I'm in an uncomfortable situation with a couple of classmates who sit next me. I tape the lectures and spend many hours transcribing them, mostly because the teacher adds much more material than what's in the textbook. It's a major pain, but it's a tremendous help when test time comes around.
One of them asked me for the transcripts when she had to miss class because, she said, her son was in the hospital. I figured, ok, that's an emergency, so I gave them to her.
Since then, she's either missed other classes or showed up and left early, missing lecture. She said she did miss one class because her son was in the hospital again, but I don't know why she left early during the last class. It kinda makes me suspicious about the hospital story, and whether she really needed to miss class or not.
Similar problem with the other classmate. She begged me not to speak up and argue against delaying a test because she needed more study time. So I didn't. Then she doesn't show up for the test. I know she's going to ask for the lecture transcripts, since the teacher lectured on a bunch of material afterward, but I'm kinda peeved that I helped her out with the test situation, only for her to miss it anyway.
I'm pretty sure one, if not both of them are going to ask for my lecture transcripts this week since they've missed so much material. And I'm sure I'll hear the usual excuses, but I'm not sure I believe them anymore.
I like to help people out, because I may have to miss class at some point. But I can't help but wonder if they're taking advantage of the situation. Do I help them or not? If not, do I lie and say the tapes got erased, the tape recorder broke, or something? I do have to work with these people on group assignments, etc. so it could become an uncomfortable situation. And I'm not a great liar.
I have no problem with charging $20.00 a lecture for my meticulous notes,taken from tape recordings and actually it was an instructor that told me I should charge for them!
I have no problem with charging $20.00 a lecture for my meticulous notes,taken from tape recordings and actually it was an instructor that told me I should charge for them!
I would say no. It's so easy! I don't know why people have trouble with saying no. These students can always ask someone else right? Or are you the only one who tapes the lecture?
That would seem very time consuming, typing out the lectures! No way would I just give it away to someone, I'm not that nice.
Other people do tape, but I don't think they transcribe in detail like I do. I think the girl who got the transcripts told others about how detailed they were.
I am an MT and have been transcribing for 25 plus years. The only FAIR way to charge (if you decide to do so) is to get the "character count" from your report - in MS Word, look under tools, then word count. Now divide the total "characters with spaces" by 65 (that is the average way that lines are counted). Now multiply that number by anywhere from 0.07 per line to 0.12 - that is how most MTs get paid - depending on whether she is an IC or an employee.
I spend copious amounts of time going through my textbook and making up my own typed notes of the chapters based on what the syllabus says is important or information that is confusing or indepth. It's nothing for me to spend 15 hours or more reading the information, then writing out notes and then typing them just for one chapter. Multiply that by 4 chapters or so a week and you can see how much effort I put into them. On top of that I work full time too!!!
I am very protective of these notes. I would only ever give them out to someone that was TRULY in a rough spot, ie. had a spouse or child that was in a traumatic accident or became severely ill and was literally out of commission for a good week or so. I just don't think it's right for someone to work so hard on something just so someone that's lazy can use what you have created. I would never go to a fellow classmate that had spent a lot of time and work on such an endeavor and expect them to just turn their notes over to me.
I once was in the library with two fellow students and one of them saw my personal notes. She looked them over and asked how I made them up so I told her what I do and how much time I spend on them, it was nothing for her to ask "can you get me a copy of these" as if I was her secretary or something. I promptly told her no, they are my personal notes that I spend a lot of time and effort on them. I don't give them out to anyone. The other classmate was observing us and could see why I would not give them up. That person said, well, why don't we all take a chapter from the next week's reading and make up notes and then share them all. That way we all have notes but no one person is making them all up. I never saw those other people's notes but also never gave them the notes I made up for the chapter I was assigned.
Sometimes I think it's just better to go it alone.
All of the taping and transcribing is work that you are doing for yourself. I don't see how it would be any more trouble for you to give copies of the transcript file to other people who might need it. It really isn't any extra work for you. While you are in no way obligated to do this, I think you will find that helping people is all the reward you need. It is your choice whether you are known as the person who helps or the person who doesn't.
Usually I would agree with you, Brickman. But these people are skipping class. It would be different if it were a rarity.
If it makes you uncomfortable don't do it. These people are only cheating themselves, as one day they will need to have specific information and will not be able to recall it, because they missed lectures. I doubt if your notes will make or break them, so just do what is easy for you. I would NOT agree to copy them without a charge, or loan them out for them to copy (might never see the stuff again). I had a similar situation in school and had to limit our study group to 2-3 people. I had to tell a couple of people the group was closed because we found we studied better with a small group. In reality, we studied better WITHOUT those people.
If it makes you uncomfortable don't do it. These people are only cheating themselves, as one day they will need to have specific information and will not be able to recall it, because they missed lectures. I doubt if your notes will make or break them, so just do what is easy for you. I would NOT agree to copy them without a charge, or loan them out for them to copy (might never see the stuff again). I had a similar situation in school and had to limit our study group to 2-3 people. I had to tell a couple of people the group was closed because we found we studied better with a small group. In reality, we studied better WITHOUT those people.
There is difference between helping and enabling.
I had this same discussion with some people in my class. I've decided that as nurses we will need to share information forever...anything that I share will probably be helpful for a patient. I want the people that I'm working with to know what they need to know - and I don't really care how they get the info-just that they have it. I am in this profession to help patients, therefore any good information that I have will be of help to any and all patients. I know it's a lot of work, but think of it as being a patient advocate! Just a thought.
I agree with the others, if it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. And if your classmates truly have legitimate excuses for missing lecture, let them arrange with the instructor ways to make up their missed work/notes.
There's a difference in "helping those who help themselves" and being a doormat. Good luck. :)
Don't you hate when people put you in an uncomfortable position. I understand completely how you feel. Once you say no the first time, it'll get much easier because they probably won't ask you again.
I agree with the others, if it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. And if your classmates truly have legitimate excuses for missing lecture, let them arrange with the instructor ways to make up their missed work/notes.
There's a difference in "helping those who help themselves" and being a doormat. Good luck. :)
I absolutely agree with Manna. There is just a world of difference. No matter what their excuse though, if YOU are uncomfortable, then don't do it. I'm not for being a meany or selfish, but whole-heartedly agree that if someone is not comfortable doing something, good, bad or otherwise, they should not feel they have to.
Funny, one girl didn't show up ... again. For all I know, she may have dropped out of school all together. The other didn't even bother to explain why she missed class. I was expecting to hear about a major car accident or some excuse. As you may recall, she begged me to help her convince the teacher to delay a test (at my own inconvenience, btw), and then she didn't even bother to show up. That really annoyed me.
But she didn't seem to care. She acted like nothing had happened, and asked for the transcripts. So I just said no. That was it. I didn't discuss it any further.
Even though I provided the transcripts only once, I'll never do this again. Seems like it only puts you in an awkward position, and it shouldn't, particularly since you're doing all the work. I pretty much move heaven and earth to get to class ... so they can too. And if they don't, tough!
nursegirl62
73 Posts
I have no problem with charging $20.00 a lecture for my meticulous notes,taken from tape recordings and actually it was an instructor that told me I should charge for them!