I seriously hate my biotech teacher...and my dual credit grade probably just died D:

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
1

Hey everyone!

So in biotech last week we were supposed to create a presentation based on a company that we researched. My group and I found an article that talked about a specific ethical issue that happened with our company’s “sister company” in China, so we decided to include it when discussing our counterargument. I thought we did a pretty decent job, but then my teacher says:

“I’m just going to stop you right there. Everything you have is wrong.”

I was like, hold up, that’s not supposed to happen at the end of a presentation.

The minutes that followed were probably the most embarrassing of my life. She absolutely DESTROYED our argument, saying that nothing we had was valid–and when we tried to show her our sources, she dismissed them as “too liberal” to be unbiased. It sucked.

The other issue was that she wasn’t the only person grading the presentations–she had invited random teachers (one guy from the physics classroom, another who was from the school board, and the last one was the attendance guy…?) to grade our presentations. However, not one of the guests she invited knew anything about biotech, let alone the specifics of the companies we researched. So if we had been graded by, say, Joe from the school board, I would probably have gotten an A on the presentation.

To make matters worse, at the end of class I raised my hand and asked how much of the final this would affect. She said that it was only 25% of the final EXAM grade, which is only a quarter of the 20% for my final exam grade, so I was pretty relieved, until she said that it would be a SOLID 25% OF OUR DUAL CREDIT GRADE. We can’t see our dual credit grades until the end of the semester, so I have been estimating my presentation grade and using grade calculators to try and figure out my dual credit grade. (Hint–it’s not good).

I’m not saying I wasn’t in the wrong–there’s probably reason to parts of her argument, and perhaps we should have looked into the sources we used a little more closely. But the fact that other presentations were graded by people who knew absolutely nothing about the topic were given unfair advantages that SIGNIFICANTLY affected their final dual credit grades really bothers me. There’s nothing I can do about it now, but I guess all this craziness boils down to: do colleges care that much about a dual credit grade? The dual credit is actually through a technical school in my area, so I assume that major universities wouldn’t take it into account…? Maybe? Will it hurt me?? Can I choose not to send it???

THANK YOU!
Ella

Note
I hope I don’t sound like I’m whining about a bad grade. I’m really upset, but no, this doesn’t justify that what I researched wasn’t right or anything. I just need to know how colleges will interpret this grade.

2

bump

3

Hey:)

Some colleges evaluate the dual credit grades; other do not. For those that do evaluate it, it will inevitably hurt. Even for those schools that do not, sending in a transcript for a dual credit grade looks good.

What is the highest grade you can get in the class now? If it’s an A- (or somehow an A), don’t worry about it. But anything less than a B would be a cause for concern. I would talk to the teacher about a) how you can improve future presentations b) voice your frustration over this seemingly unfair assignment (ask for a detailed rubric) and c) ask if there is anyway to rectify the issue.

4

Wow, it doesn’t sound like she was going to give you the benefit of the doubt.

I wouldn’t have reamed you in front of the rest of the class. That’s just too harsh. If your data research was wrong, it could have been conducted in a different manner.

You aren’t using this course for admissions, are you? Biotech was an elective at my children’s school and was done in senior year, but wasn’t used for admissions to their schools. Most of their biotech experience was with hands on lab procedures and doing their internships.

5

It’s kind of a confusing class…to take AP Bio at my school, we have to take biotech and anatomy too.
No, and I don’t think I’m interested in biotech anymore.
I just took the final for biotech, and I’m pretty sure I got an A–so I might have a chance at bringing up my high school GPA to something like an A or A-. But she told me that the final we took would only be counted as homework for the dual credit, so my grade for that probably is going to be a B or B+ if I’m lucky.
If you were an admissions officer, and saw that I got an A in the high school version of the class and a B in the dual credit part, would you be concerned? Should I drop out of the dual credit part if it’s not too late?

6

If your school counts dual credit as the “college” part of your transcript, then I would be concerned how that affects your college GPA.

If you don’t need that credit, don’t count it, but . . . . how would your teacher respond? Does it involve her action in any way?

7

wow never heard a teacher being so disrespectful about the hard work you put in that presentation.

8

I mean, if all of the information given in the presentation was false, would you expect a “Good job” and a sticker? I don’t see how “This is wrong” is a disrespectful thing to say, if it was indeed wrong. Hard work doesn’t mean you’re safe from constructive criticism.

9

@bodangles Yes, but constructive criticism is not rudely stopping a presentation and embarrassing the presenters, especially when they tried hard.

Very few high school students are good presenters or public speakers. Even many adults aren’t great. But by doing what that teacher did, he or she is only compounding the problem. Instead, the school should encourage and offer advice (when needed).

10

@golfcashoahu Sounds like it was at the end to me: “I was like, hold up, that’s not supposed to happen at the end of a presentation.” Which is, indeed, exactly where you give constructive criticism. How hard you try means nothing if it doesn’t give quality results.

11

@bodangles I understand your point, which I think is a fair assessment. But…everyone, especially kids in high school, get nervous while delivering a presentation. I know my very first presentation was not good; I stuttered, found it difficult to make eye contact, and failed to convey some important information. This teacher should have complimented the presentation and pointed out a few attributes that made it engaging/interesting, and THEN offer some constructive criticism. I just don’t think criticizing the presenters––in front of the class––is the best way for future student performance to increase.

12

Hey guys, thank you for the responses!

I’m very sorry if I came off as having an attitude. It honestly was not my intent and I sincerely apologize if I ruffled a few feathers.

I absolutely do not mean to say that the amount of work I put into the presentation justifies an A. I have to be honest–when I wrote this post, I was very upset and angry, and (definitely) didn’t think very much when I more or less ranted against her. After taking a few days to clear my emotions, I took a look at the situation again and, yes, you are all completely right: I should have asked her about the material before I presented it, and it is completely my fault that I was embarrassed in front of the class.

Someone sent me a personal message with lessons to take away from the experience, and I want you to know that I have learned a lot, one being not to post when still not emotionally stable, haha :). But really, thank you for your comments. I have talked to her about how my grade will be affected, and I studied extra hard for the final so I have the best chance at bringing up my grade. There is nothing I can do now but wait for final grades to be posted–regardless of what happens, I know that whatever grade I get in that class I deserved.

Thank you again for your insight!

Ella.