10/9/04
A student writes:
Dr. Patt,
I am very worried about my grade in your class, I am not doing
very well with college's study habits. Up until now I have just
been attempting everything on my own because, like many EE's,
my social skills aren't the best. Are there any resources that
you could recommend where I could go to find a good study group
to join? I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks so much,
<< name withheld to protect the failing >>
I decided to share this one with all of you, since there may be others
in the same situation. By the way, his signature came from him, not me.
I would never suggest that he is failing after the first exam, since there
is plenty of time for him to get his act together and do well. But that
means recognizing the problem, which he seems to be doing and then doing
something about it, which he also seems to be doing. So, there is hope.
I understand that it is a little intimidating to stand up in the middle
of a class of 400 students and say, "Who will take me into their study
group?" and I do not expect that. I was hoping you all would connect
via the FIGs and the dorms, etc. In his case (and presumably in some
others), it has not happened yet.
I think the thing to do at this point is to send email to your TA, asking
if the he/she can try to find others in the same situation. Please also
send email to Basit (bsheikh@ece.utexas.edu) between now and class on
Wednesday. I am asking him to collect a master list of those who are not
in study groups but now want to be. The TAs and I will look at the set
of requests, and see what we can do to help. No promises, we can not force
arranged marriages, but we will try.
Your email should list:
1. Your name
Good luck with the rest of the course.
Yale Patt
2. Your living situation (at your parents' home, dorm name, apartment, etc.)
3. Your discussion section and TA's name
4. Any serious constraints on when you can meet as a study group that would
affect being a part of a study group.