Re: A lecturer's lament
From: Alan Gauld (alan.gauld_at_btinternet.com)
Date: 04/06/04
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Date: Tue, 06 Apr 2004 09:42:19 +0100
On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 08:54:11 +0100, herwin@theworld.com (Harry
Erwin) wrote:
> > It is the numbers that are your problem. Class of 125 is too big
> > to teach any advanced topic. You need about 20, and could possibly cope
> > with 30.
Nothing new here though. When I did my degree (1984) all our
classes were over 100 students (Electronic Engineering) with the
exception of the business studies/economics and law classes which
were only around 30-50. Physics was worst with over 400 in the
class.
But that didn't stop me from going off and doing background
reading on interesting topics. (Its how I first came to OOP and
Smalltalk, from a throw-away remark by the comp sci lecturer)
> Also my experience. In addition, in computing, hiring competent
> lecturers is difficult because of the salary issue. The only reason I'm
> teaching is that this is a second career and money isn't a major issue.
I think the money is a huge issue. I do a couple of guest
lecturer shots at two local universities (industrial practice
type stuff) and one asked me to consider a software enginering
lecturer post coming up. When I saw the salary on offer I nearly
laughed outright. Even coming in as faculty dean would have left
me short of my then salary!
> They're used to make up for the underfunding by the government. I have a
> son doing an MSc at Cardiff, and we're paying full fees for him. The
> plus is that there was no way for them to reject his application.
Talking to my university friends I am appalled at the current UK
position. With student loans(*) terrifying would-be students into
taking easy option courses, and faculties having to keep courses
easy to attract students. So how do we ever teach the hard stuff?
And this fear of failure culture now prevalent among students I'm
not surprised they don't do extra curricular work, for one thing
they probably aren't really interested in the course just the
"ticket" that the degree represents.
(*) For non UK readers for whom student loans are the norm,
the concept is relatively new in the UK and a big culture shift
from free education as a right.
> > - more academically unsuitable bodies are shovelled into your
> > courses ..
I was also surprised at how low the entry qualifications for some
courses were. When I studied EE you needed 4 A-Levels minimum,
all at A or B. Now you can get in with 3 at C pass level...
> > 5) Student funding, now based on racking up their debts. Most
> > student I knew worked 10-20 hour part-time per week. Some worked
> > even more, such as night shifts all week.
>
> Self-study is not done.
Exactly my point above. And if the course has been selected for
ease of passing rather than genuine interest or vocation then the
motivation will be further deminished.
And that shows up in my area of industry when we recruit new
grads. They are just not interested in learning stuff for
themselves, they must be sent "on a course". Even if no courses
exist yet coz it's something new. Instead of being excited by
working on the bleeding edge they want a nursemaid to hold their
hands...
Alan G.
(An industrialist frustrated at the decline in graduate standards
and motivation over the last 10 years)
Author of the Learn to Program website
http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld
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