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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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 Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 1:31 am Post subject: |
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Glenski is right, Jizzo, note taking is a type of writing, and one that many students are poor at doing. Though to be honest, I didn't/don't always rewrite my notes, except for exam reviews. I did highlight a lot of my notes though, which is another study technique, as well as convincing some students not to write down every word  (though in Japan a harder task is getting them to write at all sometimes  ). |
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White_Elephant
Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 175
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:36 am Post subject: |
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| gaijinalways wrote: |
WE posted
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| You aren't dealing with politics, it's called Administration. I have a Master's in Higher Ed. Admin. and there is a difference. |
WE, I guess you are not familar with the expression 'office politics', which is what Jizzo was referring to. 'Office politics' refers to both admin., mangerial, and coworker shenanigans that often impede rather than make work easier to do  . |
gaijinalways, you are seriously mistaken. He is NOT describing "office politics" AT ALL!!!
Take a look at the real definintion of "office politics:"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_politics
"Office politics is a term for both the productive and counterproductive human factors present between coworkers, in any office environment.
Office politics differs from office gossip in that people participating in office politics do so with the objective of gaining advantage, whereas gossip can be a purely social activity.
[edit] Some aspects of office politics
Social alliances often form between colleagues of similar interests, and they may team up against other perceived competitors.
Personal factors may divide the groups, often including age, gender, or ethnic background.
Perceived or real romantic affairs often unbalance relationships.
Competition for favour between two executives striving for the top may create cliques or teams within the organization.
Those using office politics are nearly always the same people who deny its workings can be revealed and taught
Office politics are involved with information and mis-information. This bears on the formula for power: Information with authority permits the exercise of power"
Now look at the definition of "academic administration:"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_administration
"An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities. Some type of separate administrative structure exists at almost all academic institutions, as fewer and fewer schools are governed by employees who are also involved in academic or scholarly work. Many administrators are former academics with advanced degrees who no longer teach or conduct research actively.
Key responsibilities
Key administrative responsibilities (and thus administrative units) in academic institutions include:
Supervision of academic affairs such as hiring, promotion, tenure, and evaluation (with faculty input where appropriate);
Maintenance of official records (typically supervised by a registrar);
Library and archive management (by librarians and archivists);
Maintenance and construction of campus buildings (the physical plant);
Maintenance of the campus grounds;
Safety and security of people and property on the campus (often organized as an office of public safety or campus police);
Supervision and support of campus computers and network (information technology).
Fundraising from private individuals and foundations ("development" or "advancement")
Research administration (including grants and contract administration, and institutional compliance with federal and state regulations)
Public affairs (including relations with the media, the community, and local, state, and federal governments)
Admissions "
Clearly, "office politics" and administration are two completely different things. Please don't confuse the issue. |
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White_Elephant
Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 175
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:57 am Post subject: |
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| Jizzo T. Clown wrote: |
| Yes, but I am teaching them academic English. |
You are not teaching university students as you said
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| They can't be admitted into normal classes until they either make a high enough score on the TOEFL, or successfully complete our program. |
So, your students have not yet been admitted to the university. Do you know what matriculation means?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriculate
Jizzo, when I say academic level this means that the student has already been through the admisssions process, passed the TOEFL exam with high enough scores and you would be teaching them classes that count towards mandatory credits for graduation. I'm not trying to discredit you as a teacher but I just want you to know that teaching TOEFL and teaching university level students at the academic level are two entirely different things. You asked how it changes everything. Well, look at the things I wrote about what to keep in mind for university students. They have other classes besides our own. However, in your case, this is different because they are there to study English and English alone. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:07 am Post subject: |
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WE posted
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| Clearly, "office politics" and administration are two completely different things. Please don't confuse the issue. |
It's not clear that it is one or the other. I would guess there are probably 'office 'politics' behind what his administration is pushing, hence that backed his usage of the term in my opinion (and probably his).
And yes, you're right, 'office politics' can be good or bad, but I would say most people use 'the term 'office politics' to refer to the misuse of power and/or access to information within a company.
Last edited by gaijinalways on Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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White_Elephant
Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 175
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:55 am Post subject: |
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| gaijinalways wrote: |
WE posted
| Quote: |
| Clearly, "office politics" and administration are two completely different things. Please don't confuse the issue. |
It's not clear that it is one or the other. |
It's NOT?  I don't know how to make it any more clear. Anyone else want to give it a try?
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| I would guess there are probably 'office 'politics' behind what his administration is pushing, |
Do you believe in conspiracy theories without proper evidence?
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| hence that backed his usage of the term in my opinion (and probably his). |
Scroll up. He retracted his statement when he said, "Fair enough, guess you got me on that one." He agrees that his problem is his administration and not "politics" as he said earlier.
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| And yes, you're right, 'office politics' can be good or bad, |
I never said that. Either you misunderstood or contort.
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| but I would say most people use 'the term 'office politics' to refer to the misuse of power and/or acces to information within a company. |
No most people use the term "management" to refer to the misuse of power, corruption etc. I don't see any evidence of such a thing as far as what the OP has told us so far. Perhaps his director is ludicrous in her methods to achieve her required goals but I see no evidence of corruption or misuse of power. |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| White_Elephant wrote: |
| You asked how it changes everything. Well, look at the things I wrote about what to keep in mind for university students. |
I meant how this "changes everything" with regards to getting them to do their homework--not with regards to semantics or your definition (or Wikipedia's) of terms that have little to do with the original topic.
And like it or not, these students are studying at a university. Whether or not they're taking "regular classes" is irrelevant. When I was a young student I had to take remedial math classes. Does that mean I wasn't considered a university student, since I wasn't receiving credit for those classes?
Now you're just being pedantic. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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WE,
I'm talking about the defintion you posted for office politics, and as Jizzo said, you're flogging a dead elephant here not the rider (we've since moved on)!
The admin and the politics it uses are connected, that's my point.
A lot of admin. policies are often the result of office politics at a higher level than this dear author inhabits. Many policies are formed by the higher mucky muck, chances are Jizzo's admin didn't formulate these homework policies, they were probably the brainchild of the President's committee or some such nonsense  .
Last edited by gaijinalways on Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| gaijinalways wrote: |
...they were proabably the brainchild of the President's committee or some such nonsense . |
Or the brainchild of a director with too much time on her hands. |
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White_Elephant
Joined: 02 Sep 2006
Posts: 175
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Jizzo, are you still trying to figure out how to get your students to do one hour of homework every night? Just forget it! It's unreasonable considering what your director is requesting - a combined SIX hours of homework every night. That's insane. Go back and read this whole thread once, twice, three times or more if need be. I know you are burned out and most of us would be too under your circumstances. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:50 am Post subject: |
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It sounds like he needs to justify some things to his director, but I still think a better arguement would be the quality of the homework rather than the quantity. Does it fit in with the curriculum and help students review/preview/recycle language and skills that they have learned in class?
But actually Jizzo is not alone. Some university courses in Japan require a set amount of homework, one I taught even had set exams as well! |
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Drizzt
Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 229
Location: Kyuushuu, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| I suggest making a certain percentage of their final grade determined by their completion of homework. |
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