I can’t say I’m a big fan of the X Factor and I certainly think Simon Cowell has faults as a human being. But after caterwauling through a rendition of some pop song or other if Simon Cowell tells you, you can’t sing, then I for one would trust his judgement. It should be easy to recognise experience, expertise, qualifications and judgement.
So at this time of year why do some students seem to want to tell us we’re wrong? Or that we aren’t being fair?
Few things make me more sad than when a student questions my professional integrity because for me learning is a cooperative, not an adversarial activity. In the past, I’ve even doubted myself. Sometimes it is about their expectations (or those forced on them by peers and parents). Sometimes it is about peer competition. Sometimes it is about a fundamental misunderstanding. Sometimes it is about venting their frustration with themselves. Sometimes it is sheer desperation.
There are a number of strategies that can help them to reflect more positively on their work and consequently less challengingly on our evaluation. If you’d like to know more drop me a line.
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