@TheWeeWitch
too true!

Despite the fact that lecturing is around a third of my actual job (the other parts being research and admin/pastoral care) I do take my teaching quite seriously. I enjoy it and I like the idea of helping the students understand the basics that they seemingly fail to comprehend on their own.

Anyway, I was recently completing my University-sanctioned teaching cert (a.k.a. the Certificate in Teaching and Learning Knowledge-empowerment and Management or something equally jargony) and we were given the following important advice:

- you shouldn't really correct grammar/spelling. They're computing students, it's not really appropriate and it might dishearten them.

- always begin your feedback with something positive (e.g. "I really liked your formatting!") then the negative criticism (constructive, naturally), then finish on a positive note. My teacher friend informs me that this is known as a 'criticism sandwich'.

Christ, I need a drink and it's only 15:27. I'm in a nasty, evil headspace today.

Edit: @Resident Loon - they'll appeal if I do that. They're customers now, apparently. They pay for their degrees (this is not true - they pay for their education - but they think it is). I'm not allowed to do things like deduct marks, challenge students or go postal in the bell tower.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 2 Apr 2008, 15:28, Reply)