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That bully is a reason why on railsgirls events you have tables for differen skill levels. You could easily send that guy to another table with more advanced pe

That bully is a reason why on railsgirls events you have tables for differen skill levels. You could easily send that guy to another table with more advanced people without throwing him out.

derleth 14y ago
This. This is a wonderful idea. (In fact, in my evil little mind, I might be tempted to send a Dave to a table just a bit above him, to show him that he's only hot shit in his own mind.)
- relix 14y ago
  That's not evil. That's exactly how I would want to be treated in a class. I don't want to learn from people who know less than me, I want to learn from people who know more than me!
  - stfu 14y ago
    I think this is key to make progress in any learning environment, i.e. to find a group that one presumes as being slightly better than oneself. It seems to push at least myself to try harder and become better. But of cause the gap shouldn't be too large, otherwise it is annoying for the group and demotivational for the oneself.
- nuttendorfer 14y ago
  Dave would be wasting his time if he was in a table where he already knew everything. You'd be doing him a favor.
vilhelm_s 14y ago
Someone I talked to who has TAed intro-level programming classes suggested doing something similar there: split it into a section for "beginners" and one for "experienced programmers". But the sections would teach exactly the same material. His point was that in practice, students who actually already know basic programming test out of the intro class, but there always seems to be a contingent that _thinks_ that they are experts, and who ruin the class dynamics by acting superior, asking show-offy questions, etc. It would be better for everyone if they could self-select into a single section.
bhughes 14y ago
What? Bully? That word is getting tossed around a lot these days, and it seems in danger of losing its meaning (or, like "fascist" meaning "someone who thinks or does something I don't like"). There was no "bully" in this story. There was just some guy who loved to hear himself talk, and wanted everyone to think he was smart.
droithomme 14y ago
I agree with your solution. I don't agree with all the nomenclature of calling this guy, who is said to be enthusiastic and excited about the class, a "bully" because he is participating enthusiastically. I think that is actually a use of framing language and is an attack, and bullying, upon enthusiastic learners.

That bully is a reason why on railsgirls events you have tables for differen skill levels. You could easily send that guy to another table with more advanced people without throwing him out.

derleth 14y ago

This. This is a wonderful idea. (In fact, in my evil little mind, I might be tempted to send a Dave to a table just a bit above him, to show him that he's only hot shit in his own mind.)

relix 14y ago
That's not evil. That's exactly how I would want to be treated in a class. I don't want to learn from people who know less than me, I want to learn from people who know more than me!
- stfu 14y ago
  I think this is key to make progress in any learning environment, i.e. to find a group that one presumes as being slightly better than oneself. It seems to push at least myself to try harder and become better. But of cause the gap shouldn't be too large, otherwise it is annoying for the group and demotivational for the oneself.
nuttendorfer 14y ago
Dave would be wasting his time if he was in a table where he already knew everything. You'd be doing him a favor.

vilhelm_s 14y ago

Someone I talked to who has TAed intro-level programming classes suggested doing something similar there: split it into a section for "beginners" and one for "experienced programmers". But the sections would teach exactly the same material. His point was that in practice, students who actually already know basic programming test out of the intro class, but there always seems to be a contingent that _thinks_ that they are experts, and who ruin the class dynamics by acting superior, asking show-offy questions, etc. It would be better for everyone if they could self-select into a single section.

bhughes 14y ago

What? Bully? That word is getting tossed around a lot these days, and it seems in danger of losing its meaning (or, like "fascist" meaning "someone who thinks or does something I don't like"). There was no "bully" in this story. There was just some guy who loved to hear himself talk, and wanted everyone to think he was smart.

droithomme 14y ago

I agree with your solution. I don't agree with all the nomenclature of calling this guy, who is said to be enthusiastic and excited about the class, a "bully" because he is participating enthusiastically. I think that is actually a use of framing language and is an attack, and bullying, upon enthusiastic learners.