<p>Im currently a TA for a number of classes, and Ive been wondering why students sometimes seem so confused about assignments, grades, material, and so on. So, I was wondering (and I know this would be a far from accurate sample), if current college students could chime in about which methods you choose when you dont understand something. Im not using this information for any official study, just because Im curious to know: where do students go for help when they are confused? </p>
<p>So, approximately how many times in the course of the semester-long class did/do you
...read the syllabus all the way through?
refer to the syllabus outside of class?
(if applicable) check the online course site?
email the professor with a question?
ask the professor a question in person outside of class (during office hours, for example)?
ask a fellow student a question about the class, assignments, homework, reading, exams?
(if applicable) meet with or email the TA?
seek the help of a tutor? </p>
<p>If you dont mind, Ill also be interested in knowing what year you are and what your major is. </p>
<p>multiple times a week… (if applicable) check the online course site? </p>
<p>rarely (and most likely the GSI/TA if I do)… email the professor with a question?</p>
<p>rarely… ask the professor a question in person outside of class (during office hours, for example)?</p>
<p>varies by class, could be from a few time a week to maybe less than once a week…ask a fellow student a question about the class, assignments, homework, reading, exams?</p>
<p>oh woops, I kinda answered this (don’t meet with TAs though)… (if applicable) meet with or email the TA? </p>
<p>never have …seek the help of a tutor?</p>
<p>if you email me or put it on the course website I’ll get it. Notes, assignments, whatever. IMO the more resources online the better.</p>
<p>…read the syllabus all the way through?
-I read it at the beginning of the class & consulted as needed
refer to the syllabus outside of class?
-see above
(if applicable) check the online course site?
-daily for my online class, never for the others.
email the professor with a question?
-1-3x
ask the professor a question in person outside of class (during office hours, for example)?
-1-4x
ask a fellow student a question about the class, assignments, homework, reading, exams?
-Never, I’m usually the one people are asking.
(if applicable) meet with or email the TA?
-No T/A:)
seek the help of a tutor?
-Never</p>
<p>…read the syllabus all the way through?
I read the syllabus all the way through when I get it. After that, I just read it to get due dates for assignments and occasionally see what is being covered next so I can get a head start on it.</p>
<p>…refer to the syllabus outside of class?
Most days of the week.</p>
<p>…(if applicable) check the online course site?
We have an online server that often has helpful handouts on it. I check it pretty much every weekday.</p>
<p>…email the professor with a question?
I do so whenever I have a question that I can not figure out on my own.</p>
<p>…ask the professor a question in person outside of class (during office hours, for example)?
I’ve gone to most of my professors’ office hours a few times; I do this more with Spanish and Humanities.</p>
<p>…ask a fellow student a question about the class, assignments, homework, reading, exams?
Pretty much every weekday. I have a few friends in each class that I get together with to review the material and consult with questions regarding homework.</p>
<p>…(if applicable) meet with or email the TA?
No TAs in the courses I’m taking.</p>
<p>…seek the help of a tutor?
I did for Deductive Logic because my professor never explained things very clearly.</p>
<p>…read the syllabus all the way through?
When it’s given out and when I need something from it.</p>
<p>…refer to the syllabus outside of class?
Sure.</p>
<p>…(if applicable) check the online course site?
When the teacher tells us to check it fr specific readings or assignments I do.</p>
<p>…email the professor with a question?
When it pertains to overall ideas or the lecture specifically, or if I can’t get a sufficent answer about an assignment from my TAs.</p>
<p>…ask the professor a question in person outside of class (during office hours, for example)?
I go to almost all of my professor’s office hours. Usually not for help or anything, but to talk further about the class topics or talk to them in general.</p>
<p>…ask a fellow student a question about the class, assignments, homework, reading, exams?
Depends on the class. People ask me a lot and I have a few friends who are my major and are in the same classes often who I bounce idea off of.</p>
<p>…(if applicable) meet with or email the TA?
Yes. Mostly concerning specific assignments and not necessarily the content of the class unless its something from discussion section. I try to get to know my TAs.</p>
<p>…seek the help of a tutor?
Never needed to, although I would if I did. My college has a free tutoring service for a lot of undergrad classes.</p>
<p>I don’t know if this site is going to give you the responses you seek. It’s a pretty self-selective group and most of us seem to be pretty good students. You might try having this sent out through department listservs to get a wider response group.</p>
<p>So, approximately how many times in the course of the semester-long class did/do you…
…read the syllabus all the way through? About 4 times (at the beginning, near the end, at the midterms)
…refer to the syllabus outside of class? Whenever an assignment is due and there’s relevant info
…(if applicable) check the online course site? If there’s HW posted there, then daily. If no HW is directly posted there (like Blackboard), then I don’t check it too often because updates are sent to my email.
…email the professor with a question? Twice? I go to office hours or ask after class.
…ask the professor a question in person outside of class (during office hours, for example)? Ah, depends on how much guidance I need. I’ll say maybe 3-4 times per semester?
…ask a fellow student a question about the class, assignments, homework, reading, exams? Multiple times per week, depending on the class. One girl and I do our HW together or text each other questions (we’re encouraged to collaborate).
…(if applicable) meet with or email the TA? Almost never. I go to the prof.
…seek the help of a tutor? When I need it for math. (Depends)</p>
<p>If you don’t mind, I’ll also be interested in knowing what year you are and what your major is. Freshman- Undecided. </p>
<p>This is hard because I try to keep an open communication will all my professors, go to office hours, etc. I also almost always form study groups with other people in my classes, so we collaborate a lot too.</p>