How to deal with bad lecturer?

WolfSong2000

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

At this level of study one wouldn't expect this to be taken into account, you're not doing GCSEs you know!

I also worry about the way in which you seem to expect her to teach you; your posts and your attitude illustrate what's wrong with university study these days.

ETA. I see you hope to work in conflict resolution - this doesn't bode well for your future!

Well, each to their own, but I disagree. I'm not saying it should have had a bearing on the mark, but when I went to see her about the grade afterwards, she simply implied that I hadn't followed her instructions and that I was stupid. She ignored the fact that a previous essay I had written for her had landed me a very good mark, because I knew what was required, and because I wasn't under so much stress.

And yes, funnily enough, her being a lecturer I do expect her to teach. Especially when I am paying thousands of pounds for the trouble. Every other within the same department that I have dealt with (all with different teaching styles) have been fantastic, but she really lets the side down. Instead I feel I've done two courses with her and managed to learn nothing of relevance. The course we ended up being "taught" often bore little or no relation to the title, with the exception of the first lecture of the first class where she did actually lecture, and it was relevant.

WolfSong2000

melancholly - I initially sat the course co-ordinator, then when I saw this lecturer about my grades, I pointed out the fact that I and many others felt she had not been clear. On prior occasions I have also had to mention, as politely as I can, that her behaviour has been inappropriate, and each time I was blown off.

I realise different lecturers have different styles. I dealt with a number of different lecturers at undergrad - some of who's styles I loved, others who I couldn't get on with. Ditto for the way they marked me. Some loved my style of writing, others not so much. They were always clear with regards to what was expected though, and the one time at undergrad where I misunderstood and messed up, I went to see the lecturer and they explained to me what I had done wrong and how I could fix it next time. Stupid me was expecting the same from this lecturer. Guess not.

Pigget

I'm currently taking an MA and all of our work is second marked before it is returned to us.

If it hasn't already been second marked - could you suggest that another lecturer second mark it to see if their opinion differs?

melancholly

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

melancholly - I initially sat the course co-ordinator, then when I saw this lecturer about my grades, I pointed out the fact that I and many others felt she had not been clear. On prior occasions I have also had to mention, as politely as I can, that her behaviour has been inappropriate, and each time I was blown off.

I realise different lecturers have different styles. I dealt with a number of different lecturers at undergrad - some of who's styles I loved, others who I couldn't get on with. Ditto for the way they marked me. Some loved my style of writing, others not so much. They were always clear with regards to what was expected though, and the one time at undergrad where I misunderstood and messed up, I went to see the lecturer and they explained to me what I had done wrong and how I could fix it next time. Stupid me was expecting the same from this lecturer. Guess not.

i'm trying to tell you how to proceed - just being annoyed about the situation won't help. it will also be easy to dismiss your concerns if you don't go through the proper channels. if it's always you complaining 'on behalf of the group', then you look like you have a problem as nothing is going through the student rep and only one student is speaking up.

i think you need to consider how you have dealt with 'extenuating circumstances' and remember the double marking/moderating process for all coursework.

personally, i would mark harshly if someone pulled in inappropriate sources at masters level and formatted them incorrectly. that on it's own wouldn't get failed, but with limited content, it could happen (this is a masters not an undergrad - there is, as i said, a higher standard to pass).

either do something about this through the established procedures or let it go. complaining over and over again about a member of staff may make you look like the one with the problem so jump through all the hoops! at the moment, this sounds a bit petty and personal and i think you need to make sure it comes across differently when you deal with the university.