Quick--how would you interpret this question?

[Cookin4Love]

I'm taking the quiz from previously b!tched about internet class, and this is one of the questions. How do you interpret it? Do you think the choice "All of the above" indicates that schools can provide parents with all of these, or "All of the above" means the school can't provide any of them? The wording is, at best, awkward!

Schools can provide our parents the following except:

a. Clarifying how parents can help their child
b. Design parent nights
c. Encourage parents to be assertive
d. Build trust
e. All of the above

[KristiB]

I would read all of the above as none of the above since the question asks you to exclude one of the options.

Then again I think all the choices are right.

Whoever wrote that wasn't thinking...

[Cookin4Love]

This is really typical of the kind of writing in his assignments and quizzes. Out of the choices given, at least two are directly mentioned in the copious reading material given and two aren't. Based on my own belief/experiences, I think they are all right, but his syntax makes it nearly impossible to determine what he's asking. I HATE this class!

[Cookin4Love]

And another:

A narrow scope of energy makes for a successful leader

a. True
b. False

What in the He!! does that mean? BTW, the only thing our reading says about energy is:

"Another view of power exists. When electricians say, "Turn on the power," they refer to energy. Leadership and energy are tightly connected. Creative energy. Imaginative energy. Collaborative energy. This "power" is at the root of successful people and organizations. Leaders who perceive power in this way energize, rather than dominate, people. Creative energy is unlimited if the conditions are there to nurture it."

[Escher]

The author intended the answer to be E) however they worded it exceptionally poorly.

[Cookin4Love]

Originally posted by Escher
The author intended the answer to be E) however they worded it exceptionally poorly.

So, are you saying that, in this case, E) means that the schools CAN provide our parents ALL of these things? In the reading, A, C, and D are mentioned explicitly. B is not. However, the text mentions things like using parent expertise, having parents share about their multicultural heritage, etc. Of course, it also states that social, linguistic, and economic barriers can prevent parents from coming to school events. Right now, I'm leaning toward choosing B) as the correct answer. It's fairly ambiguous, as is much of the writing this "professor" does.

[Clover]

Reading it literally, I would interpret E as meaning that all of the above are exceptions, i.e. the school doesn't provide any of them. However, I don't assume that that is what your instructor means. It's poorly worded and he might mean the opposite. Sorry, I'm no help.

[Cookin4Love]

Well, for better or worse, I made my best guesses and submitted the darned thing. Four more of these--and a final. I'm going to eat three pieces of Dove chocolate right now instead of my ususal two. I figure I can use the extra antioxidants right now after all the stress. (My local paper reported that Dove dark chocolate has the highest antioxidant level of all the widely available brands. I'm ALL over that!)

Thanks for the help and input. I'll see what the scores are tomorrow.

[wallycat]

Originally posted by Clover
Reading it literally, I would interpret E as meaning that all of the above are exceptions, i.e. the school doesn't provide any of them. However, I don't assume that that is what your instructor means. It's poorly worded and he might mean the opposite. Sorry, I'm no help.

ditto

[Chefzhat]

Good heavens, what class is this? One I want to avoid, that's for sure.

[newtricks]

Originally posted by Cookin4Love
This is really typical of the kind of writing in his assignments and quizzes. Out of the choices given, at least two are directly mentioned in the copious reading material given and two aren't. Based on my own belief/experiences, I think they are all right, but his syntax makes it nearly impossible to determine what he's asking. I HATE this class!

So.... this guy is *teaching* teachers???? :(

[Cookin4Love]

Originally posted by Chefzhat
Good heavens, what class is this? One I want to avoid, that's for sure.

It's called "Action Learning Modules" and is one in a series of 5 core classes for the Educational Leadership program. Actually, I can see where the tenets of the course could be good, but this particular incarnation of the class is worse than a waste of time. I don't mind working and working hard--if I feel like I'm learning something or expanding my thinking. This is just stressful.

And yes, newtricks--he's teaching graduate level teachers. Nice, huh? The part of the syllabus that says, "All work submitted must be in proper grammatical form with few or no errors in mechanics" makes me laugh.

I get a chuckle (the kind that makes you want to throw up) every time a read a case study. We're to identify the problem and subproblems, then give the rationale for our choice. Except it says, "Give you're rational for your choices." Huh? Another quiz question had as one of the choices "Honest in tact." I don't know whether this means "honesty AND tact" or "honesty intact." Only four more quizzes. I should buy a BIG bag of Dove chocolate. :)

[badunnin]

Originally posted by Cookin4Love

I get a chuckle (the kind that makes you want to throw up) every time a read a case study. We're to identify the problem and subproblems, then give the rationale for our choice. Except it says, "Give you're rational for your choices." Huh? Another quiz question had as one of the choices "Honest in tact." I don't know whether this means "honesty AND tact" or "honesty intact." Only four more quizzes. I should buy a BIG bag of Dove chocolate. :)

No, get yourself a nice set of red pens, curl up on your couch, and correct his grammar. Then mail him the corrections. And enjoy your chocolate. ;)

[newtricks]

Originally posted by badunnin


No, get yourself a nice set of red pens, curl up on your couch, and correct his grammar. Then mail him the corrections. And enjoy your chocolate. ;)

:D Most Definitely. And post more of the most egregious here!

[greatcook]

So, are you saying that, in this case, E) means that the schools CAN provide our parents ALL of these things?

I would have gone with this interpretation... I hope he gets some schooling for his writing!

[Cookin4Love]

Originally posted by newtricks


:D Most Definitely. And post more of the most egregious here!

Here are some gems out of our current case study. (Disclaimer: I am not a grammar/punctuation snob in most cases. However, when someone has a doctorate and is teaching teachers, I think they should have the basics down. I don't want anyone else to feel like I read posts looking for perfect writing. I don't even do that in my own--what we do here is casual conversation.)

Two years ago he was named interim Chair, of the Music Department and last year named permanent Chair, of the Department.

His previous employer a large school district in the central part of the State had provided glowing and excellent recommendations for him when he was hired by the University.

The accusations, by the parents had been made public by them and had been in every news paper in the State.

And...my personal favorite for this round:

There were three reports filed in the Directors last year at the high school which were filed for lack of enough evidence. (Huh?)


I could go on, but really--what's the point? Thank you all for letting me vent. BTW, I got 9/10 on the quiz. The one I missed is one that I didn't post here, but struggled with for almost 20 minutes. It was also poorly written--one where I should have chosen "all of the above" even though only one of the choices was stated in the reading, two were hinted at, and one was never mentioned. Who knew?

[AndreaU]

9/10 is nothing to sneeze at considering that this guy is obviously on such a power trip and sounds like he's trying to trip people up on purpose. I hate professors like that!

Do you do a course evaluation at the end? If so, this is a great, and usually anonymous, way to let the department know your opinions. If others do the same, that sends a pretty powerful message.