I am a first year, first quarter nursing student. My school is currently trying to implement a new curriculum. Given all the changes things are a lot less solid that they should be. In lecture we needed to do a project which was to be presented to the class. It is worth one quarter of our grade. Our group was the first to present ours and we made it a point to stay within the alloted time frame of 50 minutes. To do this we needed to be selective about the information we shared. We decided to bring up only the most important point and to limit our selves to five power point slides each.
We worked like dogs setting this presentation done since we had to do it within the first three weeks of class. When we went as a group to be graded we got a 72% which is a fail in this class. We were shocked to say the least. We were told we needed more detail. Well, we decided to just live with the grade because what can you do, right?
When the next group presented they went way over 50 minutes, in fact they went for an hour and a half. Their presentation was very detailed because their staff adviser told them our story as sort of a weird cautionary tale. Everyone knew our grade and how to avoid getting one like ours. More of the groups have presented now and in general they are running about 40 minutes long. Everyone is getting great grades.
Here is my dilemma, I feel the other group have a very unfair advantage. They get to take almost twice the time to present their material even though the 50 minute time frame is supposedly still in effect. Secondly, I feel it is wrong for instructors to be discussing our grade with the other students. Not only is this embarrassing but it also gives the other students another advantage over us.
In addition to this the nursing dept. has rather weird grading practices. For example, if you take a math test and miss problems you have to go to the head of the department to discuss it. In a 10 minute interview she will show you your test and tell you what you did wrong. All that is fine, the problem arises in the fact that after they talk with you the shred your test. I am not God's gift to mathematics and that short period of time listening to her talk does not give me a change to really look at my work and be sure there are no grading error. They have the same policy with lecture tests. Why is there this rush to shred tests? I know in A and P as well as in Micro our instructors kept our test for two quarters in case we wanted to come back and petition for a grade change. They shred all lecture tests also. This in effect keeps you from petitioning for a grade change because you have no evidence.
What do you guys think? Should I go to the Dean. Since it involves the head of the department I can't go to her. I can understand having issues with a new curriculum but I don't want my grade used as a guinea pig. Right now my overall grade is about 70% because I can seem to overcome my grade on the project. It is a shock to go from being an A student to one who is about to fail. I'll be out on my butt soon if I don't do something. I really don't want to make trouble. I just want my degree so I can get a job.
I too would advise talking to the instructor first. Regardless of reputation, instructors generally don't bite. I'm not sure why the fact that the instructor is the department head means you can't approach this person. Perhaps you could start the conversation: "Look, I know I'm new here, but I want to promise you right now I won't turn out to be a squeaky-wheel student - I know you must get your share of those. But I do have a concern, and it is ..."
insa
49 Posts
I too would advise talking to the instructor first. Regardless of reputation, instructors generally don't bite. I'm not sure why the fact that the instructor is the department head means you can't approach this person. Perhaps you could start the conversation: "Look, I know I'm new here, but I want to promise you right now I won't turn out to be a squeaky-wheel student - I know you must get your share of those. But I do have a concern, and it is ..."
Best of luck