Handholding Students
I was at a Masters class last night and the professor was talking about how to take good field notes. We are supposed to do some people watching and take notes to practice doing field work observation.
One student asked the prof to show him his notes. Earlier, the prof had shown a video clip and asked the class to take notes to get a taste of what field work is like. Then everyone compared what they wrote as notes. However, this one particular student wanted to see what the prof would write as his notes, so he could copy them.
The prof said that there is no template you can use. You just have to do it yourself. I have to agree. The best way to learn is to do it yourself.
After the class, some of us talked about the student who had asked the prof for his notes. Of course, this opened up a discussion on how students (even adult graduate ones) are so used to having "hand holding." They need a teacher to tell them and show them exactly what to do. They don't want to figure out how to do it themselves.
Arghh!! What is the world coming to when even Masters students can't think for themselves? It's terrible.
One student asked the prof to show him his notes. Earlier, the prof had shown a video clip and asked the class to take notes to get a taste of what field work is like. Then everyone compared what they wrote as notes. However, this one particular student wanted to see what the prof would write as his notes, so he could copy them.
The prof said that there is no template you can use. You just have to do it yourself. I have to agree. The best way to learn is to do it yourself.
After the class, some of us talked about the student who had asked the prof for his notes. Of course, this opened up a discussion on how students (even adult graduate ones) are so used to having "hand holding." They need a teacher to tell them and show them exactly what to do. They don't want to figure out how to do it themselves.
Arghh!! What is the world coming to when even Masters students can't think for themselves? It's terrible.
posted by indiscreet @ 7/29/2005 06:41:00 PM
2 Comments:
At 4:30 AM ,
Anonymous said...
I think that that's really sad that students are programed to extent they do not trust their own instincts (critical analysis) on what is the important information in a lecture and what isn't. I don't believe that it benefits society to have all its citizens following without question and not thinking for themselves. As for that graduate student . . . guess he/she won't be winning any honours for innovative ideas in whatever field he/she is studying in. What ever happened to creativity?
k
At 10:02 AM ,
indiscreet said...
Yep,it's pretty pathetic when even graduate students have to rely on the teacher to tell them exactly what to do. What's the big deal? It's only taking notes. How hard can that be?
You will be surprised at how many Singaporeans who got Master degrees that they don't deserve....
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home