Redo...FAIL

My legal research and writing class bombed their exam on secondary sources and citations. Well, I shouldn't say all of them bombed. One student received a perfect paper. After congratulating the student, I asked her how did she prepare for the exam. She said "Well, I did all the practice examples that your put online. Then, I remembered the study tips you gave in class and did those as well. And, of course, I review my notes every day." She remarked that the exam was a step by step process and if you follow the steps, and not read into the points, you would be fine.

Wow...at least one person was listening to me.

As for the others, they really couldn't give me an reason for their poor performance. So, I decided that I would retest them. I could not move on to the next topic without knowing that they have mastered secondary sources. I enlisted the help of one of my faculty to re-write the library scavenger hunt. I had thought that I had broken down the exam so that the steps would be easy to follow. In fact, I've used this exam for two years without incident. My colleague and remarked that maybe there is something lower than the lowest common denominator.

The students were told that they could retake the exam, but I would count the retake as their final grade for that exam. A few students did much better. A couple of them told me that they did some extra practice and even enlisted the help of some students who had taken the class. But, a couple still did not do well. One or two actually did worse the second time around.

Worse?

I am not sure how the rest of the quarter is going to work out. The subject matter only gets harder.  I am thinking about doing some V-Casts on how to find these sources so that the students will have something to use outside of class. But, some of them don't even take the time to do the extra work. I can't force one to learn.

At the end of the day, it's up to the student to take responsibility for their own learning.

Would Someone Please Explain The Reason For This Strange Behavior?

One of the biggest frustrations with my students lately is that they do not want to take responsibility for their own learning.

Case in point. The other day, I had a student insist that I did not teach her how to perform legal citation. She had a totally meltdown over a homework assignment using legal citation. She told several people that I just gave the assignment without showing the class how to do legal citation.

Um...ok...let's backtrack...

1. I spent an entire class going over the concept using a PowerPoint that broke down the concept by explaining each part of the citation and what it means.
2. I use the PowerPoint because this student, like many others, are very visual. The slides I created are very interactive. I post them online after class so that they can practice at their leisure.
3. The PowerPoint had several examples which we went over in class, ad nauseum.
4. Students worked on an exercise in small groups to practice
5. Each student had a cop of the slides for notes
6. Each student was shown in the Bluebook (The legal citation guide for law) where to find the information and how to interpret it.
7. The student was in class that day and participated fully.

But according to the student, I did show her "how" to do citation.

Sigh...Maybe I was supposed to do the assignment for her?

I have other examples where it seems that my students do not want to take responsibility for their own learning. Some just want me to "Teach to the test" rather than ask them to go beyond the basic levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. Sure, I could go into a rant on how "No Child Left Behind" has f-ed up the the system. But, that doesn't solve the problem.

My students will be entering a profession where,  as paralegals, they will be asked to find  information. They will be expected to think, reason and analyze.  That means going beyond the basics and actually putting the grey matter in their heads to use. It means seeking answers and discovering information. Not hoping that someone else will tell you the answer.

After all, I know the answer. I am asking them the question.

Hello? Hello? Is There Anyone Out There?

Well, it's been a while since I've posted... Let's see if I can give you the Reader's Digest version.

• Ended the quarter and started a new one. A couple of my students were dismissed for academic and/or disciplinary reasons.
• Just trying to keep my sanity at work. There are a lot of things that just don't make sense. I spent three days of email correspondence trying to explain to someone that criminal law and criminal procedure are two separate concepts.
• I had a phone interview for a prestigious position at a law school nearby. It went OK. I am lacking in a couple of areas, but the headhunter plans to forward my CV to the selection committee because of my academic background.  Don't know where it's going to go, but I was flattered to get a phone interview.
• Husband found out yesterday that his division back in Lake Effect Snow Central is closing for good. Effective next Friday, Husband will be laid off. He will get a pretty decent severance. 
• We are in a great location for Husband to find another job in his field.  He has a couple of leads.
• Since Husband and I use his salary for living expenses and my salary as extra, we are in pretty good shape. We have a year's worth of expenses stashed away. We are already looking at where we can trim some fat from the budget.
•  But, that means that our 20th wedding anniversary vacation is on hold.  :(  We have a smaller vacation planned for this summer around the time of our anniversary.
•  I've been working out like crazy. I am back to my pre-steroid  weight, I gained a few pounds after my last 12 day taper back in January. I am also in full remission again...YAY!  I am the crazy lady on the elliptical. I am up about 3 miles, 3 days a week.
• Junior passed his intermediate obedience and is in the advanced class which includes working toward his Canine Good Citizen designation. 
• He still gravels and howls every morning at 7 a.m. for his breakfast. 
• We don't think that Junior is done growing. He is not even two years old and he still has big paws. He's at  70 pounds.
• Veggies are planted in the garden. Here's hoping the deer don't think it's an all night buffet!
• I treated myself to a fabulous pair of Christian Louboutin pumps. I had been saving for them since I purchased my Manolo Blaniks and before Husband lost his job! No expensive shoes or handbags for a while.   

I know there is other stuff, but for the life of me, I can't recall it. I guess that's what I get for neglecting my blog! 

