Job Discussion Forums

[khmerhit]

Recently having learned that i could be in line for a job where i would have to work with what are known as mystery shoppers, i was reminded that i used to "audit" a class at uni in which i was a mystery student, what they would call a ghost student in cambodia.... (OK, yes, get off my back, i am getting to my point, mods....sheeeEEsh) anyway, the tutorial assistant used to give me these filthy looks cuz she didnt know who i was and i didnt belong in the class, it was a comp lit class, but little did she know that the professor had taught me every friggin day in grs 7 and 8, six yrs earlier, when she was a lowly teacher, so she didnt mind my being there, du tout, du tout!! so, like... my question is, like, do you have any MYSTERY STUDENTS//??

[Sweetsee]

None here.

[mondrian]

Often!

I teach Engineering freshmen in a local University here in NE China.
I call the roll every lesson as it makes up 10% of their final grade.
To make sure that there are no "friends" doubling up for absent students, I always also do a head count.
Often (and I mean often) there are more bodies than on my roll.
It takes time, but I'm curious, to fish them out, as no-one will own up to be the extra guy/gal.
Then I quizz them on the reason for being in my class:
"We have heard you are a good teacher/you have a unique style.
"I am a psychology post-grad and doing research on ..........
"I am from the admin office and want to see student reactions = BIG BROTHER.
Occasionally another Chinese English teacher creeps in at the back; for what purpose I don't know as there is never any communication between us!
So I never worry. When I taught in Institutes or High Schools here in China and in Korea it was a monthly occurrence that all of the Chinese teachers occupied the back row to listen (but they also did that to each other!). There has NEVER been any feedback.
So don't be put off, if that is a problem for you. Just be your natural brilliant self!!

[dmb]

If I knew the answer it wouldn't be a mystery, would it?

[denise]

A phantom observer?!?!? I�ve never heard of this! Am I lucky or naive? It really doesn�t sound like the sort of thing that I would want to deal with--the distrustful Big Brother thing. Similar to what another poster (sorry, don�t remember who--deconstructor, maybe?) said in another thread about lessons being videotaped with no warning.

Couldn�t possibly happen here. Our classes are small enough that anyone not on the list stands out. I do get students from other teachers�classes occasionally--they are allowed to visit a different class if, for whatever reason, they cannot attend their own. Since I�ve got all of the upper classes right now, all it means is that sometimes my morning students come in the evening and vice versa.

d

[Guy Courchesne]

What would everyone consider to be worse(or better I guess)? A camera/mic in the classroom, watching every moment or the random potential of a 'secret shopper' student?

[denise]

[Guy Courchesne]

we can.

yuck

Cameras/mics seem to be getting more common in Mexico, in my experience. I think if they are used properly, they can be a good feedback tool for a teacher and students. Friday reviews with admin or teacher/student reviews once a week for example. Maybe more productive than watching Finding Nemo for the umpteenth time?

Used incorrectly, they are too Big Brotherish.

[Super Frank]

Neither are pleasant but I've had "mystery shoppers" in lots of jobs, as well as management listening into phone calls, random email monitoring etc. We even had statistics sent round saying who had had the most porn intercepted on the way to our in-boxes. If you ain't f'in around then you aint got anything to worry about. I try to make my work irroproachable so that when I do take the p, a blind eye is normally turned

[dmb]

[MELEE]

The only ones I've had are boyfriends or girlfriends of students who won't leave their side.

[denise]