----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Duell" <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 5:08 PM
Subject: Re: Modern Electronics (was Re: List charter mods & headcount... ;
> > That's what most people don't realize school is all about. It's not
about
> > learning a subject matter, it's learning how to THINK properly (a skill
>
> What planet are you on? Schools, at least in the UK, are there to stop
> people thinking. If you think -- if you challenge (politely, I may add)
> the teacher, if you start asking relevant questions, then you are a
> 'troublemaker' and will be expelled or worse.
>
> It nearly happened to me several times (and yes, the questions I were
> asking were certaioly applicable to the subject, and yes, the teacher was
> talking rubbish half the time (which is why I asked said questions).
>
>
> -tony
It all depends on your school and the background of the teachers there. The
local university I went to had a good teacher to student ratio and most of
the teachers were from industry. You could ask them anything on the spot and
they would either direct you on how to solve the problem, or solve it for
you with chalk and the blackboard off the top of their head. One teacher
that did not have industry experience would just puke up exactly what the
book he was using said on the subject over and over, not very informative
(hell I learned how to read a long time ago thanks).
These teachers encouraged us to ask questions and to do undergraduate thesis
because it would break us up into teams just like in a real world
environment. My team ended up giving a presentation at Purdue university on
our subject competing with the big name schools from across the country.
While I was at Purdue I visited the classrooms, dorms, and labs there (we
were given a tour). The things I remember were that the students living on
campus tended to have quite a few BMW's in the parkinglot, the latest and
greatest lab equipment was used by the tenured professors only (and their
support staff), the classes were taught by undergrads or there was a
videotape, and we had 20+ people in a room and they had 100+. I always
wonder who got the better education for their money (I am sure they got
better jobs because of the school name and having connections).
TZ
Received on Sun Jun 20 2004 - 17:16:29 BST