Any college adjunct professors around here?

I somehow just landed a position teaching two sections of Educational Psychology at Queens College. It happened so fast, without me even interviewing, and I'm terrified! Any words of wisdom? TIA!

Re: Any college adjunct professors around here?

Congrats Jackie, You will do great!!!

Re: Any college adjunct professors around here?

Re: Any college adjunct professors around here?

Posted by nov04libride

Posted by Jax430

I somehow just landed a position teaching two sections of Educational Psychology at Queens College. It happened so fast, without me even interviewing, and I'm terrified! Any words of wisdom? TIA!

Congrats!!!! I teach too. First I would try to get the syllabus from the department. It's a great starting point, even if you change it. If the department doesn't give you a teacher copy of the text, contact the rep. from the publisher soon so they can send you a teacher copy to look over so you can start on the syllabus. I always have the students teach a class (or section) each--it breaks up things from you lecturing, and they tend to read and absorb things better when they have to teach others. I've never taught Ed. Psych, but I did teach Philos. of Ed. and concentrated on Glasser, Control Theory and Reality Therapy. Good luck! You'll be great! I also tend to dress up more than others because I still feel like I look young, and feels like it helps them to respect me if I look more dressed up.

Re: Any college adjunct professors around here?

Posted by Jax430

Thanks so much! I had a feeling that you taught. I know that the dept. is going to give me several syllabi to look at and I can either use one or create my own. Do you find that preparing and grading take up most of your free time? One of my friends/coworkers said that maybe I should only do one section b/c I'm not going to have any social life, since this is in addition to my full-time school psych job. We are househunting now and could really use the money, so I'd like to do both.

Message edited 11/1/2007 7:08:19 PM.

Re: Any college adjunct professors around here?

also, see if you can speak with the previous prof who taught it.... maybe they will be willing to share notes / resources? I doubt they'd give up their lesson plans, though

make sure your familiar with the text and its layout, and try to get as many lectures completed as you can, before you begin teaching... becuase setting up an hour long lecture can often take many hours....

good luck!

Re: Any college adjunct professors around here?

Posted by nov04libride

Posted by Jax430

Thanks so much! I had a feeling that you taught. I know that the dept. is going to give me several syllabi to look at and I can either use one or create my own. Do you find that preparing and grading take up most of your free time? One of my friends/coworkers said that maybe I should only do one section b/c I'm not going to have any social life, since this is in addition to my full-time school psych job. We are househunting now and could really use the money, so I'd like to do both.

Hmm I'm in the same situation working full-time, finishing my dissertation, and househunting! I am only doing one in the spring when I am defending my dissertation, but I think 2 could be OK depending on when they meet. I personally wouldn't want to be out 4 nights a week, but that's just because I get exhaused. I'm doing one in the spring, one in summer, and two in fall (when I am hopefully done with my doctorate and settled in a house!).

Preparing does take a while, especially for the first time for each class, but if it is the same section you can use the same lectures/power points, etc. That's also why I would try to get your hands on the teacher text copy ASAP so you can get started now or over winter break. Having them lecture or present also really helps in terms of not having to prepare! Grading doesn't take TOO long, depending on the assignments. Is it a grad class? In grad classes I usually have them do 2 small papers (say 3-5 pages), one longer final paper (say 10-15), and the class presentation/teaching assignment. Undergrad is a bit easier if it is just scantron exams that are more easily graded.

Re: Any college adjunct professors around here?

I teach an undergrad composition class. I try to do a lot of the grading during lunch breaks or on the weekends.

How large are the classes that you are teaching, that will definitely impact your time spent planning/grading. Are there other instructors teaching the class as well? The reason I ask is that one of my colleagues and I are both teaching the same class, so we planned the syllabus together and then have been able to bounce ideas off each other for how to approach various subjects within the class.

Re: Any college adjunct professors around here?

I teach an undergraduate Humanities course. I work with two other ladies who teach a section and we share projects, ideas, lectures, etc.
I wear a suit b/c I too look like I could pass for a young college student (who am I kidding....a high school student).

Good Luck!