Re: Today's jaw dropper

[trappe@PHYSICS.UTEXAS.EDU (Karl Trappe)]

On our campus we run departmental exams for the Engineering sections of
introductory physics.  Sadly, there is not a mean deviation of difference
in performance between the students of the "best teacher" (based on awards
for teaching) and the students of the "worst teacher" on campus.

There is a *very important difference* in their exit attitude toward our
department and our profession, however.  And *that* finds its way into the
legislature's response to University funding, and on a more global scale,
into NSF and other budgets.

It also shows in our enrollment statistics, which continue to decline. I
suggest to you that the very people, who have successfully reduced the
student pool by their antagonism/rigidity, will soon retire and that there
will be insufficient enrollment to justify refilling their positions.  But
they will not be around to reap what they have sown. Negative feedback
works quite well to reduce enrollment.
Karl

> On Thu, 9 Oct 1997 21:26:14 -0600 Dewey Dykstra, Jr. said:
> > I'm wondering would a teacher who is enthusiastic about requiring students
> > to drill at memorizing nonsense syllables result in students who want to
> > learn nonsense syllables?
>
> Dewey,
> I think you've made my point for me.  The answer is certainly "yes".  There
> are numerous examples all around us, ranging from Rap to speaking in tounges.
> In some circles it's called enthusiasm, in others chrisma, and may even pass
> as salesmanship or leadership.  Whatever it is called, it certainly works.
>
> > I agree that getting the student to engage in making sense is the key, but
> > it strikes me that teacher enthusiasm is but a part of this and maybe more
> > a consequence than a fundamental ingredient.
> >
> > Dewey
> >
> > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > Dewey I. Dykstra, Jr.                   Phone: (208)385-3105
> > Professor of Physics                    Dept:  (208)385-3775
> > Department of Physics/MCF421/418        Fax: (208)385-4330
> > Boise State University                  dykstrad@bsumail.idbsu.edu
> > 1910 University Drive                   Boise Highlanders
> > Boise, ID 83725-1570                       novice piper
> >
> > "Physical concepts are the free creations of the human mind and
> > are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external
> > world."--A. Einstein in The Evolution of Physics with L. Infeld,
> > 1938
> > "Don't mistake your watermelon for the universe."  --K. Amdahl in
> > There Are No Electrons, 1991.
> > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dr. Karl I. Trappe                              Desk Phone:  (512) 471-4152
Physics Dept, Mail Stop C-1600                  Demo Office: (512) 471-5411
The University of Texas at Austin               Home Phone:  (512) 264-1616
Austin, Texas 78712-1081