(TESC) Is it normal for a mentor to skip work you've submitted in the class?

[cookderosa]

Always happy to share my experiences! My most difficult courses where both 100 level.

My first semester I took computer concepts and applications, expecting an easy A. We had two texts for the course, one for the class, one for the lab component. I learned quickly after receiving the grade from my first assignment the instructor wanted min 3 references, best grade if 4 or more. By Wk2, I was typing up my discussion forum entries in essay format (including citations and endnotes, with 3-5 references) and attaching the doc to the post. That was the only way to receive an A for discussion posts. On the written assignments if you did not blather on about each question asked you were dinged. No study tips at all on midterm or final.Was very lucky i worked hard on the DF and WAs. I ended up with a B+ in a subject that I loved. Unfortunately, I was spoiled by my math instructor the same semester, who provided a study guide on what to review for both exams. I found out later that was more the exception than the rule.

My instructor for business math the following semester was nonexistent and you had to argue back and forth with her when her answer key was proven wrong. She also was a stickler on formatting. How can you be a stickler on formatting math problems? I ended up copying the pages from the text, handwriting the answers, scanning the pages and submitting. All because the woman was so lazy, she couldn't be so bothered as to check the questions in the book when I asked her to review my typed answers that were maked incorrect the first week. She also offered no study tips for the midterm or final. My final grade was a B. This was the worst course I had while at TESC and it was due to the instructor.

Every other course I took, upper level included, I received As. Was it because I was exposed to two of the worst examples of instructors early on so I worked harder and smarter, most definitely. I also had many wonderful classes/instructors who I gave glowing reviews on ratemyprofesor and in forums. Overall, this was no different than experiences with choice teachers from grade school though high school. But the end result is signficant, your degree GPA follows you through life. What's the old adage, "You Live and you Learn!"

Hope your next semester proves to be a better experience!

I have to say, I've had similar experiences at TESC. I don't know if it's worse to have a lazy grader or a "b-buster" but I will say that when I spend hours on a paper, to get a 100 with the comment "good job" I want to flick my mentor in the head. No feedback, no criticism, no comments about...well, about anything. Clearly some folks are on autopilot.

My husband is currently in his MBA program, just finished his first class. His forum post requirement was DAILY. The instructor deducted points if there wasn't at least 1 post every-flipping-day. That's just ridiculous imo. My husband missed a Sunday during the first week and he had points deducted. The forum was only 10% overall of your grade, so those daily points are microscopic in the large picture, but really- what kind of person goes to class 7 days a week? (my husband apparently) I think his teacher was a graduate of a high tier business school, so maybe he thought he should take "online doesn't mean easier" to mean twice as hard? But, the flip side of that coin, there was tons of instructor feedback/interaction.

I don't know what's best, but you're just shooting darts in the dark trying to guess what will offend your mentor vs be viewed as reasonable. My vote is ask about the grade.