Is it the time of the semester to tell the students in your courses to tear up their syllabi?
Yes, in at least one of your courses, it probably is.
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Is it time to add some readings or take away some readings, alter the due dates of things, change a test date, or even add or eliminate a whole segment of a course?
Again, yes.
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Is it time to change your teaching methods for a course or two?
Once again, yes.
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Why, why and why you are asking.
Because each set of students in each course create an overall persona/personality of that course. And thus, courses become like people. Some are quicker learners than others. Some are more visual learners. Some need more time on particular areas. And it’s not just a few students here and there. Each course in its entirety comes to have its own personality.
And that’s why at this point in the term it’s time to take stock of that and adjust for the inevitable changes that you’ve observed.
Remember that in reality you, the professor, only need to stay one class period ahead of the students in terms of preparation. You are smarter than them. You have done this before. And you do understand students, courses and personalities.
In the film “Now You See Me,” Jesse Eisenberg’s character, a magician, says: “First rule of magic: always be the smartest person in the room.”
Just know that you are, and adjust accordingly.
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