4 ms·

C’mon Walter. You can’t really compare a class at Caltech, of all places, to an inner city classroom.

by elteto 5y ago

WalterBright 5y ago
I don't buy that there's any evidence that a school with "resources" does a better job educating than a motivated teacher with a blackboard. Heck, hands-down the best calculus lesson I ever had was a one-on-one with a prof and a blackboard. I suppose it's like running. No technology can make you a better runner than a good coach and a desire to run. P.S. note that colleges compete on "resources" all the time. But that simply isn't what matters. It's the prof, the blackboard, and the student. Facilities don't matter. Sports programs don't matter. Landscaping doesn't matter. Luxury dorms don't matter.
- elteto 5y ago
  How many homeless students did you have in your Caltech class? Were they going to bed hungry? Were Caltech professors in danger of being physically attacked? Did they have to buy their own chalk? Did they receive decent compensation for their work? If you can’t see or understand the incredible amount of _hidden_ infrastructure in place at a place at Caltech so that you could sit down and think about nothing but Calculus with a world class professor then you are extremely privileged.
  - WalterBright 5y ago
    Are you really arguing that the lower quintile in income in America are all homeless and hungry and attacked? Secondly, there is a federal school lunch program for all the students that need it. This program is not underfunded, and is not what I am talking about when discussing educational "resources". > Buy their own chalk. Oh please. > incredible amount of _hidden_ infrastructure in place at a place at Caltech There were many opportunities to join research activities. This was not necessary for the education, though. I didn't partake of that, as research did not interest me. > so that you could sit down and think about nothing but Calculus Sorry, but that does not require incredible infrastructure. It just doesn't. > world class professor Being a researcher is not the same thing as being an effective teacher, not at all. They weren't hired for their teaching ability. I doubt any had any training whatsoever as teachers. I'm amazed at the notion that teaching with a blackboard and chalk requires incredible infrastructure.
    - WalterBright 5y ago
      I forgot to mention - freshman and sophomore Calculus was taught by grad students, not professors. Grad students have no training in teaching, are very poorly paid, and do it only because that's part of the aid package they received. Freshman physics was taught by Prof Goodstein, who is a world class physicist. I had no personal interaction with him at all. The homework was graded and administered and coached by grad students (in "recitation" sessions). A couple years after I graduated, his lectures were recorded and made available as "The Mechanical Universe" series of videos. Lots of fancy animations and stuff were added, but in my not-so-humble opinion added entertainment but little value. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8_xPU5epJddRABXqJ5h5G0dk-XGtA5cZ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8_xPU5epJddRABXqJ5h5...

C’mon Walter. You can’t really compare a class at Caltech, of all places, to an inner city classroom.

by elteto 5y ago

C’mon Walter. You can’t really compare a class at Caltech, of all places, to an inner city classroom.

I don't buy that there's any evidence that a school with "resources" does a better job educating than a motivated teacher with a blackboard. Heck, hands-down the best calculus lesson I ever had was a one-on-one with a prof and a blackboard. I suppose it's like running. No technology can make you a better runner than a good coach and a desire to run. P.S. note that colleges compete on "resources" all the time. But that simply isn't what matters. It's the prof, the blackboard, and the student. Facilities don't matter. Sports programs don't matter. Landscaping doesn't matter. Luxury dorms don't matter.

elteto 5y ago
How many homeless students did you have in your Caltech class? Were they going to bed hungry? Were Caltech professors in danger of being physically attacked? Did they have to buy their own chalk? Did they receive decent compensation for their work? If you can’t see or understand the incredible amount of _hidden_ infrastructure in place at a place at Caltech so that you could sit down and think about nothing but Calculus with a world class professor then you are extremely privileged.
- WalterBright 5y ago
  Are you really arguing that the lower quintile in income in America are all homeless and hungry and attacked? Secondly, there is a federal school lunch program for all the students that need it. This program is not underfunded, and is not what I am talking about when discussing educational "resources". > Buy their own chalk. Oh please. > incredible amount of _hidden_ infrastructure in place at a place at Caltech There were many opportunities to join research activities. This was not necessary for the education, though. I didn't partake of that, as research did not interest me. > so that you could sit down and think about nothing but Calculus Sorry, but that does not require incredible infrastructure. It just doesn't. > world class professor Being a researcher is not the same thing as being an effective teacher, not at all. They weren't hired for their teaching ability. I doubt any had any training whatsoever as teachers. I'm amazed at the notion that teaching with a blackboard and chalk requires incredible infrastructure.
  - WalterBright 5y ago
    I forgot to mention - freshman and sophomore Calculus was taught by grad students, not professors. Grad students have no training in teaching, are very poorly paid, and do it only because that's part of the aid package they received. Freshman physics was taught by Prof Goodstein, who is a world class physicist. I had no personal interaction with him at all. The homework was graded and administered and coached by grad students (in "recitation" sessions). A couple years after I graduated, his lectures were recorded and made available as "The Mechanical Universe" series of videos. Lots of fancy animations and stuff were added, but in my not-so-humble opinion added entertainment but little value. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8_xPU5epJddRABXqJ5h5G0dk-XGtA5cZ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8_xPU5epJddRABXqJ5h5...