Graduate Student / Postdoc Seminar

Seeking Points: A Case Study

Speaker: Matthew Leingang

Location: Warren Weaver Hall 1302

Date: Friday, February 19, 2010, 1 p.m.

Synopsis:

"Can I talk to you about my grade?" one of your students says as he enters your office shortly after you've handed back an exam. You might not describe the conversation that is likely to follow as pleasurable, yet assessing students and talking about grades with students are important parts of teaching. Can we change the adversarial nature of such events and make them teachable moments? the talk will take the form of a case study. Participants will read a short story about a student seeking additional points on a recently graded test. Afterwards, participants will discuss as a group the issues and problems the story raises as well as possible solutions to these problems. Thinking and talking about these issues will prepare you to face them when they arise in your own teaching.