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Tell your kids you'll only pay for classes they pass and don't accept any excuses. I never found lectures to be particularly useful anyway.

by philk 16y ago

jimbokun 16y ago
Did you ask questions? If there were too many students to ask questions, I agree. In that case, you might as well be watching a video lecture at your own convenience. I find the ability to ask at least an occasional question during a lecture, however, a big part of the value of taking a college course.
- philk 16y ago
  The lectures were unfortunately too big to ask questions. Ultimately I found that to learn effectively I needed to try applying the material to problems, try to solve the problems, and then use questions to overcome any sticking points I was having. I'm not sure it can really be done effectively in anything but the smallest of classes.
FluidDjango 16y ago
> I never found lectures to be particularly useful anyway. Nor I. You and I are not the norm (evidence: we are on HN). But I have taught in a community college in rural/bluecollar area where the only hope that some students had of breaking out of their apathetic, educationally-clueless family/community was to have instructor(s) who mentored them - that is connected personally. Being present in class was not sufficient for them to transcend the crippling effects of their upbringings. But it was the first (and necessary) step for those without other mentors in their lives. [ Apologies for any arrogant sound in the above. Calling it like I have seen it. ]
- tseabrooks 16y ago
  Hmmm. I'm 26 and I still forget all the times my dad admonish me for overestimating people. "You can't assume everyone else thinks like you do or knows all the things you do". I think the problem though is when you 'require' all students to be in class as part of your grade. This is little different than classrooms in a high school that are set up to help students falling behind that end up hurting / punishing the top performing students.
drewcrawford 16y ago
Your advice is in fact superior. But, from the university's standpoint, which strategy is a better selling point? Tracking attendance "solves" the problem of, you know, actually having to parent your kids. I bet there's a lot of parents who want to pay for that.

Tell your kids you'll only pay for classes they pass and don't accept any excuses. I never found lectures to be particularly useful anyway.

by philk 16y ago

Tell your kids you'll only pay for classes they pass and don't accept any excuses. I never found lectures to be particularly useful anyway.

jimbokun 16y ago

Did you ask questions? If there were too many students to ask questions, I agree. In that case, you might as well be watching a video lecture at your own convenience. I find the ability to ask at least an occasional question during a lecture, however, a big part of the value of taking a college course.

philk 16y ago
The lectures were unfortunately too big to ask questions. Ultimately I found that to learn effectively I needed to try applying the material to problems, try to solve the problems, and then use questions to overcome any sticking points I was having. I'm not sure it can really be done effectively in anything but the smallest of classes.

FluidDjango 16y ago

> I never found lectures to be particularly useful anyway. Nor I. You and I are not the norm (evidence: we are on HN). But I have taught in a community college in rural/bluecollar area where the only hope that some students had of breaking out of their apathetic, educationally-clueless family/community was to have instructor(s) who mentored them - that is connected personally. Being present in class was not sufficient for them to transcend the crippling effects of their upbringings. But it was the first (and necessary) step for those without other mentors in their lives. [ Apologies for any arrogant sound in the above. Calling it like I have seen it. ]

tseabrooks 16y ago
Hmmm. I'm 26 and I still forget all the times my dad admonish me for overestimating people. "You can't assume everyone else thinks like you do or knows all the things you do". I think the problem though is when you 'require' all students to be in class as part of your grade. This is little different than classrooms in a high school that are set up to help students falling behind that end up hurting / punishing the top performing students.

drewcrawford 16y ago

Your advice is in fact superior. But, from the university's standpoint, which strategy is a better selling point? Tracking attendance "solves" the problem of, you know, actually having to parent your kids. I bet there's a lot of parents who want to pay for that.