surviving theory class

[mtnmom]

OK gang, I am in semester #3 of my PT program. Did great in Patho and Pharm. This semester's menu item is theory.

Our instructor is all over the place...very vague and we know what our assignments are but outside of that very little idea of what is expected of us with the assignments. When we ask for clarification the answers are not consistent. The instructor is a fairly recent PhD, so maybe that explains some of it. We are doing lots of group work, blogging, etc...

Most of us in the class feel as if we are just going by the seat of our pants,and that is not a feeling that I like.

Overall I am starting to think that the whole class is a load of BS and to make it I have to play the game and become a world-class BS artist. That feeling is shared by many classmates.

I suppose we do what we must to survive. Is this the norm for a graduate-level theory class? Just wondering!

[bookwormom]

I took nursing theory 37 years ago (!!!!!) and we talked so much about Orem that I still have a knee jerk reaction. I had straight As and then handed in the last paper late. The paper was graded by a different faculty member and I almost failed!

But I do find nursing theory interesting and inspiring. I recommend that you by a book that summarizes the different theorists, and pick one that suits your style, and use it to make sense of what you are learning. Plus you can refer to the theorists in your discussions. I wish I had some good references at hand, but the only one I can think of is Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice.

Perhaps your instructor is new to teaching or to the course format. If so, I recommend that you try to act positive about the course. She (or he) will appreciate it.

[bookwormom]

Whoops--should have flunked math. It was 27 years ago, but it seems longer.:imbar

[carachel2]

Did she give you any sort of an organized syllabus ? What are your papers ? Give us some more specifics and maybe we can help you. Our big papers were:

Theory application paper

Concept analysis

Personal framework paper

Newer theory (class presentation)

In between the assignments we had 2 on-line quizzes and then we had to post on the bulletin board at least three times a week. We read our assigned articles and online modules and had to make an interesting comment.

[mtnmom]

I dont think that I was asking for help as much as just venting in general. So much of what we are doing is group work and group dynamics, group communication, etc - (I thought it was a theory class!)

I am just trying to stay positive, suck it up and do as well as possible. Maybe I will learn some theory in the process.

[krisssy]

I am taking Theory now, and I am really enjoying reading about the theorists. Some of the theories are really interesting. What books are assigned for the course? If you read and use what you read to talk on the bulletin board, it is really interesting. Unfortunately, some people just BS instead of reading the theories. Maybe if you read and quote some interesting theories, they will start reading too. I like how my professor made groups, and each group has the same interests. So my group are all psych majors, and it is interesting to hear what they do and think. Do you have groups? Is your class online? Mine is. At first I was almost ready to quit, because I couldn't figure out WEBCT, but I am getting it now! Krisssy