Disaster on the Horizon

[HopefulSlav]

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I have two classes, botany and cell bio, with this one teacher. She is about 25 and it's her first time teaching cell bio. Her ways of teaching is flawed, not only because I'm not doing all that well but because pretty much everyone else is not doing well. I have taken two exams in both classes. I made a 56 and then a 65 on two cell bio exams and a 70 and 66 on two botany exams.


She emails study guides on the tests two weeks before the test. On the first two exams I thought I just didn't study enough. I then compared the study guides with what was on the test and there weren't many questions on the test that resembled what was on the study guide. I went to her office after class and she basically said that since cell bio was a 300 level class she doesn't have to explain everything and was very circuitous in her reasoning. I understand she doesn't have to send out a study guide, but what's the point in sending out a study guide with questions that aren't on the test? Is the point of a study guide not to "guide" you in what to study? I'm not sure what to do as this can get very complicated if I work my way up the levels and get the vice president involved.

What should I do? Work my way up the bureaucracy or just try to speak with her?

 

[okokok]

If studying with the study guide doesn't work, don't study with the study guide. If the tests reflect lecture content, study your lecture notes. If the tests reflect the textbook, study your reading notes. It's not your professor's job to make sure you do well on tests, it's yours. Use this frustrating experience to strengthen your independent study skills.

If you go up the chain of command, either 1. Nothing will change or 2. Nothing will change except she stops giving any study guide at all. If you choose to complain to her, approach it with the attitude that you are grateful that she chooses to provide a study guide, and here are some tips if she'd like to make it even more helpful for her students. Don't approach it mad that she's done something wrong, because from your explanation, she hasn't.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Her ways of teaching is flawed

because I'm not doing all that well

This is all I could see when I read your post.

 

[Zelda840]

If the study guide isn't helping, it seems like your only option will be to read the chapters and know everything in them. I haven't known many teachers outside of organic to test over something that just plain wasn't in the textbook.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

You want to get the vice president involved because your teacher isn't putting enough of the study guide questions on the test? C'mon now🙄. It's not her job to hold your hand to a great test grade.

 

[911 Turbo]

Lol the exam isn't exactly like the study guide?

Oh no

I would email the board of regents IMMEDIATELY






















just study harder for the next test. She has to give a certain percentage of As...

 

[deleted480308]

Don't go to administration...cowboy up, study, do better

 

[ct303]

This sounds exactly like the majority of my UG science classes.

 

[KnuxNole]

If there were a bunch of questions that weren't on the study guide, I'm sure a good number of people have already stormed her office hours or sent e-mails saying to stick to the study guide. I'm sure your professor understands this, and you don't want to be "that guy" who ends up telling the professor to do their dang job and tell us what's on the test(true story). Truth is, while a study guide is a "guide", it sometimes isn't the sure fire way to an A. I assume that every question on the test that was on the study guide you got correct. Were there questions in the notes that weren't on the guide? Stuff from the book only? Adding the notes or the book can be a help as an adjunct to knowing the study guide cold.

DO speak to her, but do so not in an attacking way, but in a reach for assistance and guidance. Ask what are ways to boost your grade, tips/advice, what she recommends you can do, etc.

 

[Mr Roboto]

1. Stop whining
2. Spend more time with your textbook

 

[histidine]

Study guide, textbook, lecture, and assignments.

If the test can aced using information from those sources, then the test is fair.

 

[yehhhboiii]

Is the point of a study guide not to "guide" you in what to study? I'm not sure what to do as this can get very complicated if I work my way up the levels and get the vice president involved.

What should I do? Work my way up the bureaucracy or just try to speak with her?

yeah it's there to guide you, not to tell you exactly what's on the test
you need to get over yourself. mr. biden is a very busy man and i'm sure he has better things to do

 

[Euxox]

If there is one rule that you should always follow in life, it is that you should never make your boss look bad in front of his boss. With that in mind, don't take this to the administration, just study harder. This is college, not high school, so it is not your professor's job to hold your hand as she walks you through the material. And don't forget that everyone else in the class is in the same boat.

 

[SunsFun]

I love when someone makes a thread blaming an instructor for bad performance in class. SDN community is pretty quick to tell him/her what's up.

 

[Mavs88]

The bottom line is that your study methods are flawed for the particular class. Go talk to the professor and ask where is the best source for you to study from, how you can improve, etc.

 

[KnuxNole]

At least they get real advice. Asking classmates results in "OMG I know, I hate this class, let's complain and demand they do their dang job! After all, we need A's, they need to give us what we require. I'm paying for an A, customer is always right"