Critical Thinking and Entitlement
I have a student population in which the majority of students do carry this sense of entitlement. Sometimes, it can be challenging to work with but definitely rewarding when you see that student come around.
Adam,
Self discipline seems to be lacking in many students today. They need understand things like rigor, effort and research if they are going to expand their abilities as critical thinkers. You make a very good point about the fact they are not entitled to a grade in a course because they enrolled and paid tuition. They have to earn their grade and that comes as a result of effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is exactly why instructors must embrace critical reflection on the individual needs of students. There are firm yet creative approaches to beneficially applying firm discipline.
Daniel,
This is something that I cannot understand. Paying tuition does not buy a grade, it only gets admission to the school. Students need to understand that they have to have the self discipline to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for career success. Yes, it does take effort but that is why they are in school in the first place. This is a message I work hard at sending to my students especially as we get near the end of the session and they have missed a lot of classes and have not completed their work and start to wonder why they are in jeopardy of not passing the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I see the sense of entitlement also. I also hear the comments on how much they are spending to come to school and they want the answers handed to them which isn't doing them any favors.
Daniel,
I respect your effort to maintain the standards you have set for your course. My students whine a lot about deadlines as well. We are actually doing them a service when we maintain these standards because when they are working they are going to have to meet deadlines and cannot be late on a daily basis.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also deal with this issue fairly often. Many of my past students have been shocked by the fact I actually take points off of their grade if the assignment is late. Even after letting the whole class know that I will remove points for papers handed in late, it seems like many other instructors before me did not enforce this and somehow I seem like the bad guy. Many DO seem to think that their tuition has bought them a diploma without any effort on their part.
Edna,
Good strategies to follow in engaging your students. I know your students appreciate how you are striving to bring them content and examples that will help them make progress toward their career goals. As for the one student that did not want any part of the class it happens to us all. I am always sad when this happens but then I think about all of the students that do want to be there and are learning a lot and increase my energy level for them. For the one it is his or her loss, sad to say.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is HUGE! I teach the "thinking" courses to a kinesthetic student population. They love the 'Lab' courses; and the courses where they have to think at a desk is very difficult for the majority of the students. They are so used to a teaching feeding them the answer! What to do?! Well, for one, as many of you have mentioned, I ask open-ended questions, the Socratic method, whenever possible. I will "lecture" the information, then will discuss "situations" that pertain to the topic. The situations are ones that I have been in or that other professionals have shared with me. I specifically include every student in a discussion every day. I do not let them get away with "yes", "no", or "I don't know". I will prod and wait for even a sentence or two. As the class moves into the block, generally everyone wants to be involved in the discussions. It's great! Unfortunately, in the last class, I had one student who did not ever WANT to be involved. This student became more beligerent as the class progressed. It was terribly not satisfying! I guess you can't win them all...
Amy,
Success like this is why we continue to be instructors. There are those challenging students but there are also many students that work hard and we get to help move toward their career goals. This is the reward that we seek.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I must agree. And the entitlement mind set is not just with young students but older ones as well. It is very rewarding though, after all the arguments, to see a student do well on externship and land a job!
Greg,
This is a tough sell for many students because of their attitudes. They do not have the personal discipline needed to work hard and expand their skill sets. They only see the immediate which is how much they are getting paid to be in school. All of continue to plug away at this but it is hard for sure.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I get a lot of gen y students who feel entitled . I also get to hear about how much they paid to come to school. I just wish they could see the value of having the required competencies of this field.
I agree with Sandy, more and more Attitude, late assignment, not showing up four days, on phone all time. Love my students, entitlement seem everywhere, starting to fight back, give more creative projects, make the students look up answers right on phone and pictures also.
Cecil,
You make a good point about how to develop critical thinking and how it plays into the future success of students. Many of our students today do not want to invest the time and effort that it takes to be a critical thinker. They feel that by paying tuition they are entitled to an A in the course. Life does not work that way and it is a lesson they need to learn early on. They have to earn their grades they are not gifted.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
this is the one I really like also I keep asking question after question until they can't stand it then we are on the level playing field they have to join or they are left to they're own devices they know they can't get a good grade until they participate The hard stand outs don't get the same grade and when they come to one of my other courses their attitudes are entirely different. Amusing yes but it's the learning curve. I have no regrets to being the jerk to get them to thinking how they're going to get the grades. Critical thinking yes and entitlement follows
Barbara,
I support your position BIG time! I get so tired of these types of students. I cannot and will not turn out students that do not have the required competencies of my field. To do less is to cheat the future employers of my students because they believe they are getting a quality product (graduate). I like you point to and reinforce competency. If the students don't like it and remind me of the tuition they pay I respond nicely with maybe you need to rethink your career choice because I will not compromise the standards of my field no matter how much tuition is paid. Sorry for the mini-soapbox.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think this is the most frustrating of all student encounters, when you penalize them for lack of effort or hold them accountable, and they run to administration with a complaint. Many times I have heard the "I paid $ XXX to enroll in this program and ..." I enforce the concept from day one that it is not about the grades here on campus, but about having the knowledge to pass the licensing exams and the skills employers seek, to obtain and keep a job.
Mary,
Good point because students need to realize that no one is entitled to anything. Success must be earned and that requires self-discipline. Self-discipline is hard work and takes time so if success is desired then effort must be made.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think the intitlement issue is pretty common in the young generation os students today. First day of class I talk about making the learning the goal and not the grade. Future employers are as interested in the grade you received, but what you know how to do..the skill you have aquired. I think it help to put focus the correct Prize.
