Gabfest: And Thereby Hangs A Tail

So you're planning on impressing them by insisting that they obtain credentials on top of their doctoral (and possibly post-doctoral) slog (at a school of education perhaps? In pedagogy? And learning theory?) Yes, yes, go right on ahead - win friends and influence people is what I say!

 

I think you should first check them out on RateMyProfessors.com.
First things first - how do they rank on a 'hotness' scale of 1-4?
Just grind 'em to dust if they refuse to be impressed by your akshaya patra.

 

This is one of those 'don't get me started' situations. Nothing I have heard about teacher training programs or ed-schools makes me want to go anywhere near them. And I would not want any of those teaching 'experts' coming anywhere near me. Now, today is one of my good days - I'm all self-aware and mindful and whatnot, so I will cease and desist with my opinions forthwith and let others speak:
Ed schools-1
Ed schools-2

At the fuzzy boundaries of education, this is the kind of (soon to be) Ivy-League Grad we produce, a student of 'Communication' no less.
And whether that student realizes it or not, here is a hoist-by-his-own-petard takedown by a fellow student, privileged no doubt (mark the phone conversation quoted verbatim).

Mr. Fisher would do well to switch to a program in organic chemistry.

This is not to say that teaching cannot be taught, but I shudder at the very thought of institutionalizing that effort or unleashing university administrators on this task. Not that they haven't already made a beginning.

 

@Rihana

Please find two links attached one talks about the need for teaching graduate students how to teach and the other about the best practices in college teaching.

http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/131564.pdf

A Brief Summary of the Best Practices in College Teaching | The Center for Teaching and Learning | UNC Charlotte

Viswa

 

Graduate teaching assistants get some boot camp during their phd years. Some Universities do it well, and others leave it completely OJT. Many have graduation req of number of semesters of TA work to get a phd.

In STEM major TA ratings by undergrads there is always a huge mass of complaints about the Indians and Chinese. Every year. And parents learn that their child is not in Kansas anymore. No more parent teacher conference to fix things. Even in small colleges.

 

Err what? blinK. blanK. boinK.

((Dubai is indeed 'freezzzing'!! Im enjoying the cold and the warmth too))