i'm taking a psych class this semester as a pre-req to nursing school. i'm also taking micro. well, one of the girls in my micro class asked me if--when the semester is over--she could have my notes from my psych class.
we're not by any means close. i just met her about (maybe) a month ago. we've studied together a couple of times but we're not great friends who hang out together or anything.
has anybody ever asked you to do this--give them your whole semester's worth of notes once your class is over???
when she first asked me i said, "sure". i figured, "what the h$ll do i care? i can't stand psych and i'll be glad when it's done."
but now i don't know. i'm starting to feel like i might be putting myself in a position of being used. already this person has asked me three times to see my micro class notes so she can write stuff down that she missed b/c she was late or whatever.
and at first i didn't mind, but then i started thinking--hey, get your own notes, or at least ask somebody else once in a while. she has a few friends in class, why always ask me???
am i overreacting and just being stingy:devil: in rethinking giving her my whole semester's worth of psych notes or is her request just over the line?????
sorry it's a bit long, guess i just needed to vent...:trout:
If I were to give my class notebook to another student this is what would happen. They would throw 90% of it away, keep the homework assignments, keep the graded essays with instructor comments, and keep the test reviews with convenient marks on what I missed on the tests to prepare for the final. Then they would be able to copy all written assigments and know prior to tests what is on them. You are right that isn't cheating.
Uhhh...the OP never said anything about homework assignments or graded essays with instructor comments or test reviews. She was talking strictly about class notes.
If you were trying to insinuate that sharing notes is cheating, then I disagree. Homework and other assignments--that's another issue.
Uhhh...the OP never said anything about homework assignments or graded essays with instructor comments or test reviews. She was talking strictly about class notes.
If you were trying to insinuate that sharing notes is cheating, then I disagree. Homework and other assignments--that's another issue.
I agree...I would never give away old tests or quizes, but I would maybe let someone have my notes. If I didn't want to give them away, I would let them copy the notes. I had someone offer to buy my notes once (I usually type them out neat and in order so I can read them)...I felt strange about it though and said no. I don't know why I didn't feel comfortable about it at the time though...
Uhhh...the OP never said anything about homework assignments or graded essays with instructor comments or test reviews. She was talking strictly about class notes.
If you were trying to insinuate that sharing notes is cheating, then I disagree. Homework and other assignments--that's another issue.
Do you take notes or mark your notes when the teacher is reviewing the test? I do. My homework and essays are mixed in with my notes. That is what I meant.
Would you send a mass email out that anyone could read (including professors) and say hey guys I finished Biology does anyone want all of my notes from that class?
Anything that puts other students at a disadvantage while giving someone else an advantage is cheating in my opinion. It is not fair for one student to get class notes from a student who has already taken the course if the other students do not recieve them. It gives that individual more freedom do certain things like miss class not take their own notes. While they don't have to work hard, the rest of their classmates do.
It doesn't matter to me if anyone decides to give out notes or gets notes. It is "my ethical belief" that it is cheating, so "I choose" not to partake in it. Each person has to be their own judge. If you still believe it is not cheating, then that's fine. We can agree to disagree.
If I thought that the notes would be of benefit to me later I would not want to give them away, but I am also a packrat. I just finally threw away my bio notes from a year ago.
I actually had some friends offer me there notes for Chemistry and Microbiology and I declined but thanked them for their kindness. For me taking notes is part of my learning process. I have made my notes available to classmates that have missed a class and have also asked for notes when I've missed class. (I had surgery this semester and missed a week of classes) I'm assuming that she is planning on taking the same instructor for psychology that you have, if not the notes may be useless to her.
Do you take notes or mark your notes when the teacher is reviewing the test? I do. My homework and essays are mixed in with my notes. That is what I meant.
Would you send a mass email out that anyone could read (including professors) and say hey guys I finished Biology does anyone want all of my notes from that class?
Anything that puts other students at a disadvantage while giving someone else an advantage is cheating in my opinion. It is not fair for one student to get class notes from a student who has already taken the course if the other students do not recieve them. It gives that individual more freedom do certain things like miss class not take their own notes. While they don't have to work hard, the rest of their classmates do.
It doesn't matter to me if anyone decides to give out notes or gets notes. It is "my ethical belief" that it is cheating, so "I choose" not to partake in it. Each person has to be their own judge. If you still believe it is not cheating, then that's fine. We can agree to disagree.
Oh, I see. My notes were different; they were simply the class notes without any test results mixed in. In fact our teachers would sometimes tell other students that if they missed anything in class to go ask a classmate for their notes and they encouraged sharing. The website I started continued for a few semesters after I left and I was OK with that because however you get the notes, you still have to study the material to pass the tests.
And as far as nursing school goes, passing it is not the end. You still have to pass NCLEX. If you don't know your stuff inside and out, you will not pass NCLEX.
In fact our teachers would sometimes tell other students that if they missed anything in class to go ask a classmate for their notes and they encouraged sharing.
I'm all about sharing notes if someone misses class! That is not a problem to me, and I think having a website for all student in the class to participate in is great! That was good thinking on your part. Our school has a website like that in place with message boards, and I love it. I just don't like the idea of passing a whole semesters worth of notes to someone who hasn't even taken the class yet.
