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because math classes are the only classes still taught on the board. everyone else uses powerpoint

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
pmiller2 7y ago
Ok, but why? You’re effectively saying they like it because they like it. CS, stats, physics, engineering, etc. classes would all benefit from slowing down and explaining things the way mathematicians are forced to do using chalk.
- mlevental 7y ago
  >You’re effectively saying they like it because they like it. no? you asked me why they like chalk not why the use chalk and slate? >Ok, but why? how should i know? i'm just reflecting on my experience. if i had to guess it's because math has a very strong computational component - you have to show kids how to perform the steps for to solve whatever problem (perform an integral, solve an ode, QR factor a matrix). >CS, stats, physics, engineering, etc. classes would all benefit from slowing down and explaining things the way mathematicians are forced to do using chalk. lol sure but almost no one cares about what's best for students (but about spending as little time as possible on teaching)
- chongli 7y ago
  All of the CS classes I've taken (at Waterloo) have featured professors who lecture while they write on the board. On the other hand, some of the stats and financial math courses I've taken relied heavily on slides. I prefer no slides, personally, though my current instructor in differential equations is totally disorganized and frustrating to follow, despite using no slides at all.
- garmaine 7y ago
  Even chalk is inefficient though. One of the best math classes I had was taught on a projector with a wind-up transparent overlay. He'd use colored markers on the transparent sheet, and then wind up a little when he reached the bottom. If there was questions he could "rewind" to the point in question as nothing was ever erased. He then took the transparency roll to his office where it was available, in scroll-like form, during office hours.
yingw787 7y ago
I've heard chalk is better because the professor has to explain things as its written down, which helps with pacing the content. Powerpoint is easy to go too fast or too slow since the content is pre-generated. Since there's only a finite amount of space on the chalkboard, you might also need to be efficient with how you draw diagrams and formulas, which might also help with the pacing.
bscphil 7y ago
I graduated in this decade (from a large public university), and I would say that 90% of the worthwhile classes I took were taught on boards, and at least 50% of the classes taught via slides weren't worthwhile. It's not as uniform as you think.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

Ok, but why? You’re effectively saying they like it because they like it. CS, stats, physics, engineering, etc. classes would all benefit from slowing down and explaining things the way mathematicians are forced to do using chalk.

mlevental 7y ago
>You’re effectively saying they like it because they like it. no? you asked me why they like chalk not why the use chalk and slate? >Ok, but why? how should i know? i'm just reflecting on my experience. if i had to guess it's because math has a very strong computational component - you have to show kids how to perform the steps for to solve whatever problem (perform an integral, solve an ode, QR factor a matrix). >CS, stats, physics, engineering, etc. classes would all benefit from slowing down and explaining things the way mathematicians are forced to do using chalk. lol sure but almost no one cares about what's best for students (but about spending as little time as possible on teaching)
chongli 7y ago
All of the CS classes I've taken (at Waterloo) have featured professors who lecture while they write on the board. On the other hand, some of the stats and financial math courses I've taken relied heavily on slides. I prefer no slides, personally, though my current instructor in differential equations is totally disorganized and frustrating to follow, despite using no slides at all.
garmaine 7y ago
Even chalk is inefficient though. One of the best math classes I had was taught on a projector with a wind-up transparent overlay. He'd use colored markers on the transparent sheet, and then wind up a little when he reached the bottom. If there was questions he could "rewind" to the point in question as nothing was ever erased. He then took the transparency roll to his office where it was available, in scroll-like form, during office hours.

yingw787 7y ago

I've heard chalk is better because the professor has to explain things as its written down, which helps with pacing the content. Powerpoint is easy to go too fast or too slow since the content is pre-generated. Since there's only a finite amount of space on the chalkboard, you might also need to be efficient with how you draw diagrams and formulas, which might also help with the pacing.

bscphil 7y ago

I graduated in this decade (from a large public university), and I would say that 90% of the worthwhile classes I took were taught on boards, and at least 50% of the classes taught via slides weren't worthwhile. It's not as uniform as you think.