Susan wrote:
> But there are times for traditional pedagogic methods, and there
> are times for instruction in the ugly underbelly of how
> science works. This is the hard, painful stuff to learn. The point
is,
> you have to recognize that people are trying to help you to
> learn it!
I've been reading everyone's comments closely and feel a bit like a
ping-pong ball. I can't say that there is anything Deirdre, Kelly,
Laura, et.al. have said that I don't agree with (regarding
teaching/mentoring methods)...which makes me think that maybe the method
one uses needs to be adapted to the person you are mentoring. For people
who lack confidence (i.e. some undergrads I have known who don't know a
pipette from a pencil) it helps to have a less confrontational
approach...then perhaps as their experience broadens/confidence deepens,
one can challenge them more. I think that not challenging a third or
fourth year PhD student in a seminar is doing them a disservice. Of
course, it is not constructive to call someone an idiot, or berate them
for not doing an experiment properly...but I don't have the impression
that anyone here is advocating that.
Last note: I have been lucky to have some REALLY terrific male and
female mentors...and I am deeply appreciative of it, because I did have
one brief but awful experience with someone (a boss) who like to cut
people down and who was interested in seeing my downfall. I knew I had
something to learn even from this bozo and I fought hard to regain my
confidence and "do my homework" so I could counter any "attacks". I can
now look back and think fondly of this person...who really helped me
develop and strengthen my character and the way I do science.
Great discussion!
Ciao!
Janet
