I'M ****** OFF!!!!!!

Adams_Mommy_07 · Apr 9, 2009

Sure, a good teacher can explain it to you. A good student doesn't need the teacher to explain it...

I'm a little confused by what you are saying, are you saying good students do not need instruction? A good instructor by definition of the very words themselves is someone who instructs well. Whether you get instruction from a text book, the professor, or google, the subject matter is still explained to you. Unless, of course you are born with intuitive knowlege about human genetics, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, embryonic development, etc. I didn't mean an instructor who can dumb down the subject matter was more effective than another if that is what you interpreted from my post.

The best form of instruction is not glazing over the subject matter or having the teacher read the text word for word, but actively engaging the students. Sure I can read chapters in my A&P book and never go to class and get As on every test, as I did many times as an undergraduate student. An instructor who brings the material to life and regularly engages me will have me as a student to the subject matter for life, not one semester. I am the kind of student who gets As in everything (except math where I stand a 50/50 chance of an A or B) regardless of the quality of the instructor. A good instructor, however, inspires zeal and love of the subject matter for me.

As a student of History, professors never really "explained" anything. There is nothing inherently confusing about World War II or Stalinism or the French Revolution. However, professors whose lectures were neither topical nor chronological were not effective in lecture. I feel qualified to state so, especially since I had professors who repeatedly try to get me to graduate work in the field so that I would be their colleague, not just a former student.

letarn2b · Apr 9, 2009

Cuny does this all the time.They will put a name of a professor and when you go to the class they have a anal retensive prof thats ranting on the first day.I promptly go to the science dept and switch on the first day of school to the teacher I want.You are paying for school its not freeschool .you should be mindfull of taking summer profesors a lot of them have a axe to grind,they want to give quizes every day and stuff very intensive.I personally would not risk it because they want to teach the whole syallbus 1-16 chap or more in a month it is hard to retain that info.Take it during the reg semester.

js408 · Apr 9, 2009

Not true. I recently took statistics and the professor was totally disorganized, unhelpful, and never graded a single assignment,exam, or quiz the entire semester. I checked ratemyprofessor afterwards and there are reviews going back three years that all say he never grades papers. Not subjective at all in this case.

Students are the least qualified to 'pick' a good teacher.
First off, it's TOTALLY subjective. Secondly, some consider good to equal easy while others consider good to equal challenging. Lastly, how many consider a good teacher to be the one with the nicest personality???
Your best teacher is not my best teacher.

FLmomof5 · Apr 9, 2009

In my first college days (1979 - 1984), I took teachers because I would LEARN from them, not because I got a good grade. I had a full AFROTC scholarship that I would not lose unless my overal GPA fell below 2.0 so I was never concerned. I didn't plan on getting a masters in the field so again, I was NOT worried about anything but learning. (Degree was Electrical Engineering)

We had this one teacher....eccentric...but EXCELLENT. He would fail 50% of the class each term. A "C" in his class would have gotten you an "A" in someone elses. I took him 4 times. I learned so much, loved his teaching style, and got "C"s each time.

25 yrs later, and I go back to school. I could never get into an accelerated BSN because I made the choices I made years before. If I tried, UNF, I wouldn't get in either. So FCCJ was the route. They only counted the pre-reqs and NAT.

Here is the catch folks....to get into a nursing program, you need HIGH grades. It is ALL about competition. I did use RMP. I did take one teacher that was canned by RMP and they had her pegged accurately. I struggled getting any response from that teacher and we didn't even get a first assignment grade until after mid-term!!!!! I sent her an email that if she set due dates for the students, she could at least show some responsibility and keep the grade reporting on schedule with the assignments. NO, she didn't appreciate my email, and I didn't care. At our school we grade the professors (for the administration) and I slammed her. (BTW, got a "B" from her....89% :icon_roll ) From that point forward, I have relied heavily on RMP and have never suffered for it.

By relying on RMP, I have been accepted to the Summer 09 NS at FCCJ.

Yes, learning the material is important, but how would you feel if you didn't and you got this lousy prof, that gave you THE grade that prevented your acceptance into nursing school? The schools rely heavily on the high GPA so WE must do what we can to maximize our opportunity!

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Apr 9, 2009

I entered info on both my professors on RMP last semester and neither ever appeared (they were good ratings). So, if that happens I don't know if I can trust what is actually displayed.

