being an intern

Postby turtleswim » Thu Sep 07, 2017 1:43 am

I made it to the last eight credits of my Master's degree in Education. It's full of twists and turns that looks like a maze times ten. I am doing my best to keep up with my faculty supervisor and my cooperating teacher. There are tons of bumps in the road. Technology is a big factor since I'm in an online program. I have to buckle down till December eight and read and write daily any number of different forms. I'm on week three of this fifteen week roller-coaster ride. Any interns out there? My uncle was an intern in medical school. He would talk about his mentor as a very cold and intimidating figure. My faculty supervisor is not exactly cold but it is very confusing to try and understand all his demands. I better keep my nose to the grindstone and not blog too much. I just wanted to shout out to uncommon and say thanks to all those interns out there who work for months and months with no pay. Regardless of the outcome I think my graduate program has taught me to appreciate literacy. I don't want to take that for granted. Reading books really does open doors of opportunity and illumination.
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#1

Postby cynthialeighton » Sat Sep 16, 2017 1:26 am

turtleswim wrote: My faculty supervisor is not exactly cold but it is very confusing to try and understand all his demands.


Your life experiences are likely different from your faculty supervisor!

Culture, age, role, life experiences... these all can make it confusing to interact with someone.

In your online program, is it possible to schedule a meeting in person, by screen, or a phone conversation?

When I taught at the university level, I found that some students simply needed to meet separately in order to connect. Many were from different cultures, ages, roles, and life experiences -- and simply getting together one on one for a few minutes after class or during office hours helped them to relax and focus better.
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#2

Postby Candid » Sun Sep 17, 2017 5:20 am

turtleswim wrote: My faculty supervisor is not exactly cold but it is very confusing to try and understand all his demands.


They shouldn't feel like demands; you're working for nothing and his role is to teach you. Something is 'off' in the dynamic between you two. If you can't discuss it tactfully with him, you need to confide in someone higher up.

It might be his issue, it might be yours. Since he has a job and you don't, it's up to you to locate the problem and do whatever you can to fix it. Confusion is a very bad sign.
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#3

Postby turtleswim » Mon Oct 02, 2017 1:33 am

The issue was with lesson plans. I had to make so many new drafts of plans that I got behind on my thesis. Now that we have broken some ice and I can see what he wants in lesson plans there is more balance. I am at the midway point now. The midterm was challenging because it was spirit week and everybody was in the gym when my midterm was supposed to start! Eventually students filtered in, I delivered the lesson, and I got evaluated. Thanks for the post. I have to learn by going places I have not been to before. This week I plan to work on my pacing and transitions. Carpe diem.
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