Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!pdn!reggie
From: reggie@pdn.UUCP (George W. Leach)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Cheating and learning
Message-ID: <3885@pdn.UUCP>
Date: 29 Jul 88 18:00:29 GMT
References: <2155@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>
Organization: Paradyne Corporation,   Largo FL
Lines: 39

In article <2155@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>, taylor@hpdstma.hp.com (Dave Taylor) writes:
> I think that a lot of interesting points have been raised so far in this
> discussion, but I'd like to add a few of my own (not necessarily unique).

   [NOTE:  Lots of excellent points deleted that I completely agree with
    Dave on.  I would like to point out that before one can build upon
    the work of others, one must fully understand the fundamental concepts
    behind that work.  One can not learn this by blindly applying the
    results of others' work without a solid grounding in the basics ]

> The basic question that this all revolves around, I think, is Why are
> people taking the class?  For the most part, when I was in college (UCSD
> for my undergrad work) I was in the class to learn as much as possible
> about not only the subject matter but solution methodologies, debugging
> techniques (something that is *never* taught), and ways to ensure that I
> would be a success as a programmer were I to choose it as a profession.
 

     Right!  And many students *DO* fall into this category.  The problem 
is that others are motivated by other aims.  For some a degree in CS means
a job.  For others, perhaps a promotion.  For some, it may be used as a
stepstone towards an ultimate goal of getting into management.  Whatever
the motivation, some people are driven by factors other than the desire to
learn.  For those people the ultimate goal of a course is a good grade,
regardless of the amount of informaition derived from the course.  That is
why people avoid certain courses and instructors, etc.....


     The question is, should those of us who are concerned with learning, need 
also to be concerned with preventing those who are not from gaining the
same recognition, in the form of a degree, as we achieve.  Or should we just
MYOB and be content with the fact that we earned the degree?


-- 
George W. Leach					Paradyne Corporation
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