Posted on 07/24/2019 3:20:20 PM PDT by TigerClaws
A reader who is also a college professor in a STEM field e-mails to say:
My students are unable to analyze, follow and understand written text. To be more specific, they are unable to decipher compound sentences, understand relationship between subordinate and main clauses. They can’t grasp the logical relationship between sentences, let alone paragraphs, which are totally opaque to them.
When I started to teach (only 2 years ago), I prepared material written in normal, rational, technical prose — for adults, or as I understood they would be. Immediately, it became apparent that there was zero comprehension. Well, thought I, let’s make it a bit simpler. So I reduced the paragraphs to bullet point lists.
Still nothing? Hmm.
I started to write step by step, basically cut-and-paste instructions, highlighted the important points, wrote in notes and cross references (like NOTE: you did this in step #2 please refer to #2). Abject failure.
So, especially in the exams, I started to write in answers in the follow up questions, like so: “If you correctly answered #1 as ABC what is the cause of …?”. Basically I give them the answers in followup questions, plus cut and paste documents. My exams are open book, open notes, Internet access.
95% of them fail.
This is what I attribute this phenomenon to: I don’t think that they are able to concentrate for more that a few seconds. Hence compound sentences become an enigma. Their brains are ’trained’ to hold information for the minimum time possible and to move on the next soundbite or tweet. They are unable to hold a thought in their minds long enough to abstract it, analyze it, and form required relationships. As a result they lack the fundamental building blocks for inductive and deductive reasoning. They want to be spoon-fed without ever having to resort to a single abstract thought. They have been ‘educated’ by quick turnaround, expensive and largely incorrect multiple choice question textbooks.
Imagine how this would (and soon will) affect the medical profession. “When you treat appendicitis you will remove a) spleen, b) heart, c) appendix, d) none of the above. “Well, done!” Here is your first patient … (or, in Dr. Zoidberg’s context: Scalpel!, Blood bucket! Priest!).
Their problem is that they are unable to formulate questions. It’s difficult to come up with answers if you don’t know what to ask. So I tell them that my ambition is to teach them how to ask questions. They love my classes but I am told repeatedly: “This was the best class we have had but by far the most difficult.”
Good grief. We have totally destroyed this generation.
I looked up “curmudgeon” in the dictionary . . . .
LOL. Luv ya, hg.
Ha! IDIOCRACY, right? Classic film and surprisingly accurate.
Her typical instruction: "Do ..."
There is then a pause, and then I ask "Do what? I don't know what you want me to do."
And she says (vaguely waving her hand): "Do ... that."
Not helpful.
I guess analyzing an abstract concept like Quality is out. You don’t want to go down that rabbit hole.
But they know all there is to know about the “science” of climate change and tell me to learn science, even though they couldn’t solve an algebraic statement much less integrate a function and think fluid mechanics is a fancy name for a plumber
There is an old term that could be reused for this - twitterpated
Re self esteem:
https://www.thecollegefix.com/confident-idiots-american-students-growing-more-confident-performing-worse/ >>
TigerClaws, this is another example of the semi-famous Dunning-Kruger Effect.
That’s it! A couple of years ago I thought Idiocracy would become a reality in about 50 years or so. I now think we’re nearly 75% there and it’s coming faster and faster.
Not funny ... but funny.
I sometimes read local posts by young people on Facebook and can’t believe the amount of of poor spelling. Not just shorthand text type spelling but also sentence structure. Much of it makes very little sense to me but others in their age group seem to understand it. Crazy!
Well, the libs have always had trouble understanding this sentence:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Show me on this doll where TigerClaws touched you.
/s
This is a function of admitting thousands of “students” who shouldn’t be there in the first place.
For probably 90%, college is nothing more than day care with sex and alcohol.
Top KEK.
Yeah; it’s social media. Not the Internet.
$150k? There may be hope for me yet. Thank you!
"No standards, only slogans."
+1
WTH U TAKN BOUT HOMEY?
I could learn to speak for 150k and carry on conversations.
All of the years in IT have made me a bit anti social however.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.