Re: [Phys-l] not our majors now!

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@hep.anl.gov>]

1.  On evaluating one's own teaching:  See Feynman on how skillful we are 
at kidding ourselves.

2.  On student engagement and waiting until the last minute.

I've observeed this over the years in students who are holding down 
part-time jobs and tackiling more than one tough course at a time.  You 
might try to learn, discretely, what economic (and, perhaps, other) 
pressures are engaging your students.

But then, ringing in my ears is the cry of one, previously overprotected 
student:  "Why do I have to read this stuff?  What are they paying you 
for?"
			Regards,
				Jack






On Thu, 5 Oct 2006, Monce, Michael N. wrote:

> My colleagues in the department are tired of hearing me complain so I'm taking this to a higher authority: PHYS-L.  :-)
>
> I'm teaching E&M to a class of 8 majors.  I'm using Griffiths as I've done for over many years, and actually think I'm doing a better job in teaching the course than ever (practice makes perfect).  I think the "disease" that seems to be infecting the general student population has made its way into our majors.  The students are not engaging the material; i.e. they are not putting in the work to stay up with the course and often wait until the last night to start the problem assignment.  They don't seem to have a grasp of even basic concepts from the intro. course.  I gave a pop quiz to confirm my suspicions which consisted of intro course level problems and except for 2 students, the other 6 failed.  I've talked to them about keeping up, how this is a challenging course for majors, etc. etc. etc.  The worst of it is for the "6" their problem sets are near perfect and closely resemble Griffiths' solution manual, yet when I ask them basic question  in class, none can come up!
 with the answers.  I've told them that I can't stop them from using such a manual, but it will do them no good on the exams, and will probably contribute to their failure if they are not truly trying to work on the material.  I've never expected this from junior level physics majors.  GE students in an intro course, yes, but not here.  I've taught this course probably 15 times and this is the first instance that I've seen such a lack of effort on the part of the students. Oh, by the way, the 2 who seem to be keeping up are both foreign students, the "6" are American.
> Rant off.  Any ideas folks?
>
>
>                                Mike Monce
>                                Connecticut College

--
"Trust me.  I have a lot of experience at this."
		General Custer's unremembered message to his men,
		just before leading them into the Little Big Horn Valley