Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: Lighter moments



On Thu, 05 Dec 96 07:44:16 EST Emilio O. Roxin said:
1. What is the purpose of the course? That students learn physics.

Maybe, on a larger scale, to prepare them for life in the real world, where
it is generally expected that work be done right and it be done on time.

2. What is the purpose of the test? To assess how much they learned.
Obviously it is irrelevant that test be on a Monday or Wednesday.

Maybe part of the lesson for the student here is that the world does not
revolve around them. How many employers, if they call a meeting for three
on Monday, will be pleased with an employee who wants to show up at four
on Wednesday?

Hence: why the big fuss? Of course, there is a practical matter to
assemble the students at a given time to prepare a common exam. And
if you have to given a similar test afterwards, it is an additional
burden on you, but this is after all what you get paid for. And if
students can learn better, so good. What I would do (and usually did)
is to make it slightly more inconvenient for them, maybe the test a
little harder. If you press them for "correct" excuses, of course
what you will get are only lies.
Regards Emilio