LIB495 Catherine Peck

[studyingfortests]

One thing that I think makes a HUGE difference in terms of getting help with any professor in an online setting is the student putting forth the effort to reach out to the professor and get to know them.

Human nature being what it is, if a professor has had personal contact with a student (phone, Zoom even multiple emails), that professor is going to remember and make note of that student, and if the student is working and showing interest, and asking good questions, it's going to have a super positive effect.

When I had butts-in-seats classes, I don't think I had a single class where I didn't visit a professor's office hours, ask questions in class, or otherwise get to know them at least a little bit. And that almost always paid off, as they provided all sorts of extra help, guidance, input. In my professor-led online classes, it's been much the same thing.

It always shocks me how many people are intimidated or uncomfortable going to see their professor at their office hour. I remember one professor, head of the SUD studies department at my community college who, almost every class, encouraged her students to come see her during an office hour. She held 3 hours of "office hour" time and was almost entirely unavailable other times (super busy.) But in those hours, there was always a line of 3 to 8 students waiting to see her. She'd spend whatever time was needed -- you never felt rushed -- but she managed to solve whatever it was in less than 10 minutes per student.

Another spent about an hour with me (no one came to her office hours, she was thrilled to have someone show up) and gave me a ton of great writing feedback (this in a psychology class.)

And the comment about Dr. Black being bitchy about APA is right on the money. My first paper, I got like a 72 or something, and he invited me to call, and when I did, I asked how he was doing and he said "I was doing great until I read your paper! What happened?" (in a joking way) and then proceeded to patiently help me through understanding all my APA mistakes (and there were a lot... I was using APA 6, and waasn't that good at APA 6. My community college professors weren't picky about it.) I made all the changes, understood what mistakes I'd made and why, and resubmitted and got 100. All the rest of my papers were in the high 90s. So he's not an "easy grader", he just teaches you to write really well, and sets high expectations that you *want* to achieve. He did tell me that about 3/4 of his students get As or Bs, and in my particular class, he said toward the end that almost everyone was going to have an A, which was unusual. So I don't think he's a pushover for an easy grade, just there to ensure you succeed if you do the work.

So for me, the long-and-short, relating this back to LIB-495 is, I suspect any professor teaching it wants their students to do well, and will, at least to some extent, help them succeed. I'd avoid someone who won't ever admit wrongdoing, but I do think ratemyprofessor is helpful, and some are definitely better than others.

[bartlebuck]

I also encourage you to post comments to ratemyprofessor.  There aren't a lot of comments on many of the LIB-495 professors, and thoughtful ones that accurately describe how a given professor thinks and works is really useful to people trying to decide which professor to select.

I for one appreciate when a student reports back on this forum with good info like this. I have had my share of bad professors, and am happy to be able to avoid one up front.

Thanks OP for the info.  We appreciate it.

Thanks bartlebuck for the information, I also highly recommend having a comment or post in ratemyprofessor or gradreports so other readers searching those two sites would know.  I also appreciate you sharing your information, as sometimes without this information we would not know if an instructor or professor is suited for my learning style or not.

Having said that, I noticed there were multiple "updates" to older threads relating to this, it's great to have more information, but it's somewhat scattered that way, if it was within a couple of posts or threads, it'll be easier to search and such.

Thank you for point that out about the older threads. I put comments there in case people did a search and read through old material. However, your comment prompts me to add here in this thead that I think Dr. Haydel cares EXTREMELY about her students and she puts in the time and effort to provide the support (through the phonecalls and ZOOM meetings) to make sure her students feel supported, are supported, and have the best chance of successfully completing the course. I respect and admire that about her very much. For some students, if they have a strong research paper background, or prefer a more distant professor and experience she may not be a good fit, but I believe she is doing her best to help her students.

[AnnaAK]

I'm in my only (last) semester with TESU, and taking 495. I am ASTOUNDED at how easy it is, and the quality of posts that are turned in.

My professors have been great, absolutely no complaints. I will say that Dr. Tami Moser has been the only one to give valuable feedback similar to what I would expect at a brick and mortar, though even that is very truncated due to the nature of the communication, I guess, or the expectations of the program.

I'm looking at Master's programs and would totally do tesu if I didn't need to diversify my resume.

[Pats20]

I'm in my only (last) semester with TESU, and taking 495. I am ASTOUNDED at how easy it is, and the quality of posts that are turned in.

My professors have been great, absolutely no complaints. I will say that Dr. Tami Moser has been the only one to give valuable feedback similar to what I would expect at a brick and mortar, though even that is very truncated due to the nature of the communication, I guess, or the expectations of the program.

I'm looking at Master's programs and would totally do tesu if I didn't need to diversify my resume.

Wow I’ve never heard it described as such.

[AnnaAK]

I'm in my only (last) semester with TESU, and taking 495. I am ASTOUNDED at how easy it is, and the quality of posts that are turned in.

Wow I’ve never heard it described as such.

As easy? I just had different expectations for grown ups in the last class of their degree - they don't follow directions, their posts are anemic and don't fulfill the prompts, and I didn't expect a 400 level class to explain very basics of professional writing 'don't use first person' and 'here's the normal layout of a basic essay.' 

