars for an elite school, I guess then you can have some demands and saying on what you would like to learn and focus on.

Also, as I see it, you speak about this issue from a perspective of an adult – a mature student who is back at the college to “learn” – more for life and personal growth than for just passing the class. This makes a big difference. When you look around in your classes, you must notice the variety of people and how they differ in their goals. Some people are not there yet – at the realization what education means, that it is more than just passing a class, transferring to a university to graduate with a title and get the super job they are dreaming about, that education is a process of shaping ones personality and gaining knowledge and (hopefully) wisdom.

I have a friend at the SFSU who is taking a class that is absolutely the best she ever had. She says the professor is more than dedicated to his job, he is excited to teach (after already teaching for years!) this class, he is able to capture the attention of around 300 students for the entire 2 hours of class. She says, everyone likes this class so much, people are on the waiting list to get into that class. Wow, right?! I only had one teacher at the CCSF, who was able to capture my attention to such a degree, I didn’t feel forced to do the homework assignments, I really wanted to do all the homework! It was a teacher for an astronomy class.

I don’t think my idea with the evaluation forms for each teacher for each semester will ever happen, but I know there is a website where one can evaluate teachers and look up previous students’ comments before signing for a class. This might be a good solution to better tailor own educational goals and see which teacher might be most acceptant to it.

Monday, 7 May 2007 - 12:11 PM PDT

Yes I agree with you, college life is an experience of its own. it helps build confidence and a sense of pride and fulfillment. However like you I am not too keen on writing research papers all the time.
College helps expand our minds and opens us to newer experiences.
I agree with Bird when she says it helps us interact and become social beings and also helps us improve on our communication and interactive skills. Those who choose collge have chosen wisely

Monday, 7 May 2007 - 12:27 PM PDT

I grew up hating school. When I was in middle school I said to myself, "when I'm done with high school, I don't have to go to college if I don't want to."
I didn't go to college right away, it took me about eight years to get going again.
I started taking classes again at community colleges until I figured out what I wanted to do. Now I'm on the right track, I'm obviously back in school and looking forward to transfering to a university. Toast! here's to a degree!

Monday, 7 May 2007 - 1:18 PM PDT

I was one of those who would rather eat than read. For me reading came hard not easy. Some people have a learning disability, I am one of those people. College may not be right for everyone, but everyone should have the right to go to college. I believe the world would be a much better place if every had a college education

Monday, 7 May 2007 - 2:28 PM PDT

I agree that college is a place to learn, but I think there are only a handful of people who actually like to write research paper. I myself like school. When I look back school is a fun place to be when I was young. The only thing I don’t like is too much homework. I would do everything that I need to get the works done but I can’t enjoy doing homeworks. It is a lot of work but I think going to school is necessary for me. I mean how else am I suppose to learn the things I need to learn in life? I choose to go to college because it is the best choice to make after high school. It is just one of those things I have to do. It is just after staying in school for so long I kind of like a change. I feel I am lost in the moment because I don’t really know where I am going in life. I just want to find a goal to put my effort on.

Monday, 7 May 2007 - 10:30 PM PDT

I really liked the essay about college being a choice, rather than a must. I think that it is important to realize this because I have talked to some of my friends in the past about it. I ask them, "did you go to college." My brothers girlfriend said that college wasn't for her. I found it weird at the moment because I thought college was for everyone. How could someone not want to further their education.

I still don't quite understand this question, but I can tell you why I have chose to go to college. I had some pretty rough teen years, and I wanted to make sure that I made up for the time that I didn't go to highschool. I also wanted to secure a financial stability through my adult years. I heard that if I didn't go to college that I wouldn't find a decent enough job that I could survive off of. I also want to be part of a class of people who are educated. I might even find a good husband if I am well educated:)

Monday, 7 May 2007 - 11:12 PM PDT

I totally understand what you're saying. I have worked ever since I got out of high school and couldn't have been happier; making money, no homework...The last thing on my mind was going to college for MORE school. No thank you. But after a few years of working, I started feeling just the opposite. I was getting burnt out on the repitition of the work week and wanted to get back into school, for some what of a change of pace. Now, beleive it or not, I'm right back where I started from, tired of school. Who knows what my next step is, not me, that's for sure. But if school is what a person is into, more power to them.