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Show page 16 lessons, Fail 2003 Tricks of the Trade for Determining Grades D BY SPENCER SUTHERLAND PHOTOS BY JOD1 GAYLORD o instructors really care if I learn anything or do they just want to make sure that there are enough kids getting A's, B's and C's to make a good curve?" asked Brett Bawden, a senior in the department of communication. Students specifically in computer science, business, communication, and a few other departments expect to graduate from college and immediately get a job in that field. They attend college because they want to be prepared to work in the real world. However, does college actually prepare students for the working world? Or does college only teach students how to learn what is necessary to pass a final exam? The business world and the academic world are very different things, but higher education has the power to better prepare students for the transition from classroom to workforce. Bawden continued, "1 don't think I have ever written anything at my job just once. Things are written and revised. Your boss gives you feedback, criticism, and help. In my classes I turn something in. It gets graded. Maybe there are a few comments. The paper gets shoved in a folder, and I don't really get any better." In most working situations the boss is judged by how well his or her employees perform. A good boss wants to help all employees become great employees; otherwise the business won't be successful. Is the instructor responsible for the success or failure of his or her students? Ken Foster has worked in marketing for 30 years, and has been teaching courses in marketing, advertising, and media planning for just as long. He says that while it is ultimately the students' decision to do homework or to complete an assignment, "a good teacher can make a significant difference in making the material interesting, understandable and applicable. If these criteria are met it is likely a student will give the class material more attention and may get a better grade." In the workplace a salary and job security motivates hard |