Cilantrophobe · Apr 9, 2009

Students are the least qualified to 'pick' a good teacher.
First off, it's TOTALLY subjective. Secondly, some consider good to equal easy while others consider good to equal challenging. Lastly, how many consider a good teacher to be the one with the nicest personality???
Your best teacher is not my best teacher.

Subjective this, subjective that. You are coming across slightly rude. We know what is and isn't subjective, and are all welcome to share our opinions. You are in no position to be telling people that their opinions are wrong.

My 'best teacher' is the best teacher, according to my opinion. I don't think people should choose their professors because they are easy, or nice for that matter. I think people should choose professors that are skilled, knowledgeable and actually know how to teach. It isn't hard to tell the bitter C students from the others on RMP, when reading ratings.

It has worked out very well for ME, therefore I recommend it to others. Nuff said. Then again I have only taken 4 courses on campus (3 science, 1 ethics, out of a total 38 credits). So I agree that a student must have a certain level of self-teaching abilities. And I cannot speak for other schools. I am lucky enough to attend one of the top community colleges in the nation, we have excellent professors.

ETA: I just wanted to mention to those of you who are unable to pick your professors that I feel for you. That must be frustrating. However once you are in the nursing program you don't get many opportunities to pick your professors anyways so learn how to work around it. Such as learning how to teach yourself.

Atheos · Apr 9, 2009

Subjective this, subjective that. You are coming across slightly rude. We know what is and isn't subjective, and are all welcome to share our opinions. You are in no position to be telling people that their opinions are wrong.
My 'best teacher' is the best teacher, according to my opinion.

Rude or not you have just confirmed my claim that it is subjective.

As to rude, basic etiquette states that one should never make anyone look bad in public. That includes mocking someone, commenting on someone's clothes or appearance, or publicly pointing out someone's bad behavior or lack of etiquette. Not that I follow etiquette but you are coming off as rude as well. Though, now I've been rude.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

I've noticed this too regarding the schedule for fall semester. I'll be setting up my schedule for starting nursing this fall and like 95% of the professors aren't even listed yet. Kinda sucks because I'd like to know who's teaching what. But oh well. Good luck....hope you end up with someone you like.

libnat · Apr 9, 2009

Yes, learning the material is important, but how would you feel if you didn't and you got this lousy prof, that gave you THE grade that prevented your acceptance into nursing school? The schools rely heavily on the high GPA so WE must do what we can to maximize our opportunity!

My view exactly, I need a gpa around a 3.4 period.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

Someone mentioned that RMP said the professor didn't grade material until the end and that was accurate. Whether or not a professor grades material or not is pretty black and white. I don't think it is at all the same thing as saying whether the professor was good or not. So I wouldn't say that is a very good comparison to showing that RMP is effective.

To someone else that said you need the GPA to get into Nursing school so sometimes it doesn't matter if you "get" the material or not. Well by all means, please don't complain here when you are failing nursing school because the teacher is mean and hard and not teaching you stuff you don't "get" because you should have learned before. The pre reqs are there for a reason, they all build upon each other, so not "getting it" and taking the teachers that GIVE you A's that aren't earned will only hinder you later on. I can't believe one would give advice to say, so what if you don't understand the material, the grade is the only important thing. Please don't be my nurse, I want the nurse that "gets it".

libnat · Apr 9, 2009

I want the nurse that "gets it".

and I want to get into nursing school. I would even be willing to struggle to an extent later for a better chance . Of course not much of a choice with only one professor who teachers A&Ps and one who teaches micro. They are both 300 student per class tho so should get a spot.

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2009

I want the nurse that "gets it".

Nursing school, NCLEX and the first year on the job will let you know who "gets it", not the pre-reqs. I do agree that the pre-reqs are foundation material, but I think a lot of this is being overblown.

I find RMP to be very helpful and I use it for every class. It's pretty easy to tell which students are bitter and which have a thoughtful view point. If the words stupid, evil, egotistical, made me give up my major, impossible or of the like show up in a review, I know I can disregard it. I also take into account the number of reviews a professor has. If there are less than 10, then I know I need to take everything with a grain of salt. But when a professor has over 40+ reviews, you can get a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Of course, I would always take the word of somone who has actually taken the class over RMP, but I also ask a lot of questions and it's pretty obvious to tell who is just bitter and didn't apply themselves vs. those who really applied themselves.

I still recommend RMP to people and always rate my professors at the end of the semester. It has not lead me astray as of yet, but I don't rely on it 100% for my decision process. I do find it to be a useful tool.