tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518538516094111151.post7200849490270122593..comments2024-02-09T04:57:18.262-05:00Comments on TeleFrieden: That $200,000 Degree Comes Without a WarrantyRob Friedenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906014390240946093noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518538516094111151.post-89200159533645865532015-12-29T15:57:50.751-05:002015-12-29T15:57:50.751-05:00Andy -- grades are the results in Universities. Gr...Andy -- grades are the results in Universities. Grades are a signal that distinguish otherwise indistinguishable degree recipients for an employer. <br /><br />Ben -- this generation of students will be burdened with the debt of college their entire lives if we do not change something. Massive administrative overhead and spiraling athletic salaries give the students a sense of entitlement. They are paying through the nose. Coddled? Entitled? What about the men in college pre-1970 when they were protected from the voices and competition of women, men of color, and religion was subject to quotes. <br /><br />Rob - on taking notes. I could not agree more. I loath power point as a primary teaching medium. To the extent that it allows more content, yes it is great. I have that complaint every single class, Use power point! Give us your slides!". I ask them if they think their boss will use power point when assigning them a task. When have they ever seen power point in a real world situation?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10178286420737104422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518538516094111151.post-41518704868791950352015-11-19T05:38:20.758-05:002015-11-19T05:38:20.758-05:00It's not much better in the UK - but I do insi...It's not much better in the UK - but I do insist that students switch off their phones in lectures and classes. That said, they can browse Facebook etc. on their tablets/laptops so not much better.<br />I have yet to solve the problem that they won't take handwritten notes (and nor do I so I feel little moral case to insist).<br />But Rob, you are an excellent lecturer and teacher - I should know, you've been teaching me at TPRC for nigh on twenty years!chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01894132626803555691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518538516094111151.post-77842363588520049542015-11-16T13:35:42.117-05:002015-11-16T13:35:42.117-05:00I've been doing this for a lot less time than ...I've been doing this for a lot less time than you guys, but even I have noticed this stuff on the increase. I have had a student say "I studied so I should have gotten an A." Another threatened to report me to the Dean because a test was "unfair" (a.k.a. "difficult"). That threat would have gone nowhere with the Dean but it still illustrates the attitude of students who have an unhealthy outlook on working for results. <br /><br />Depending on how long you'll still be around, you could possibly wait for this generational effect to fizzle out. The current generation of students have been protected from every possible challenge by their parents, because challenges hurt their feelings. For the 100+ students in my big telecom regulation class, not a single one of them has to pay their own phone bill. And I bet few of them have to pay their own rent either. Parents protect them from the horrors of actually earning money and paying for stuff that you can afford.<br /><br />And thanks to modern technology, their method of resolving conflicts is to yell about it online where there are no repercussions, and then you can say the problem is solved when you get some Likes on your post. You can see this in the current "safe space" controversy at certain campuses. But I believe that this is a generational process that will shift... EVENTUALLY.<br /><br />I have a friend who recently retired from about 30 years of teaching in Arts & Architecture at PSU. He says that at a public university like ours, the top 20% of students are equal to the best that you will see at the top universities. Focusing on them can help you experience the rewards of teaching, though we do have the disadvantage of needing to manage mediocrity.Ben Cramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106137379993348208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8518538516094111151.post-53107038500642338852015-11-09T08:03:59.033-05:002015-11-09T08:03:59.033-05:00Thanks. You are touching on the underlying role th...Thanks. You are touching on the underlying role that an education plays. To paraphrase what an economist might say, each transaction needs a willing buyer and a willing seller, but without both nothing happens. In the learning process the student and the teacher take on both roles.<br /><br />As someone who’s been in the sector for over 35 years and has worked all over the world, let me add to your truisms, which are realistically painful.<br />- As a student, if you think the university is difficult or unfair, the world after is more of both by many a quantum.<br />- In the communications sector, be it telecoms, broadcasting or information, your reading & comprehending load is huge, and one needs to learn how to manage time; best to start understanding how now. Absorbing these roots of change will be your only way to keep up; otherwise you fall away. [a point: 90% of the world’s information has been created in the last two years.]<br />- Much has been written that, while the US holds great opportunity, the rest of the world has caught up and is well past us; we just haven’t figured it out yet – part of our insular culture. Look no further than various countries in Asia. Learning while you have the opportunity and time may be your last chance.<br />- Studying at University will be the most selfish period of a student’s life – you only have to be concerned about one person. Period. Make the most of it – you will NEVER, please trust me, NEVER get that chance again.<br />- Grades mean squat in your life after the Univ.; results mean everything. Grades are a small measure to determine if you know how to get results.<br />- There is no such thing as too much education.<br />Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09104682763163185656noreply@blogger.com