Don't get me wrong; I appreciate it, but I expected something different. I would have completed my degree much earlier if I had known.

[LevelUP]

I'm in my only (last) semester with TESU, and taking 495. I am ASTOUNDED at how easy it is, and the quality of posts that are turned in.

Wow I’ve never heard it described as such.

As easy? I just had different expectations for grown ups in the last class of their degree - they don't follow directions, their posts are anemic and don't fulfill the prompts, and I didn't expect a 400 level class to explain very basics of professional writing 'don't use first person' and 'here's the normal layout of a basic essay.' 

Don't get me wrong; I appreciate it, but I expected something different. I would have completed my degree much earlier if I had known.

If you do the business capstone, the midterm exam is the most challenging thing about that capstone.  We have had people on here score a D on that exam.  If you get a D score on your midterm, it is mathematically impossible to get an A in the course. 

I would say overall, the toughest thing about TESU is the exams.  Especially the exams where you have a question that must be answered in essay format.

[Dumber]

I also encourage you to post comments to ratemyprofessor.  There aren't a lot of comments on many of the LIB-495 professors, and thoughtful ones that accurately describe how a given professor thinks and works is really useful to people trying to decide which professor to select.

I for one appreciate when a student reports back on this forum with good info like this. I have had my share of bad professors, and am happy to be able to avoid one up front.

Thanks OP for the info.  We appreciate it.

Thanks bartlebuck for the information, I also highly recommend having a comment or post in ratemyprofessor or gradreports so other readers searching those two sites would know.  I also appreciate you sharing your information, as sometimes without this information we would not know if an instructor or professor is suited for my learning style or not.

Having said that, I noticed there were multiple "updates" to older threads relating to this, it's great to have more information, but it's somewhat scattered that way, if it was within a couple of posts or threads, it'll be easier to search and such.

Thank you for point that out about the older threads. I put comments there in case people did a search and read through old material. However, your comment prompts me to add here in this thead that I think Dr. Haydel cares EXTREMELY about her students and she puts in the time and effort to provide the support (through the phonecalls and ZOOM meetings) to make sure her students feel supported, are supported, and have the best chance of successfully completing the course. I respect and admire that about her very much. For some students, if they have a strong research paper background, or prefer a more distant professor and experience she may not be a good fit, but I believe she is doing her best to help her students.

I am in 495 with Dr Haydel. I am very happy to have her. She cares! But, I hate the capstone, just too much work.

[Dumber]

I also encourage you to post comments to ratemyprofessor.  There aren't a lot of comments on many of the LIB-495 professors, and thoughtful ones that accurately describe how a given professor thinks and works is really useful to people trying to decide which professor to select.

I for one appreciate when a student reports back on this forum with good info like this. I have had my share of bad professors, and am happy to be able to avoid one up front.

Thanks OP for the info.  We appreciate it.

Thanks bartlebuck for the information, I also highly recommend having a comment or post in ratemyprofessor or gradreports so other readers searching those two sites would know.  I also appreciate you sharing your information, as sometimes without this information we would not know if an instructor or professor is suited for my learning style or not.

Having said that, I noticed there were multiple "updates" to older threads relating to this, it's great to have more information, but it's somewhat scattered that way, if it was within a couple of posts or threads, it'll be easier to search and such.

Thank you for point that out about the older threads. I put comments there in case people did a search and read through old material. However, your comment prompts me to add here in this thead that I think Dr. Haydel cares EXTREMELY about her students and she puts in the time and effort to provide the support (through the phonecalls and ZOOM meetings) to make sure her students feel supported, are supported, and have the best chance of successfully completing the course. I respect and admire that about her very much. For some students, if they have a strong research paper background, or prefer a more distant professor and experience she may not be a good fit, but I believe she is doing her best to help her students.

I am in 495 with Dr Haydel. I am very happy to have her. She cares! But, I hate the capstone, just too much work.

Today, I completed the lib-495 capstone with a 96%. I said that as a way of saying that Dr. Hayden could be the best mentor anywhere. I've taken hundreds of classes and I've never met anyone more compassionate and generous like Dr. Hayden. My success and the success of the other students were the only thing that mattered to her. She does have a once weekly zoom. It is not mandatory and it is her time. The zoom does not focus on new materials. But it's a one-hour week that has a benefit of around ten hours of saving your valuable time a week.

[Lee586]

Not Peck related but LIB495 related, I thought we were suppose to get 100% for the ETS Major Test and ETS Proficiency Profile? I was given a 95 for the Profile and 80 for the Major Test.

[carrythenothing]

Not necessarily

https://docs.google.com/document/d/10S4D...h0M_k/edit

How is the Major Field Test graded?
You will receive a total score on a scale between 120 and 200. Upon receiving your score screenshot, your mentor will verify your score and translate it into a grade in your gradebook. This may take a few days or weeks, so do not expect your grade to appear instantly.

[...]

The important thing is to answer the questions using the knowledge you have. Students who make an effort and answer every question usually earn an “A” or “B,” even if there were a number of questions they did not know.