DISQUS

Andrew McAfee's Blog: On Walking out of the Classroom

  • Hutch Carpenter · 8 months ago
    Congratulations Andrew - sounds like a great fit. Looking forward to your insights from MIT via the blog and Twitter.
  • Jayne Dissette · 8 months ago
    A few years ago, I learned that impostorship was normal for adult learners and I was so relieved. The later in life BS and MBA had been clouded by a feeling of unworthiness, which I have carried into the classroom as an adjunct faculty (IT staff by day).

    From reading this post, there is an incredible feeling of relief as I strive to feel worthy of teaching and assessing and if someone who has taught me through their fabulous writing (and wit) feels this way, I might be OK.

    This also gets back to the best teacher I ever had, Mr. Potter at Michigan State, the cello professor of cello teachers (of all ages) who taught me to do nothing else, but respect the learner.

    Thank you for this post today Professor McAfee, I'll feel much better about grading exams and papers this weekend (always an uneasiness there also)!
  • a32b · 8 months ago
    Certainly the semester that I took MIA with you, you had a lot of students battling you for "most wants to be in the room". That class may be the only one from which I remember more than 1-2 cases in thirty years, and I know I'm not alone in saying that.

    As an alum, I hope that your innovative grading strategies, your willingness to incorporate new technology, your fantastic cases, and the approach to teaching that you modeled stays with the school after you've moved down the river.

    M.I.T.'s lucky to have you.
  • cs@hbs · 8 months ago
    Thanks for a great semester. Hopefully MIT is a 9X-effect experience for you. :)
  • Michael B. Horn · 8 months ago
    Wow, congratulations on the move to MIT, but the alums who studied with you at HBS are sorry to lose you! Look forward to remaining in touch.
  • JB Holston · 8 months ago
    All the best, Andrew -- stay in touch!
  • KristianT · 8 months ago
    Congratulation Andrew. It sounds like you are about to fly your true colours. I am looking forward to see (and read) the results.
  • Dave Burke · 8 months ago
    Best of luck in your new work, and thanks for continuing to share your insights.
  • tacanderson · 8 months ago
    Wow. Congratulations. I'm very excited to see the research you come up with. I think this is not only a great move for you but a great opportunity for this space.
  • Kevin Mullins · 8 months ago
    Andrew, Welcome to MIT ....
  • Chris Tyler · 8 months ago
    Thanks for one of best classes at HBS. Sad to see you go, but will continue to follow your research at MIT.

    I also really enjoyed the thoughts about teaching. I was a teacher right after college and can definitely relate to the anxiety and need to love what you're doing, day in and day out.
  • sengseng · 8 months ago
    squash is a humbling sport; i'm scratching "teaching at HBS" off my list of things to do with my life
  • Harold Cypress · 8 months ago
    Following your heart is it's own reward. See u around Memorial Drive.
  • Rich Hoeg · 8 months ago
    You can now root for the MIT Football Team! I believe they won the Rose Bowl one year! (at least the programmers did!) You'll fit in nicely with the hackers!
  • Terry · 8 months ago
    Good luck at MIT!!!!!
  • Steven Mandzik · 8 months ago
    I still get those dreams and I haven't been in the classroom on years. I look at them as time to catch up on the ancient spiritual fulfillment that teaching fulfills.

    Good luck in ur new role!
  • David · 8 months ago
    nice post, i wish i could just concentrate on research and not have to worry about providing for my family, that would be a great situation to be in. good luck in the future.
  • Lauren Cooney · 8 months ago
    Andy,

    Congrats on the new gig! It sounds like an amazing role and I can't wait to catch up with you at some point to hear more.

    I'd love to chat soon - I'll drop you an email soon -

    Look forward, /LC
  • Emprego Vagas · 8 months ago
    Wow. Congratulations Andrew. Thats a great move. Regards. Cris.
  • Molli Sullivan · 8 months ago
    Hi Andrew -- I know I'm a little late in the game on this, but congrats on your new position. I know your students will miss you. Luckily we all get to be virtual students thanks to Twitter and the blog. Looking forward to your findings and discussions.
  • Francis Cobra Detector · 7 months ago
    Well done, great achievement for you and a totally rewarding experience! Keep it up, best of luck!
  • Thomas Otter · 7 months ago
    Congratulations on the change. I hope this move gives you more time to write and research. Lovely post.
  • Maryna HBS07 · 7 months ago
    Congratulations on your new job!

    My company is looking to introduce wiki and we were given a case study to read which led me to cases2.com which led me back to your blog after a couple of years. I'm sad you are leaving HBS but excited about the opportunities the move will provide. And I don't think we ever doubted that you wanted to be in the classroom.

    Cheers!
  • Bill Blais · 6 months ago
    I was pointed here by a friend who guessed how much I would appreciate this, and she was precisely right. Certainly congratulations on your fantastic new appointment, but thank you most for this thoughtful, honest and positive post on being the person who most wanted to be in the classroom. It's why we teach, and it's great to hear it put so well.