Q: How do I know how I am doing if I haven't gotten any feedback from my teacher yet?

A: When mountain climbing, you get immediate feedback. School is different because your cues are more subtle, and feedback comes at variable times in many ways. It is important to do your own progress check early in the term to see how you are doing.

Here are some actions that students who care about doing their best have reported helped them:

1. Meet with the instructor in an office hour, and prepare specific questions (on index cards, if you like) that you want to ask him or her.

2. Include a summary of how you learn, what you do to help yourself, and any mentors or support systems you have set up already.

3. Ask for feedback about how you are doing, and how you could improve. Those who are masters in any art are usually very eager to know how to improve, so asking the question is something each rational, caring human being does, no matter how proficient one is at something.

4. Communicate any concerns, anxieties, or questions you have about the class or your progress. Do not assume the instructor knows how you feel or knows what your concerns are.

You may wish to have a particular problem from your homework to focus upon, and inquire about how to go about learning this type of material. Often instructors are happy to share with you their own methods for learning, for improving memory, for organization, and other areas relating to learning skills and strategies. Try to understand how they think when they discuss ideas and coursework.

5. Be ready to follow through with any advice you receive. Develop your own Plan of Action, addressing every single concern that you have.

Please send in any questions or comments by email: Gerry Lewin's email.