the Seven "P's"
In my teaching enviroment (Culinary) if we do not plan for many contingencies, things can and will go wrong, as they so often do in the "real world" I follow the seven P's and teach it to my students...
1.)Proper,
2.)Prior,
3.)Planning,
4.)Prevents,
5.)Pitifully,
6.)Poor,
7.)Performance
pre-planning for many un-forseen, possible outcomes makes the class run smoothly
Hi Philip:
Wow, that's an awesome example of the need to be prepared, and I plan to use that myself in the future.
While we instructors may need to continually coach our students to do what is necessary to stay on top of material, we must also build into our expectations the reality that some students just won't do the work. Why is that? There are probably a huge number of factors: outside availability of time to study, the need to work when not in school, laziness, etc.
The bottom line: there is no magic bullet we can give a student to make them understand something. To a certain degree, students must spend the time thinking about a topic and incorporate it into their minds on their own.
Regards, Barry
Along those lines, a former fellow instructor had the following statement placed on the front of her desk in view of the students: "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine." It correlates with the 7 P's.
Even though we can not be expected to be miracle workers for those who wait until the last minute - if then - to ask for help, as educators we still have that committment to work with students who do come to us for assistance. I had a student a few years back who approached me with a week to go in an 11-week term. He wanted me to go over the material he was experiencing difficulties. When I asked him what topics he needed help, he replied "Everything." Since he asked, I did take the time to try to go over some of the material to be of help, but in waiting until the last moment, he ended up with that "pitifully poor performance".
I tell this story to all of my first term students - or at least the students I am seeing in class for the first time. Most understand the message I am trying to make, even though a few still fall into the same situation, wondering what they can do for "extra credit" to pass a course ... when all they needed to do was to put forth the effort throughout the full course and not just the last week. If mentioning this story to my students helps only one person think about planning properly to stay up with the material, it was worth the few minutes to tell the story.
Hi Susan:
This little axiom does convey a simplified approach to performance in the classroom. Two things that are good about it. One, it provides a method to be consistent. Two, it provides a set of steps that can easily remembered. I have never used this, but it appears a lot of the participants in this course have commented positively about it.
Regards, Barry
Thank you so much! I too am going to use this. Very appropriate.
Hi Rachel:
Anytime a teacher can plan for the day, and also plan for the unexpected they are being responsible custodians of the students learning. It takes a bit of time to think and plann for back up plans, but I'll tell, when that time comes that you really need it, it will invaluable.
Regards, Barry
This is great! A back up plan is always important in a classroom setting! A game plan and then a secondary. Glad to see I am doing this correctly! I will utilize this daily.
Hi Ken:
I agree - these are helpful in any profession.
Regards, Barry
Kris,
Thanks for noting the seven P's. They are "keepers" not only in the culinary world but in other professions also.
Ken
Hi Gretchen:
Great! It it works for you, use it!
Regards, Barry
Hi Maureen:
Good practical example. And so true.
Regards, Barry
In the classes I teach (healthcare), I always add an eight "P" for PEOPLE.
When my students ask how they cannot get a half point for a wrong pharmaceutical math calculation I remind them that avoiding medication errors is ultimate for the survival of every patient. They usually walk away without wanting the half point credit.
I totally love this! It is so true.
I would like to use the 7Ps if that's permissible of you Kris.
Thanks.
Steve
Hi Christina:
Yeah, it's kind of a cute and cleaver mnemonic.
Regards, Barry
I love it, the 7 P's for Prep!
Hi Jana:
Yeah, kind of cool. There's some wisdom embedded in this acronym.
Regards, Barry
Hi Kris:
Great! And a terrific way to remember an imporatnt adage. We always want to try to plan for all eventualities, but even with that kind of care, some things will invariably come along to cause a break in the flow. I guess, in a way, that's waht they call experience (a history of mistakes and errors - behind us).
Regards, Barry