Random Bullets of Crapola

• Good grief, it's been a while since I posted here. 
• It has been so crazy in my world. I am mentally exhausted. 
• Yesterday, I had three student meltdowns, one of which I had to kick out of my office for cussing me out. 
• The whining and complaining that comes with the end of the quarter is in full effect. Just shut up and do the work.
• Still quite frustrated with my job and the new HMFIC. I honestly do not believe this person has any respect for me or what I do. Quite frankly, I feel the same way about the new HMFIC. That makes it quite difficult. 
• Having a conversation with the new HMFIC is like talking to a brick wall, so I limit my interactions to when I absolutely must communicate. 
• Not much out there for a gal like me, meaning no PhD means no job for you. 
• I am really tempted to apply for a position in law that would be totally amazing and a complete long-shot. it's not practicing law, but it would be very cool. 
• Husband is also growing tired of his job. He wants to find something locally. 
• Junior is doing great. He has finished basic and intermediate obedience. Plus, he was voted "Camper of the Week" at his daycare. He is such a good boy. 

Pay It Forward

This post is in honor of International Women's Day. 

When I was in law school, I was a graduate assistant in the undergraduate academic advising office. My supervisor was a wonderful woman who became my first mentor. She taught me many things, and not just those things that were needed to do the job. She taught me about navigating the big, bad world as a woman. She showed me how to be assertive without being aggressive, being feminine without the world perceiving you as weak, and the importance of treating my sisters with dignity and respect, regardless of what paths we choose to take.

My next mentor was an attorney named Kate. Kate was one of the partners at the first law firm I worked as an newly admitted attorney. Kate was, and still is, a brilliant attorney, who didn't take any shit from anyone. She was also a stunning beauty who embraced fashion. She taught me that being a female attorney in a primary male dominated field doesn't mean you have to lose your femininity. Like Leah, Kate showed me how to be assertive, tough as nails professional who know how to play the game with the boys and gain respect by them. Plus, I credit her with releasing my inner fashion diva! And, like Leah, Kate insisted that I pay forward the wisdom that she gave me.

Yesterday, Junior Colleague stopped by my office to talk. She has been going through a rough patch lately. I knew that there were some rumblings from those higher than me about her. She was in the new Assistant Dean's office last week and left sobbing. I wanted to talk to her about what happened in that meeting, but I thought it would be best for her to come to me. Plus, I didn't want to pry.

Junior Colleague told me that during the meeting, she given a written warning about some issues involving an incident with a student. She said she left the meeting crying because it just seemed like everyone higher up was against her. She felt like she was being attacked and worried that she may lose her job.

I knew this pattern well. I've seen it in the legal and academic professions. Someone is waiting for her to make the smallest mistake and use it to justify firing her. While I didn't have concrete proof that this was the case, all the signs pointed in that direction. What I knew for sure was that if this is the path she is on, there is nothing that I can do in my capacity to save her. Sadly, she had pissed off the wrong person. And, that person was ready to pounce.

I told her that while I didn't know anything about whether or not she was on the chopping block, what I did know is that she needed to be very careful. Don't give those in power any reason, no matter how small, to make things worse for you.We proceeded to talk about the incidents that were the subject of the meeting. I explained to her what she needed to do to get her side of the story on the record. We also talked about how she needed to play the game from here on out. I told her that it may not be an end game situation yet. But, she needed to make sure that she understands that this is a game and there are rules. I explained to her the rules of the game, just as Leah and Kate had done for me on many occasions. I gave her all my wisdom in the hope that she will follow my advice.  She gave me a hug and thanked me for listening and giving her the advice. She appreciated having a mentor like me.

And I reminded her, just as Leah and Kate reminded me, to make sure to pay it forward someday.

They're Back

Migraines, that is.

Addy recently posted how she was dealing with migraines (We are migraine sisters). I guess in addition to being painful and annoying, they are now contagious!

I think the source of mine is two-fold. The weather in Elsewhere is crazy. The barometric pressure is out of control. That's usually a big trigger for me.  Yesterday, I could feel it coming just as the rain was beginning to fall. Thankfully, I keep a Relpak pill in my purse for just such an emergency.

The second is that I am just so. very. tired. It has been crazy in my little corner of the world. While being tired can make RA flares rear their ugly head, it does help for migraines. We just finished midterm, and well, you know the rest. Plus, I have so many other things that I must get done at some point. I found a new primary care physician that is located closer to my house and has more convenient hours. So, I have to get blood-work completed. Also, I have to get my records transferred from my old PCP to my new PCP. Oh, and I have to see the radiologist for hand X-rays. No, I didn't do anything to my hands. My RA doc want to see if the RA has damaged my joints. The "To Do" list is rather long, so Husband and I took this Friday off to get this stuff done and get a little R&R.

Yesterday, I left work an hour early because the Relpak knocks me out. I slept for about four hours, got up to eat something and then went back to sleep for about 10 hours. I am feeling a little groggy this morning; not sure if it's the meds or if I am still tried.

I just have to get through today.

Not It

I didn't get the promotion.

On the one hand, I am glad that the position went to someone whom I like and respect. I mean, it could be worse, it could have gone to a total ass-hat. The person who got the position will do a great job. And, he has already extended an olive branch to me to use my "special skills".

And, my boss said that it was a very tough decision. He had narrowed it down to me and the person who got the position.  It was a very tough decision for my boss. And, knowing my boss the way that I do, I can honestly say that he was not just saying that to make me feel better or justify his choice.

So, why do I feel like crap?

Maybe it's because I had hoped that this was the door that would lead me to something new. As I said in a previous post, I don't have many options with my skill set. I guess I thought this was my way out.

Maybe it's because the new HMFIC didn't even have me ranked in his top two choices. That says to me that he either doesn't think I have what it takes despite evidence to the contrary, he doesn't respect me (we've butted heads on a couple of occasions) or he just doesn't "get me".

And, of course there is the classic "I went all out for something and it didn't work out" feeling of disappointment. 

Sigh.

Tonight, I will lick my wounds, take comfort in the kind words of some of my colleagues, let Husband spoil me and hug Junior.

I figure out my next move later.