bookcurses

[bookcurses]

could you define those words in that post about terminology, please?

“Is there a ghost kissing me right now?” is a metaphysical question, it asks about reality.

“How would I know if a ghost is kissing me right now?” is an epistemological question, it asks about how we acquire knowledge about reality.

“What does it actually mean for a ghost to kiss someone?” is an ontological question, it asks about the nature of reality.

“Is this ghost’s only purpose to kiss me?” is an teleological question, it asks for a reason for something’s existence.

[bookcurses]

people who don't know anything about academics: man y'all are stuffy and boring what's up with that? actual academics: *too busy fist-fighting each other over the beryllium problem or the existence of a dentistry profession in ancient egypt to reply*

[bookcurses]

Some Red Flags for a College Professor

HOO BOY. I signed up for a thankfully non-credit course and I'm having Concerns. Cumulatively, I've taken almost a decade's worth of classes at different institutions, and I've noticed some patterns. I'm debating whether I want to just drop the class or if I want to stick around with a bag of popcorn to see how this turns out. 💀

"I'm new here! And I'm really excited to work with you!"

Hmm. Most likely just a innocuous statement, but does hint at the possibility of someone who's inexperienced in a way that may lead to confusing class structure and/or emotional whiplash as the new professor gets their rosy glasses broken later in the semester. The more exuberant the message, the more likely it is to be a red flag for someone who has a fixed idea of what it's like to be A Teaching Professor that might not align with reality.

Syllabus with missing info.

A syllabus that doesn't address common questions, such as how grades are calculated or what waitlisted students should expect in a definitive, concrete way, is 🤨. Another potential sign of a less experienced professor and/or a poor communicator who's more likely to offer conflicting or incomplete info during the course.

"I put the curriculum together as we go so that the class is super responsive to the unique character of each class!"

The intention is wonderful, but I do feel strongly that every class should have a basic curriculum based on the core competencies that a class is meant to address within a given discipline, with additional elements responding to current student needs. Anyway, brace yourself for receiving material later than promised, incomplete material, or just general disorganization.

The professor having to send out a message telling students that everything is totally fine and under control :D :D :D

Translation: the professor is feeling overwhelmed and is barely holding on by a thread.

[bookcurses]

Took me until about halfway through college before I realized “study” means “play with the material in a variety of ways until you understand it” and not just “read the assigned chapters and do the homework” and I think that probably should have been discussed at some point prior to that.

[bookcurses]

Coming back round to the studyblr sideblog thing.

18+, they/them. I'm the neurodivergent dumbass who finished off a Master's over a decade ago but has decided to go back for a few more fancy papers in preparation for (maybe! possibly!) doctoral study, despite currently working fulltime in crisis services and building up another nonprofit. I'll sleep when I'm dead.

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Background: BA philosophy (UC Santa Cruz), MSc religious studies (University of Edinburgh)

Currently working on:

Undergraduate certificate in Egyptology (University of Manchester)

MA in Irish myth and folklore (University College Cork)

AA in studio art at the local community college when I really need to stress myself out for another semester or two

I reblog various resources and links to @bookcurses-resources. This one is probably gonna be more for venting, yelling, bitching, moaning, and generally carrying on like I didn't freely and actively choose to do this to myself. Also tips and thoughts from being an ND student who's done this before.

And pics! I'm a calligrapher. :D