unexpected obstacles,was Ask Marilyn "geometry test"

["Michael N. Monce" <mnmon@CONNCOLL.EDU>]

> Yessssss!!!  This kind of clarity lets students focus their attention on
> the subject matter instead of wasting time playing mind-games with the
> instructor.  IMHO the teachers/professors who force their students to
> wander about bumping into unexpected instructor-created obstacles
> (figuratively speaking) are education's equivalent of Dilbert's
> pointy-haired corporate boss.  Obviously I do not buy the premise that
> tormenting students with directionless vaguery is somehow
> character-building; nor that it promotes higher-order thinking, either.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Larry
        Could you explain more why you believe this? When I teach,
specifically, a year-long course in experimental physics I *purposefully*
make the instructions for each lab vague.  I tell the students up front
that they will be expected to figure out the how to set up the equipment,
test it out, calibrate it, then decide how best to do their measurements.
My background to them is usually working through the details of the
theory.  Questions from them about the workings of an experiment are
usually met by me with a question back to them.  A well-framed question,
but I generally refuse to give them the answer directly.
       Some do get mad, others seem to appreciate what I'm up to.

                           Mike Monce
                           Connecticut College