If a textbook is provided, reading the section of the text before hand and then taking notes during class on what was most emphasized and on the teacher's explaination of material is the most effective way to maximize your time as a student. Not only are you prepared for lecture, but you also have the time to ask questions of your professor if you had some the night before.
"The students could then be issued with a DVD of the lecture, which covers the notes angle. In order for the students to bother turning up - and stay awake - the lecture then has to become more interactive, with students actually solving problems (for example) for which they are graded"
I understand the logic behind giving students notes so that they theoretically are more focused on the lecture itself, but there are a few issues with this assumption:
1. First of all, we're ignoring years of research which states that many students are tactile learners, in addition to auditory and visual learners. Many students need to write things down in order to PROCESS them (not necessarily remember. That's studying.). If we eliminate the note-taking process, the professor simply has to hand out notes, and read them. If these notes contain everything, including diagrams and calculations, (which a lazy student would love), there is no reason for a professor to write anything on the board. Thus, we have eliminated 2 of the 3 main ways that students process information while in the classroom.
2. Let's say we try to alieviate this issue by using more "interesting" lectures as was suggested in the quote above. Understand that more "interesting" in a college classroom is really limited to videos, perhaps a science demonstrations or a guest speaker. Still, with note-taking removed, these//aids// will not have much permanance- they may help with understanding, but they will not do anything an effective professor couldn't do. They're just bells and whistles.
3. So, the/average/ student has no incentive to go to class if all the notes are in powerpoint format online and he has a book at home. The person in the quote above suggests grading a student. While ideally a very nice suggestions, this is an execution nightmare. Attempting to have 50-300 students demonstrate a skill on paper AND grading all of these to ensure attendance is extremely impractical. This needs to be done regularly to ensure attendance, and it's just not possible to collect so many papers. Any instructor will attest to this- those not teaching should not dare insinuate that the instructor is just "lazy."
4. If we enforce an attendance policy to try to corral students in the classroom with their powerpoint packets in tow, we simply end up with a room full of resentful students who are simply daydreaming or casually listening. There will always be the very prepared student. There will always be the exceptional student. But if a student is given everything before hand, they no longer have to work for their education. The lecturer is reduced to a "Chapter Summary Machine".
There is an educational psychology term known was "constructivism", which states that each student comes into the classroom, takes imput in, and constructs their own educational experience. Everyone gains something else from the lecture. Having only an auditory imput with no tactile componant is like listening to music in mono. It's simply not enough to be enriching.
All these assume the average, liberal arts education. When you get into the classical sciences and mathematics fields, writing things down is imperative. Looking at multivariable integral or a Claussius-Clapyron solution on a slide is nowhere near the same as experiencing it in person during lecture with a professor present.
All of these points have also simply considered the manner in which information is obtained. There is an entire seperate barrel of fish which discusses the problems we have with how the average student manages their education. Someone previously mentioned th
I speak spanish fluently, so I understand where they're coming from with this, but on the other hand.. why are they the only ones to speak out on something like this? And don't they realise that EVERY OTHER LANGUAGE has to overcome the same english-language speed bump??
I mean, I don't know... I'm sure it would be convinient when you're trying to save space, like with the Palms, but with your tower? I just don't see how it would be a time saver, it seems to me like it would be more time consuming, having to type everything out with 1 finger or 3, when you have 10! But, well, that's just me....:)
I agree with the polls findings in respect to women maybe being pushed away from a career in technology, preferring them to stick to more traditionally female roles. HOWEVER, I do not believe that this has stopped ME, OR ANY OTHER GEEK GIRL from pursuing what makes them happy and whole, whether it be for the purpose of competiting with males, and showing them that ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO BETTER or just simply for the pleasure. And I'm sure that my parents would rather that I play with dolls, and not Debian, but I am what I am:) And very proud.
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If a textbook is provided, reading the section of the text before hand and then taking notes during class on what was most emphasized and on the teacher's explaination of material is the most effective way to maximize your time as a student. Not only are you prepared for lecture, but you also have the time to ask questions of your professor if you had some the night before.
