When I was in graduate school, I often heard from professors that I should “think hard” about issues, about the literature, about how to process information, etc. I understand that there are various models of student feedback, but the phrase that absolutely makes my blood boil and want to smash tables is a request to “think hard”. “Think hard” is, in my view, the most unhelpful phrase that a professor can utter to a struggling student.
Trust me, if I'm doing my PhD I am doing my best to "think hard". What would've been helpful is if I were told to "spend time reflecting"'
— Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) March 24, 2018
During graduate school, I had a number of instances of interaction with professors where they told me that I had to “think hard” about something, and I usually left those meeting puzzled and discombobulated, and even more confused than when I arrived.
"You need to think hard about how X phenomenon occurs" pic.twitter.com/KAIsdVAbkY
— Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) March 24, 2018
"To analyze your data you need to think hard what it all means" pic.twitter.com/cvjZ4wpedt
— Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) March 24, 2018
Like, *how exactly* do I think hard? pic.twitter.com/YtXSKoHt95
— Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) March 24, 2018
Preparing for my doctoral comprehensives was terrifying because I was asked to "think hard" about the readings I was doing pic.twitter.com/gBUvyhuYL0
— Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) March 24, 2018
To me, there are better ways to provide feedback to students. One of the ways in which I try to help my students think through issues is enabling them and encouraging them to spend time reflecting.
Make sure to read an article, understand its contribution, and assemble the puzzle. How do all the pieces fit together? Where do I come in?
— Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) March 24, 2018
Luckily my thread resonated with fellow academics.
Not very helpful indeed.. Students need constructive guidance. Telling someone to "think hard" in any context is belittling. They already had to gather up the courage to ask for help. Suggest actions, steps they could take, or refer them to proper academic/support services pic.twitter.com/xYXWmiLx9m
— Michelle Maillet (@MailletMichelle) March 25, 2018
Omg a professor of mine who shall not be named once said that to me and I was like pic.twitter.com/WA4NL1pt1d
— Pamela Neumann (@nicapamela) March 24, 2018
Great thread! Funny how grad students / faculty are expected to just “know” how to teach & give good feedback (much like we are expected to just “know” how to write). It’s a learned skill. Concrete examples and clear reasoning are key!
— Linette Savage (@LinetteSavage) March 24, 2018
Hopefully, as educators, we will be able to reconsider how we provide feedback to students and peers. For example, I was reading an article this morning on how to be supportive to a grieving friend, and found the author (Celeste Headlee)’s suggestions quite helpful to consider for how I can provide feedback to students. We really owe it to them and to ourselves to improve the ways in which we provide constructive, thoughtful, well-thought-out feedback.
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