Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!pdn!reggie
From: reggie@pdn.UUCP (George W. Leach)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Student preparedness
Message-ID: <5268@pdn.UUCP>
Date: 4 Jan 89 11:36:24 GMT
References: <4893@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> <6435@killer.DALLAS.TX.US> <5237@pdn.UUCP> <2145@faline.bellcore.com> <13160@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Reply-To: reggie@pdn.UUCP (George W. Leach)
Organization: Paradyne Corporation,   Largo FL
Lines: 32

In article <13160@bellcore.bellcore.com> duncan@ctt.bellcore.com (Scott Duncan) writes:

>What techniques do people use to produce an atmosphere where questions that do
>not have immediate answers get asked and pursued?


      Hmmm, I never thought about it.  I have only taught in the evenings,
so the make up of the class is a bit different.  Most students are part time
and work.  They are a bit more serious about the course than the average
full time student.  Perhaps this is because they need a good grade to get
reimbursed for the course or they are paying their own way.  In any event,
in an average class (30->35 students) I think there are more people who
would ask such questions than in a day time class.  Perhaps part of the
reason is that often many who teach at night also work during the day in
industry.  Often a professor is looked upon in awe by the average undergrad.



      One thing I have tried at times is to relate the course content to
something in everyday life that the students may have some contact with.
This will give them some sort of reference point for discussion.  This is
not always possible and probably can not apply to anything but the most
elementary courses.  However, this is where they may need it the most.




-- 
George W. Leach					Paradyne Corporation
..!uunet!pdn!reggie				Mail stop LG-129
Phone: (813) 530-2376				P.O. Box 2826
						Largo, FL  USA  34649-2826