Most Influential Lecturers / Passive Culture in Universities?
A C T O N E - YEAR: 1, SEMESTER: 2, CLASS: ZCT104 Modern Physics
Lecturer: If you have any questions, you can interrupt me any time. Or send me an sms. My number is 01X-XXXXXXX.Lecturer's phone double-beeps.
Me: *type type type*
Lecturer: *checks phone* I got a message... from Chun Yee. So, Chun Yee has sent me a message.Before he finished checking, his phone double-beeped non-stop.
Friend: *nudge* Hey, he got your number!
Lecturer: The message is: "Hi Yoon. Two almost similar equations given in page XX and XX. Are they the same?" Thank you for your question. *checks his Powerpoint slides*
Dr. Yoon is by far the best lecturer I've ever had. Till this day, I still am inspired by him. Because he dared to be different.
Which other lecturer allows -- no, insists -- you address him only by his surname?
A C T T W O - YEAR: 1, SEMESTER: 2, CLASS: ZCT106 Electronics 1
Me: *raises hand* Excuse me sir, I don't understand how we get those equations. Can you please explain?
Lecturer#2: *looks at me in surprise* These equations? They're the most basic equations in this course. It's in your text book by Smith.
Me: I do know the equations, sir. I'm asking if they can be proved.
Lecturer#2: *rambles on* You must not be attending my classes. Well, it's still not too late. There's two weeks to the exams. *looks to the class* I'm surprised that some of you still don't know these basic equations... *continues with lecture*
After class, I caught up with him:
Me: Sir, regarding my question just now. The... The textbook just states the equations, but without any proof.
Lecturer#2: Yes, you can read them from the Smith book.
Me: But can we understand the equations, rather than memorize them? Are the equations provable?
Lecturer#2: Oh, if you want to know the proof, you should be taking other courses, like Physical Electronics *waves hand around as if to say "etc... etc"* or... Electronical Physics.
This lecturer (whom we shall not name here) shall be remembered for his undying love for the textbook. After that conversation that day, I gave up on trying to understand the equations; I memorized them for the examinations. Also, I stopped asking questions during his lectures.
A C T T H R E E - YEAR: 2, SEMESTER: 1, CLASS: ZCT212/2 Thermodynamics
Lecturer#3: Any questions --
Me: *raises hand*
Lecturer#3: -- yes?
Me: Sir, it says here in the notes you gave yesterday, "COP". What does COP stand for?
Lecturer#3: Can you repeat the question?
Me: What is the meaning of COP? In the notes...
Lecturer#3: *suddenly angry* I'm sorry. I cannot keep jumping back and forth from my lecture. I told you to look at the diagram only, yes? *looks at the class* Didn't I say look at the diagram only?
I was too shaken to reply.
This lecturer could have just said "COP means Coefficient of Performance". Simple, isn't it?
F I N A L E
Many people who speak lowly of us, undergraduates in local universities, usually zero in on our passive shut-up-and-listen-while-I-talk culture, where only the lecturer speaks throughout the whole duration of the allocated time. But how can we fix this problem, when in the first place, most of our lecturers do not like, much less appreciate, student participation?
Time is Right
Looking Back at Campus Life
10 comments:
I suspect the same too. But what irks me is they couldn't put their ego aside, just admit that they don't know and could they perhaps answer this in the next lecture.
Oh yes, lecturer#3 insists on being called Dr! I guess it's said ego at work again -_-"
Yoon is definitely one of a kind! I'm very honoured to be taught by him :)
Anyway, the point of this post is what can we do to encourage a more active (pro-active?) culture in universities?
On the contrary, I think you've raised some excellent points there:
1. Students don't feel the need for change:
a) Passive mentality carried forward from schooling days. The majority are content with writing furiously and only lifting their heads to read the next line of notes.
b) They may lack the language ability and/or confidence to ask questions during lectures.
2. Lecturers don't encourage active culture:
a) The allocated time may just be enough to complete the syllabus.
b) The class they're assigned to teach does not match their specialization.
c) Some students can be just plain rude to the lecturer.
I added some opinions of mine. Tell me what you think.
"some students can be just plain rude to the lecturer."
There was once in my presentation, after i finished my points, the lecturer straigh away said that, "All of the points you made were totally wrong!"
And, i asked "why?" *i asked so because i dont understand why he said so*
Then, he was so mad and shout at me. He said he never met this kinda student like me, as he defined as rude.
I just do not understand, isn't teaching should be interactive?
But the culture in M'sia, is just one-way teaching. As if, we can only listen to everything they say.
Lecturers would feel offended or being challenged if they're asked for for further expaination.
Oh btw, i wish i could meet lecturer like Yoon!
Thanks for sharing, Tracy. However, as I did not witness this incident for myself and for lack of other points of view, I'll allow both you and your lecturer the benefit of the doubt.
Asking "why" can be a great way to spark a discussion. Every child learns by asking "why". Hence, it is unfortunate that some people misregard "why" as challenging their integrity, or as a sign of disrespect.
I realize that "Some students can be just plain rude to the lecturer" is open to misinterpretation. Let me clarify that I refer to students who speak disrespectfully to the lecturer, for example, without even addressing them as "Sir", or a suitable title (unless the lecturer insists otherwise).
Cy,
hello!sorry 4 not dropping by ur blog for such a long time.U know la,me busy lady wat.keke.anyway,when did I become a mermaid?=)happy holiday my fren!!
jessy
Hey Jessy (d'mermaid, lol)! Thanks for dropping by. Happy hols to ya too! :)
Ha. You don't listen during lectures? I'm curious to know the reason! Perhaps you'll find your revision time very much shortened if you do.
And sorry about the glitch. Maybe blogger is a bit hard of hearing... so you'll have to say it again, and louder! Lol xD
Hrm...I guess I have been lucky to have not had such a lecturer. Some I don't particularly like because they have not been able to "teach". But, "Teaching" is really not easy. Demands the effort of both parties.
There is still some hope. Not all lecturers are like that. Bakh appeared a simple man but is an expert in his field. I once asked him a simple question. Really simple. He said I'm not sure about that, I don't know. But e-mail me.
Of course he could later point out the limitations of my statement that I mailed him. But he has gained my utmost respect for being ever ready to admit he didn't know something. It shows the spirit of the ivory tower: everyone is there to learn, where you are an undergrad, grad or instructor. Everyone is learning and "teaching" at the same time.
Those cocky lecturers that you mentioned, they have demeaned the spirit of learning. Let us as students not allow them to do that. We shouldn't keep out quiets. Because The best teachers ask their students to challenge them.
chin chin - *shouts back* I hear you!! *exits shout mode* Maybe you could psyche yourself to be interested on the lectures. That way, you might focus and listen better :)
kopi - I agree that teaching is hardly an easy task. In fact, it's a privilege to guide, inspire and mold a group of students. More so, the lecturers who inspire us to work harder are the rare gems.
With all respect, let's not put down our lecturers here. Instead, let's discuss the so-called passive culture, and possibly how we, as undergraduates, can contribute to a better learning environment.
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