As a professor, I make assumptions about my students. This class prompted me to think critically about those assumptions. One way to do this is to hear from the students themselves. So, I included the following question in the Student Learning Experience Survey that I conducted at the end of the semester.
“Read New York Times’ “Truth is Hard” campaign ad for kids. Now, suppose you would like to design a similar campaign ad replacing “kids”with “college students,” with your fellow students and professors as the primary audience, what proses would you include? (Think of how this may inspire professors like me to better understand you and therefore be more effective educators to you.)”
The students were asked to answer this answer on their own first. Then, on the last day of the class, they formed two separate groups to share the answers and come up with an agreed-upon list for me. (I left the room during the discussion, which lasted a long while.) Here are the two lists.
The truth is college students have to pick up after the mistakes of baby boomer.
The truth is college students do care about the future of our country.
The truth is college students vote.
The truth is college students are curious to hear views different from their own.
The truth is college students are tired of biased reporting.
The truth is college students need to sleep to do their best work.
The truth is college students do not want to be generalized.
The truth is college students have more time and ability to create change than many older demographics.
The truth is college students have the right to demand that the world improve.
The truth is college students have useful ideas.
The truth is college students want to learn.
The truth is college students are future leaders.
The truth is college students are still figuring it out.
The truth is college students expect to be able to use classroom lessons in life.
The truth is college students need the truth.