I'm taking an intro to music class this semester that's basically a historical survey. We started in the Middle Ages and by the end of the semester we'll be talking about modern music. I haven't had a formal music class since 8th grade and since this is my last semester of college, I thought I should fit in one.
I'm a visual learner, so what's difficult for me about studying music is that all the things you learn about are things you hear. In a literature course, I can find passages and make connections between them. I can analyze film scenes. I can write out Spanish compositions.
I can't see music. The professor can explain where a chord change is but I still have to listen for it. We can talk about separate voices in imitative polyphony, but it's nothing I can point out.
These aren't difficult concepts, but they don't come naturally to me. I have to pay extra attention and take careful notes. It's funny how this 101 class takes more effort than my 400-level Spanish lit. But that's how it goes for me.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Apologetic Professors
I have a professor this semester who is really nice and a great teacher, but he constantly apologizes for the work we have to do for his class. What is that about? The whole point of college is reading, writing, and going to class. That's what full-time students do.
That soft attitude that apologizes for giving work is exactly why students get away with not doing any work. You don't have to do the reading if you know the professor won't call on you unless you raise your hand. You don't have to worry about answering questions incorrectly if you know the professor will sugar-coat his correction and move on. ("Well, that's one way of thinking about it but does anyone have a different idea?") You can BS and the professor won't call you on it.
I've had moments when I considered a teaching career. Students would hate me for calling on them randomly and making sure they do their work, but I think I'd be a good teacher. My Spanish teachers in high school were like that: they expected us to do a lot of work, they called on us on the spot, and they weren't always nice about correcting us. I hated it sometimes but I also learned a lot.
I know in college your work is your own responsibility, but I would be delighted if professors called out students for not doing their work.
"What do you mean you don't know the answer? Did you do the reading?"
"No..."
"Then see to it that you do for the next class." Then the professor randomly calls on someone else. Repeat until he finds someone who knows the correct answer.
Keep doing that to students and they'll learn to do their work so they're not embarrassed in front of the whole class. I know I'm a little old-fashioned in the way I think students and teachers should be, but this easy-going attitude drives me crazy. People wonder why the U.S. is falling behind other countries in education. The reason is we have this education system that doesn't hold students accountable. We're more concerned with pleasing people than making sure students learn.
That soft attitude that apologizes for giving work is exactly why students get away with not doing any work. You don't have to do the reading if you know the professor won't call on you unless you raise your hand. You don't have to worry about answering questions incorrectly if you know the professor will sugar-coat his correction and move on. ("Well, that's one way of thinking about it but does anyone have a different idea?") You can BS and the professor won't call you on it.
I've had moments when I considered a teaching career. Students would hate me for calling on them randomly and making sure they do their work, but I think I'd be a good teacher. My Spanish teachers in high school were like that: they expected us to do a lot of work, they called on us on the spot, and they weren't always nice about correcting us. I hated it sometimes but I also learned a lot.
I know in college your work is your own responsibility, but I would be delighted if professors called out students for not doing their work.
"What do you mean you don't know the answer? Did you do the reading?"
"No..."
"Then see to it that you do for the next class." Then the professor randomly calls on someone else. Repeat until he finds someone who knows the correct answer.
Keep doing that to students and they'll learn to do their work so they're not embarrassed in front of the whole class. I know I'm a little old-fashioned in the way I think students and teachers should be, but this easy-going attitude drives me crazy. People wonder why the U.S. is falling behind other countries in education. The reason is we have this education system that doesn't hold students accountable. We're more concerned with pleasing people than making sure students learn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)