//aids// will not have much permanance- they may help with understanding, but they will not do anything an effective professor couldn't do. They're just bells and whistles.
/average/ student has no incentive to go to class if all the notes are in powerpoint format online and he has a book at home. The person in the quote above suggests grading a student. While ideally a very nice suggestions, this is an execution nightmare. Attempting to have 50-300 students demonstrate a skill on paper AND grading all of these to ensure attendance is extremely impractical. This needs to be done regularly to ensure attendance, and it's just not possible to collect so many papers. Any instructor will attest to this- those not teaching should not dare insinuate that the instructor is just "lazy."
"The students could then be issued with a DVD of the lecture, which covers the notes angle. In order for the students to bother turning up - and stay awake - the lecture then has to become more interactive, with students actually solving problems (for example) for which they are graded"
I understand the logic behind giving students notes so that they theoretically are more focused on the lecture itself, but there are a few issues with this assumption:
1. First of all, we're ignoring years of research which states that many students are tactile learners, in addition to auditory and visual learners. Many students need to write things down in order to PROCESS them (not necessarily remember. That's studying.). If we eliminate the note-taking process, the professor simply has to hand out notes, and read them. If these notes contain everything, including diagrams and calculations, (which a lazy student would love), there is no reason for a professor to write anything on the board. Thus, we have eliminated 2 of the 3 main ways that students process information while in the classroom.
2. Let's say we try to alieviate this issue by using more "interesting" lectures as was suggested in the quote above. Understand that more "interesting" in a college classroom is really limited to videos, perhaps a science demonstrations or a guest speaker. Still, with note-taking removed, these
3. So, the
4. If we enforce an attendance policy to try to corral students in the classroom with their powerpoint packets in tow, we simply end up with a room full of resentful students who are simply daydreaming or casually listening. There will always be the very prepared student. There will always be the exceptional student. But if a student is given everything before hand, they no longer have to work for their education. The lecturer is reduced to a "Chapter Summary Machine".
There is an educational psychology term known was "constructivism", which states that each student comes into the classroom, takes imput in, and constructs their own educational experience. Everyone gains something else from the lecture. Having only an auditory imput with no tactile componant is like listening to music in mono. It's simply not enough to be enriching.
All these assume the average, liberal arts education. When you get into the classical sciences and mathematics fields, writing things down is imperative. Looking at multivariable integral or a Claussius-Clapyron solution on a slide is nowhere near the same as experiencing it in person during lecture with a professor present.
All of these points have also simply considered the manner in which information is obtained. There is an entire seperate barrel of fish which discusses the problems we have with how the average student manages their education. Someone previously mentioned th
And this big is the best:
"I think the real trouble will come on January 3, 2000, not January 1,
since the 3rd is the first business day."
Goodness knows no one would EVER think to use those clunky hunks of scrap metal outside the office.
www.poweredfusion.com
I host with them, and they have no content restrictions and unlimited bandwidth for very reasonable prices (10-18 dollars a month).
Good luck!
I speak spanish fluently, so I understand where they're coming from with this, but on the other hand.. why are they the only ones to speak out on something like this? And don't they realise that EVERY OTHER LANGUAGE has to overcome the same english-language speed bump??
I mean, I don't know... I'm sure it would be convinient when you're trying to save space, like with the Palms, but with your tower? I just don't see how it would be a time saver, it seems to me like it would be more time consuming, having to type everything out with 1 finger or 3, when you have 10! But, well, that's just me.... :)
I agree with the polls findings in respect to women maybe being pushed away from a career in technology, preferring them to stick to more traditionally female roles. HOWEVER, I do not believe that this has stopped ME, OR ANY OTHER GEEK GIRL from pursuing what makes them happy and whole, whether it be for the purpose of competiting with males, and showing them that ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO BETTER or just simply for the pleasure. And I'm sure that my parents would rather that I play with dolls, and not Debian, but I am what I am :) And very proud.