[blueunicorn6]

Is it really the student’s fault?

You paid the plumber to fix a plumbing problem.

The student pays the professor to teach him something.

If the plumber couldn’t fix the plumbing problem, would you pay him?

If the professor can’t teach the student the necessary information, should the student pay him?

My college classes were pathetic. The professors struck a pose and lectured. Pass their test or fail. Need help? “Perhaps you shouldn’t be in college.” Perhaps they shouldn’t be teaching.

Our professors have received a pass for far too long.

Their job is to teach, not pose.

[Billthedrill]

Hear, hear! I know my share of poseurs in professorial gowns, but it isn't really their business to teach students how to learn. It's too late by then.

Well, mostly. As you've pointed out, in the right curriculum you can get by without really having to study; ironically that tends to be the "Studies" curricula. Don't try it in Engineering, and that is precisely what our author here is talking about. Sure, we need more engineers and scientists, but we can't start building them in their Freshman year at the U.

And yeah, you're correct about the difference in teaching, which is what my young bud Dusty was talking about. Those professors who practice the no-nonsense approach (and I know a lot of them, too) get terrible online reviews as inflexible hard-asses. They also get excellent students and excellent results.

[Do the math]

I will be teaching Calculus II, this summer. My job is to present the material in a clear, concise, and logical manner. Most of my students will fail this course, typically only 40% will pass with a c or better. In order to pass Calculus II, a student must learn how to recognize what procedure is required to solve a particular problem. Recognition must be self taught, thru trial and error. Students want cook book lessons, and that is not possible in Calculus II. I give my students old exams to study, extra practice problems, and have regular study secessions, often to no avail.

At the end of course, their grades are based on what they have done on their exams. It is up to the student if they pass or fail.

To solve the education problem we need to get rid of teachers with degrees in education. Make every teacher have a real academic degree.