Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!husc6!bbn!uwmcsd1!ig!jade!ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdcc6!sdcc19!sdcc15!gp1764
From: gp1764@sdcc15.UUCP (glockner)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Ph.D.'s and Teaching
Summary: When teacher can't expect self-motivation
Message-ID: <429@sdcc15.UUCP>
Date: 13 Jan 88 19:37:34 GMT
References: <2144@uvacs.CS.VIRGINIA.EDU> <115@mccc.UUCP> <3469@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu>
Reply-To: gp1764@sdcc15.UUCP (glockner,alexander)
Organization: University of California, San Diego
Lines: 20

In article <3469@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu> moreno@umn-cs.UUCP (Andres Moreno) writes:
>ultimately, the student is responsible for his or her own learning. As
>instructors, we should provide an environment that encourages intellectual
>curiosity. 
>I do not believe that the role of the instructor is to entertain the students
>while at the same time (hopefully) giving them access to knowledge. Class
>attendance should be an active endeavour (with the student preparing before
>going to class). 

When I taught French at UCSD, I was told that keeping the students' 
attention and motivating them to come to class was my responsiblity.
Sagging enrollments in the language classes might have had something to do
with this, as much as the Professor's contention that language learning
can only take place when a student is attentive.

I found this viewpoint challenging, and often difficult to 
accomplish.  It did give me greater respect for other people's time.
It also made we appreciate having students who did not need me to take
attendance.
Michelle grossAT sdcsvax.ucsd.edu using glockner's account