My Panorama of Austin for Module 1 in Thesis / PH680
I may regret this post later in the term but it seems like I have a lot more time to work on classes this term. It is because I’m enrolled in two classes and I don’t have to do as much P/T work to pay for these classes. In am email discussion with Tamara Hubbard (the associate director of online graudate photography) she also doesn’t recommend 3 classes and full-time work. I concur, as I did this in the Spring 2010 semester.
The lowest grade in my lighting class went to this image. : -)
It was bound to happen.
I took a class and the experience was abysmal, dreadful, and appallingly bad. It would be easy enough to pan a course and an instructor but that won’t do a good job explaining my perceptions during the semester.
Lighting is an elective course. It was my first elective course at AAU and I can’t recommend it. My experience here gives it a solid D-minus. Tamara Hubbard , Associate Director of Online photography MFA, and I had a dialog concerning issues surrounding both the course and the person assigned to teach it. Three points stood out from this discussion:
For the first point: I don’t agree. I am an experienced photographer but I only do a little studio work and I really wanted to take something that I knew I was good at but would greatly improved my skills and knowledge of the subject by taking this elective. Other classes I’ve taken had students with a huge range of abilities from poor to excellent yet it seemed that most students that applied themselves did really good work and improved personally over the duration of the term. The director did encourage me to contact her directly about future course suggestions which I find to be very commendable.
Second: So the course is being revised. This means that I do not recommend the PH608: Lighting class I took in Spring 2010. It also means I cannot make any judgments on any revised course until I see the new course material.
Third: The MFA-Photography AAU folks do occasional online town hall meetings. I haven’t attended one but one of my fellow students did and her takeaway was that if you have particular issues with a class then contact a director. I didn’t want to be a whiny student so I contact a couple other students in my class, and I discovered that the issues I had were also held by some other students as well. One of the students actually met face-to-face with one of the directors and did voice concerns about the course and instructor. This made my follow up easier as all I had to do was validate how I and the other student felt and I could be contacted for additional information.
Being able to document and criticize (both positively and negatively) is very important when praising a course/instructor. Being able to easily communicate that to the directors of the program speaks highly to the department’s desire to build and maintain a strong program.
This is my second Master’s. I draw on my experience as an MBA student where I went into a class and didn’t like the instructor or the material and I would change my courses to reflect that. As an online student I have to remind myself that I am the master of my schedule and education, therefore I need to be informed about my classes and take action when I feel there are serious problems with a class.
The worst thing about the lighting class wasn’t the waste of money, nor the waste of time – the worst aspect of that class was the incredible de-motivation felt by this student which drove me to do mediocre work in a class I was initially very excited about taking.
The best thing that came out of this class was learning that the department appears to really care about the program, the course, and the quality of the instructors.
[UPDATE 6/17/10 : I've learned that the person that taught my section is also teaching at least one Summer section - email me if you want to know the instructor (or go find another post). I have (for better or worse) suggested to a former classmate to drop that class or find another instructor that is teaching it. It is that bad a class in my personal opinion]
[UPDATE 8/29/10 : I believe this instructor is still teaching the lighting class at AAU. My recommendation is that you do not take this class. If you want to take it I would suggest contacting the Director and ask for a complete course listing for this class which will allow you to decide if if you REALLY want to take it.
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Time to Drop a Class
February 5th, 2011I have felt during the first week of class that the instructor is not really engaging the students, certainly not me. It’s during the first week of class that the immediate bond and relationship between a student and instructor are developed. I’m not feeing good about this.
Last night after getting in from my working photo gigs I logged into class and saw a couple more posts from the instructor in my PH 699 course (Special Topics: MS: Concept & Critical Processes). You can read some of it in the previous post.
I had my bad class at AAU and I will not accept another one. Maybe the instructor is having a bad week, maybe the PH 699 course really starts to shine in a few days. If I knew another student that had taken the same course/instructor pair then I would have more data points from which to make a decision, but I have to go with my gut and my previous class experiences.
All my other courses (with that one exception) have had very engaging and motivating teachers. Each instructor has reached out to each student to make a connection. All of these classes have been A or A+ or A++ courses, and I have taken additional courses from some of these instructors because I placed higher importance on working with the person teaching the material and less importance on the subject.
I have a friend that is a great conversationalist and chef. When ever I go visit her I know I will learn something and have a great meal. I don’t define the meal I enjoy the experience.
Classes at a master’s level in art need to be an enjoyable experience. For me they also have to push me and my limits, expand my thoughts and overall enhance me and my work.
I’m not feeling it in that class.
Tamara Hubbard deserves all the kudos I can send her. She is the Associate Director of the Online Graduate Photography Program at AAU. She lead the Thesis Project Seminar class I took in the Fall of 2010.
Last night I wrote her, this morning she responded. That’s remarkable and speaks to her dedication to the program and as a great student advocate.
She recommended two classes:
and she reminded me that today is the last day to make a change without a penalty or fee.
I’ve heard a couple good things about PH611 and I do want to take the course but I don’t want to walk into an unknown. My friend Terri (who I teach workshops with in Midas, NV) has taken Shannon Ayres and has nothing but great things to say.
I called my advisor (WHAT! on a Saturday?!) and left a message, then I called back to the front desk and voilà! there are advisors working on a Saturday at AAU. That’s great!
There are not enough words to say how wonderful the director and the advisors have been in guiding me and getting me into a new class.Online courses could seem daunting as I work in my own space and feel removed from the traditional classroom and university interactions. Getting this type of support is very nice.
The take away here is I AM RESPONSIBLE for the classes I take. If I’m not satisfied then it is MY RESPONSIBILITY to effect the change.
Onward to PH 655 Digital Montage with Shannon Ayres.
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Posted in Courses, General Comments, PH 699: Concept & Critical Process
Tags: Ayres Brian Parkin class course critical processes graduate photography instructor motivating teachers MY RESPONSIBILITY photography program project seminar Shannon student Tamara Hubbard Terri thesis project Week