But like you said:
as far as nursing school goes, passing it is not the end. You still have to pass NCLEX. If you don't know your stuff inside and out, you will not pass NCLEX.
I'm all about sharing notes if someone misses class! That is not a problem to me, and I think having a website for all student in the class to participate in is great! That was good thinking on your part. Our school has a website like that in place with message boards, and I love it. I just don't like the idea of passing a whole semesters worth of notes to someone who hasn't even taken the class yet.
I agree. Angie's sharing to me was different. Those students were currently in the class and following along. Also, Angie was transcribing notes as a learning mechanism. She wasn't jotting down "x will be on the exam" or other such tips.
It's almost like the new Smartboard technology where the day's notes will be on the class website from the instructor writing on the Smartboard in class.
It reminds me of a friend who had a professor who spoke extremely fast and didn't write on any board. The students 'tag teamed' the professor by asking questions to slow him down so students could frantically write notes. Then after class they would get together and all reconcile the notes to form a whole.
But to give a student an entire semester's worth? Something about it makes me feel funny.
I would not give them to her. I might let her copy them, but you might need those. If it is someone who never comes to class, or someone you worry you might not get them back from, I would say sorry, but I need to keep those notes. I absolutely would not let her use me. I had that happen to me last semester. Someone who never came to class asked me and I told her no.
I have kept everything.
I have a friend who let me copy a whole semester's notes from an instructor who goes much deeper than mine did, but she knows I am not one to skip class, and she knew I would get them back to her, and I would return the favor any time.
Being helpful to an sincere student isn't the same as giving away your work to a user. There is work involved in being on time, taking good notes, coming to class even if you have a million things to do. Rewards derived from hard work should belong to those who do that work, not those who take advantage of another person's desire to be liked.
If great notes were no big deal, then there wouldn't be anyone asking for them, and this discussion wouldn't be happening.
I've read that competition for every single seat in nursing school is razor sharp these days. Not to mention that this learning will be used in professionally caring for the health of other people. I would hope that those seats will go to those who do their own work, and not those who had an edge because they were good at and willing to take shortcuts.
On second thought, for those who disagree, forget everything I said. Go to class every day, on time, in all kinds of weather, when you don't feel well, etc. Proceed to take great notes, being sure to re-write them at home. When a fellow student asks you for your notes, by all means, give them your work. Other students in other classes will be "helping" them, too. They may even get just one more "A" than you, and get your seat in nursing school.
I don't think it is my desire to be liked that leads me to help another student out. I completely understand other people's opinions on the subject, I just don't have a problem with it overall. I am not going to worry about someone taking my nursing seat either. I am more than willing to help another student out, if I feel like I am being taken advantage of then I would reassess the situation. The reality is that they are not going to pass unless they make an effort. To me, notes are just a tool, like a textbook. Now, if I had answers to tests and things of that nature, that is a different story, but to help a student out with notes, not a problem in my book. I figure that if they consider my notes a ticket to skip class then that it their problem and best of luck getting through school. If I am just going to throw them out later, I could care less.
hey, thanks so much everybody for all your opinions. they have all been read and greatly appreciated!!!!
what i've finally decided to do is this:
i am not willing to give her my semester's worth of notes. why?
b/c i spend approx 4 hours reading every chapter and hand writing an outline. then i take that outline to class with me and add the teacher's notes to that outline (so i can make sure i have all the important points for the tests).
it's a lot of work and b/c i spend this kind of time on this and my other classes my husband and i have decided that i will not work while i'm taking my nsg pre-reqs to that i can get the best grades. and, as you all can imagine, we take a big finanical hit by me not working.
so with all that in mind, i'm not willing to just give away a semester's worth of work to someone i barely know,who only talks to me when they want something for free. i'm too old to worry about doing things i don't want to do just so "they" will like me, you know?
and as far as the suggestions about doing something nice for someone b/c one day you might need their help--i understand what you mean but last friday i was standing there while this girl told a fellow student that she was making a copy of the cd that came with the book for one of her friends--to help her study.
i was standing right there!!! and she didn't offer to make a copy for me as well. (you're probably saying "well, did you ask? no. i didn't. b/c i'm actually doing pretty well in the class without it.)
her and a few other people in the class know that when the class started, not only could i not afford a copy of the new book at the bookstore (that comes with the cd), but i couldn't even afford a copy of the used book at the bookstore!!! (i had to buy a used copy of the book, make copies of it at my husband's job and return it to the bookstore b/f my first tuition payment was due).
and by her not offering to make a copy of the cd for me, i think she's not someone who'll be there if i needed something anyway.
so, so sorry for the long post, but if you've read this far then, thanks.
btw---if she was friend or family, i would not hesitate to help her out. in fact my sis-in-law is taking nsg pre-reqs too, and i'll make copies of all my notes for her. but somebody who's just a user...
.thumb.jpg.6eeb2c01c27cfd151d706238b7f6d6b7.jpg){kind=small}
UM Review RN, ASN, RN
1 Article; 5,163 Posts
Uhhh...the OP never said anything about homework assignments or graded essays with instructor comments or test reviews. She was talking strictly about class notes.
If you were trying to insinuate that sharing notes is cheating, then I disagree. Homework and other assignments--that's another issue.