2 ms·

Do you think it was because they were uninterested in teaching, or were earnest but inept at communicating concepts that were already firmly established in thei

Do you think it was because they were uninterested in teaching, or were earnest but inept at communicating concepts that were already firmly established in their minds? (My pardon, I meant to upvote you, but clicked wrong. :( )

mhartl 15y ago
While apathy certainly explains many mediocre instructors, I know for a fact that some outstanding scientists desperately want to be good at teaching but just don't have the magic touch. As a mathematician might put it, knowing the material is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for being able to explain it.
- squasher 15y ago
  It's not a magic touch, it's a learnable skill. A skill that's damn hard to learn and takes years of dedication, introspection, and humility, but learnable nonetheless.
  - mhartl 15y ago
    So is playing basketball, but we can't all be Earvin Johnson.