Jekyll and Hyde?? Sure, why not!

I got my Student/Teaching Evaluations back today.  Wait....I'll start at the beginning....well, sorta with the pre-amble. 

Those who know me very will know that I kind of have a Jekyll and Hyde kind of personality.  I'm a person of extremes.  When I'm pleased, I'm really pleased; also a pleasure to be around.  When I'm pissed off....boy, watch out!  I'm typically quite pissed off and it takes a little bit of time for the fuse to burn.  When the wick does run out, stand back.  Ms. Hyde doesn't come out very often, but when she does....boy....back off.  I guess my Water Management class needed more warning, or I didn't do a very good job in containing her.  I'm guessing it's the latter.  My RCM class on the other hand got to deal with Dr. Jekyll. 

I actually enjoyed reading my RCM class review.  Although it wasn't outstanding, I wasn't expecting outstanding, it was my first time teaching and I didn't design the course.  It was however really good, one student took the time to draw a "Nova-Saur" in the comment space...I'm not exactly sure exactly what that is but the comment read "Drawing of a Super Nova or Dinosaur....or something."  Overall the reviews were good, not great, but good.  I'll take it. 

The Water Management evaluations were really rough.  I'm not going to let it get to me, mostly because I was really rough on them.  I don't regret it.  I didn't spoon-feed them when they were expecting as much.  It's University for Pete's sake, I asked them to grow up.  Apparently they didn't want to rise to the challenge (There were a few students that accepted the challenge.  I wish I would have known who they were, but I have a good idea who they are.  I hope they got the grades they deserved.)  My favorite comment from then was something to the effect of:  "She introduced the concept and then left us to fend for ourselves."  Um....isn't that the point of University?  To "think" and "fend" for yourself?  I'm not going to think for you.  That part is up to you.  Sure, I'll admit that there were days where I was kind of a bitch, and they picked up on it and called me on it.  Point for them.  But there were other days where I seriously wondered if there was actual neuro-function between their ears.  I guess the standards between Engineering and Agriculture are quite different. 
I wasn't afraid to challenge them and keep them to a very high standard.  I may have challenged them too much.  Other comments were to the effect of the assignments being too demanding or too long.  Although they're not in the "Real World" yet, I'm sure they'll thank me someday when they're given an actual taste of "too demanding".  I may not have been the most professional teacher.  I'll admit it.  I was cranky when I should have kept my cool.  They knew exactly how to press my buttons....sadly I let them.  I'm still wondering if I just got a class of "duds" that were able to make life very difficult. 

I'm going to take the last term for what it was.  I was teaching one class within the scope of my expertise and did very well.  I was teaching one class that was beyond my scope of expertise and struggled to keep ahead.  My flaws showed and I'll lick my wounds and move on.  I can't say that I'll teach another class with AgBio engineering again, at least not in the near future.  Given the situation I was in and the review that I got, I honestly don't think that they'll hire me back, at least not to teach anything outside of my scope.  The class was a train wreck to start with, and I'm still picking up pieces.

I guess you win some, you lose some.  This one I lost.  I maybe didn't deal with it in the best way either, mostly by venting on this very public form of expression, but it was still a life experience and this is how I wanted to document it.  I figure that someone might be able to learn from my experience.  Maybe even me.