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07 Apr 09
Originally posted by PalynkaI've always made an attempt to understand the ideas I was taught in high school, but increasingly so, in retrospect, it certainly was essentially a regurgitation of ideas copied down in the classroom and memorised.
The problem is that standard home assignments are now almost meaningless at high-school level. The student only needs to rephrase ideas and not necessarily understand them.
I understand it's hard for professors to think of home assignments (at a high school level) that are able to circumvent this, so I guess one possibility is relying even more on exams for evaluation.
University certainly is quite different, my lectures seem to just give a brief outline about what a topic is about, and you are expected to read around the subject and understand it properly for yourself.
Makes me wonder what the tuition fees are actually paying for though.
Wikipedia is a good starting point, and that's all it really should be.
Still, go wikipedia, if you've got no freaking idea, at least its something.
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08 Apr 09
Originally posted by PalynkaThink about it though, if most of what I've learned is from reading a few books, encouragement or necessity from university aside, I could just go to the big library in the city and learn it all there for free.
At the end of the year, look at all you have learned. Then you'll feel that high school was incredible easy. If you only knew back then what you were capable of...
08 Apr 09
Originally posted by Bad wolfThey teach you what to learn and how to learn it. The proof is in the pudding.
Think about it though, if most of what I've learned is from reading a few books, encouragement or necessity from university aside, I could just go to the big library in the city and learn it all there for free.
09 Apr 09
Originally posted by Bad wolfNo guarantee though that you'll understand what you've read. The teacher is there to make sure you understood what the point of the passage/book was about.
Think about it though, if most of what I've learned is from reading a few books, encouragement or necessity from university aside, I could just go to the big library in the city and learn it all there for free.
You might read animal farm by orwell and think it was just about some animals that took over a farm like some kind of cheesy sci-fi book.
09 Apr 09
Originally posted by uzless...it wasn't? 😕
No guarantee though that you'll understand what you've read. The teacher is there to make sure you understood what the point of the passage/book was about.
You might read animal farm by orwell and think it was just about some animals that took over a farm like some kind of cheesy sci-fi book.
09 Apr 09
2 edits
Originally posted by uzlessThis bugs me. I have twin ten year olds in 4th grade. Until this year, school was very easy for them. Now they are finally being challenged as their studies prepare them for middle school (6, 7,8th grade). They both are in Math and English PACE - this is a program for kids who are above the other students in class in terms of curriculum but not elevated to "gifted" or anything. All they do is leave the room and study with kids for that math or english lesson that are on their level. This year, they moved to more complicated math and science. I am glad. When they ask for an answer, I tell them how to go and find it or I ask them to repeat to me what their teacher instructed them to do. I don't believe one can learn without finding the answer themselves. What's the point in telling them the answer?
Wikipedia generation is lazy and unprepared for university's rigours, survey of faculty says
Apr 06, 2009 04:30 AM
Comments on this story (107)
Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
University professors feel their first-year students are less mature, rely too much on Wikipedia and "expect success without the requisite effort," says a province-wide ed to be ... no pain, no gain doesn't seem to be prevalent any more."
I do not allow my kids to surf the net. They have very limited game access once a week. If we use the internet for help in work assignments, I look it up for them and we then work together on the assignment. I want to avoid this kind of wikipedia shortcut learning online because it will only stunt their real gain of knowledge. They are bright children and deserve to be challenged. I have to listen to alot of "my friend's mom let's her do this", but I don't care.
I think there are alot of lazy parents out there and this is what it does to kids.
😠
😛
EDIT: All three of my kids read every day. My twins read 2 books at a time. In my view, reading is the source for learning and growth of the imagination.
09 Apr 09
Originally posted by SunburntSuppose you had an old-style set of encyclopedias in your house. Would you consider referencing that to be a cheap shortcut too?
I want to avoid this kind of wikipedia shortcut learning online because it will only stunt their real gain of knowledge.
I'm not sure how much I agree or disagree with you. Just posing the question.
09 Apr 09
Originally posted by SunburntYou sound like you try to stimulate them to think for themselves, so I guess that if you keep cultivating that, then Wikipedia can only be good for them.
This bugs me. I have twin ten year olds in 4th grade. Until this year, school was very easy for them. Now they are finally being challenged as their studies prepare them for middle school (6, 7,8th grade). They both are in Math and English PACE - this is a program for kids who are above the other students in class in terms of curriculum but not elevated ...[text shortened]... t a time. In my view, reading is the source for learning and growth of the imagination.
It's a great source of information and generally accurate (especially below university level). The only problem is over-reliance on it.
09 Apr 09
Important skills that are being lost seem to be note-taking, cross-referencing of data across sources (very useful in history for example) and essay writing. The ease with which the internet allows access to data means that we can perhaps find the answer to an essay, without having to do the extensive research that used to be necessary to find the answer. The result is 'power-knowledge'. Doesn't that sound exciting!!
09 Apr 09
1 edit
Originally posted by rbmorrisAt least you would have some level of comfort that the information in the encyclopedia was correct (most parents good parents buy a DVD-ROM version of an encyclopedia instead of all those heavy books).
Suppose you had an old-style set of encyclopedias in your house. Would you consider referencing that to be a cheap shortcut too?
With Wikiknowledge you have no idea who wrote the info or how accurate/complete the info is.
09 Apr 09
1 edit
Originally posted by uzlessExactly. It's not like Wikipedia has the same high-level reliability as some random guy on a youtube documentary or a site with some graphs made out of ASCII characters.
At least you would have some level of comfort that the information in the encyclopedia was correct (most parents good parents buy a DVD-ROM version of an encyclopedia instead of all those heavy books).
With Wikiknowledge you have no idea who wrote the info or how accurate/complete the info is.