I like Susan's questions, and would add another:
For which majors, besides Soc, is Intro Soc required either
specifically or among a limited set of alternatives.
At our college, Intro Soc or Family Soc is required for students
intending to major in Nursing - a major which has a high GPA
requirement. In general, they expect their science courses to be tough
and demand attention; they perceive Soc as something so related to their
personal experience that it doesn't really require much effort to study
it. This view was supported for years when all the sections were taught
by a single adjunct instructor who never gave grades below C except for
constant absence.
Both students and faculty have had a hard time adjusting to the idea
that Soc is a discipline with theory, methods, and content, one that
requires critical thinking skills, and can be tested (and failed) just
like any other.
I found that my non-nursing students were more likely to have an
accurate perception of what the course would require than my
nursing-intended students. It might be worth investigating if you have
such a group among your students.
Peace,
Edith
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"The quintessential revolution is that of the spirit,
born of an intellectual conviction of the need for
change in those mental attitudes and values which
shape the course of a nation's development."
-- Aung San Suu Kyi
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sister Edith Bogue, Ph.D. / Dept. of Sociology
College of St. Scholastica / Duluth MN 55811-4199
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Teaching Sociology" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
