Re: An Open Letter to Educators

[peetred]

The question is... WHY do most people learn that way? Why do they have to be "taught"? Maybe because they have been trained by public school to learn that way? Their self motivative learning abilities were squashed.

[elgostine]

and anyone who thinks its all lectures seems to have forgotten assignments, tutorials which are like the classroom sizes of highschool and are often for the PRECISE reason of getting some appicable context to the lecture material. and for science and other such subjects. practical classes like laboratory sessions, computer room work and design workshops etc

in design courses your not just told about techniques and such. you often have to MAKE things with thse principles in mind.

[xLG7526x]

Something I really liked about my old school were the debates we would have once every week in history class. It allowed all of the students to share what they learned, and be able to learn from the other students, and discuss points of the lesson.

[Lollipoppization]

Education and skill-learning are two very dissimilar entities, though universities in the west in the last century started to provide degrees in skills (e.g. engineering, medicine, accounting). This is not education! Furthermore, education is not about “inspiring creativity” and teaching “critical thinking”—that is a big, fuzzy, but very popular concept among the middle class westerners too. Ever since the ancient Greeks, education has meant only one thing: access to human culture.

[feitocomfruta]

I think the point of this whole discussion is that with the free sharing of information comes the need to protect its existence. I'd go so far as to say that this is one of the reasons that we need to support Net Neutrality; if ISPs are going to be allowed to limit how much information is transmitted, then what could stop them from deciding WHAT info is transmitted?

[aebarco]

lol i thought you were gunna say that the system isn't failure, you're a failure dude lol

[NameWithoutNumber]

I think classes of 20-30 students, where you can ask your teacher about anything they tell you, is my preferred way of learning. That, and simply talking to someone who knows a lot.

[mooxim]

very well said.

[73elephants]

Yes, there's some information that is still expensive to obtain (e.g., articles in certain journals, and some specialized textbooks), however, the journals are priced the way they are to create artificial scarcity. It's like the record companies pricing recordings as if they were still as expensive to make now as they used to be twenty years ago, when in fact their costs have plummeted.

[Huskerboy18]

Very well done!

[crimsong19]

Well said, Steve! However ... I've had some great profs in small classes who make an effort to get to know their students or who have made the class a relaxing place for open discussion.

[soccersquirt82]

Wow. You pinpointed the jumbled thoughts going through my head as I watched Dan's video in a clear, concise video. Nice work.

[alaninnh]

I think you are right on target and you did a great job supporting your argument. This is not to belittle Dan at all because he makes some good points as well. I don't know if the two of you want something else to do but I think you play well off each other. What do you think of the idea of the two of you forming a point/counterpoint collab? Each of you would make one video a week, alternating who goes first. You both are intelligent and well versed and I think it would be a great collab.

[fizzylimon]

I do feel like we'd play well off each other, but I wouldn't want to impose myself :) He probably has a lot of people who want to be hes best friend!

[voxpopulivoxveritas]

Firstly bouncy music = <3. Second, I think this is a very well expressed and thought out response to dan's video, I did agree with him on the lack of creativity that makes it harder for students who learn through different means however your point about active students is also a great one, though not all teachers/proffesors are as willing to be helpful in my experience.

[fizzylimon]

I have met professors who want students to leave them alone, but in my opinion, their classes therefore become null and void and the students should drop them and turn in terrible course evaluations.

[TheEditingShop]

I too like the juxtaposition between dense subject matter and bouncy music. I agree, I believe the system needs fixing (big time) but it's not beyond repair.

[LovesToLaugh1601]

Great points. I went to a smaller, private university, and with the exception of a few courses, I never encountered any of the issues he discussed. As for those few courses, well, it's silly to expect to hit gold everytime. :-) Some of the wisest people I have met have been professors at my school. If I thought I could learn it all for free on the internet, I would be wrong. I couldn't have encountered my professors online, and I would not have learned on the internet what they taught me.

[fizzylimon]

You couldn't be more correct! That's why I think human interaction is a fundamental part of good learning.

[storygurl05]

Also (sorry for the ridiculously long comment) I work at my university library. In the past 3 years the library has undergone some huge changes. More space is being allocated to computers and fancy technology like that. Also there has been a push from the upper admin to have ebooks and other online resources when possible.

(very unpopular with the librarians)

Personally I would rather be able to go grab a book with what I need instead of wading though the deluge of information on the internet

[fizzylimon]

I couldn't agree with you more! And don't worry about long comments. Long comments are the best kind! If you ever feel like there's not enough room for your comment, just leave another one! I really, honestly, enjoy them when they are full of ideas.

[streetlighthalos]

I couldn't help but hit 'reply' when I read about your library making a lot of resources only available online. It is driving me crazy at my university, and I'd always prefer to have the book/article in front of me thn to read it on a screen after wading through search after search to find info!

In short: I feel your pain!!

[storygurl05]

I completely agree with you. I am in a program that relies heavily on synthesis of information, with smaller classes and a lot of interaction with the professors. That said, it's not really like it started out that way. It started with the fact learning in huge lecture halls, but even then I went to see my profs and talk to them about the material. I have learned many facts, but the most valuable thing that I have learning in University would have to be how to be critical of those facts.

[WhatTravisSays]

I watched Dan's Re: Re: video before yours and I agree with both of you on a lot of points. He did say, explicitly, that he felt that he was in the right position to be able to do this, and I'm sure a lot of other people feel the same way. I am completely on your side about the whole motivation argument though. I know I wouldn't have learned as much as I did if I didn't gain motivation from institutionalized instructors. Well said, overall.

[fizzylimon]

Yeah that jerk. Having thousands of times more subscribers than we little folk XD

[hangingwithNadine]

This is true. Well done.

[ThatAriana]

Well said. :D

[streetlighthalos]

I think this is a really well thought out response to Dan's video (which I watched yesterday and thought about a lot).

The point that I really strongly agree with is you point about students needing to actively engage and use the resources presented to them at universities. As a tutor in a university (as well as a PhD student) I find the best students are the ones actively seeking out more information and understanding. So Dan's point stands, but I agree with you also!

Well said all round!

[fizzylimon]

I think a lot of students forget the fact that at universities, we are adults responsible for our own education!

[genericfirstname]

@fizzylimon I agree, as one of my lecturers once pointed out, "you are paying for every word coming out of my mouth so pay attention."

[bananas1and2]

Information is free because of the internet; however, it is not always correct.

I love the synthesizing elements that are inherent in my classes. Most of my professors place a HUGE emphasis on synthesizing information, not just memorizing it. My history professor put it best yesterday: History is not facts and dates. It's the way in which it was written down, the relationships between events, the meanings behind those events, and perspective.

[MalfoyIsOurKing]

I agree with you to a certain degree. I have had several teachers/professors that just read off of a power point while you take notes and when you go to them they act like they are not interested. If I'm making the effort but they are refusing to meet me half way.

[Painfoot]

Quite well said. I have to agree overall :)

[dragonmemories]

Thats why Dan said its in its early stages, he not saying It would hapen in a couple of years, he is saying that your children or grandchildren will expieriance this change, but it is up to us to to change it today. SPREAD THE WORD!!!

[CRYSonline]

well said, good sir :)

[kateribethrose]

Hey! I completely agree! While Dan did have a couple of good points, what you said still stands. :)

Maybe you should just have your intro be an outtro and not worry about having an intro.

[FavouriteLooseCannon]

You rock xD