Any good reason to go to class in this situation?

[WhizoMD]

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So, my professor posts all lectures online in a podcast a few hours after class, his notes are online, and attendance is not graded.
I've been attending every lecture simply out of habit, but I'm starting to wonder if it's really necessary. Would you still go to class in this situation? If yes, Why?
It's a physics course btw.

 

[BlueElmo]

So, my professor posts all lectures online in a podcast a few hours after class, his notes are online, and attendance is not graded.
I've been attending every lecture simply out of habit, but I'm starting to wonder if it's really necessary. Would you still go to class in this situation? If yes, Why?
It's a physics course btw.

Nope, I wouldn't unless I'm really bored.

 

[Beren]

So, my professor posts all lectures online in a podcast a few hours after class, his notes are online, and attendance is not graded.
I've been attending every lecture simply out of habit, but I'm starting to wonder if it's really necessary. Would you still go to class in this situation? If yes, Why?
It's a physics course btw.

Depends on how comfortable you are physics - if you've taken AP Physics and done well. I would still go, just because it helps you keep up with the material. There's nothing worse than having to cram in 5 podcasts the week before the midterm. Go to class, take your notes, and use the podcast if you need to clarify something while preparing for exams, or if you absolutely have to miss class for an appointment.

 

[muhali3]

My physics teacher does the same thing. I skip class sometimes, like if I have a test and I need to cram in some last-minute studying. But I usually go to class because it's easier to pay attention and you can ask questions if you don't get something. If I listen to the podcast, it's easy for me to get distracted by Facebook, the TV, etc.

 

[Beren]

muhali makes good points too.

Besides, you're paying big money to be seeing your prof. LIVE!!! Think of it as having $1000 tickets to some sporting event... if you've spent the money why not go rather than watching on TV.

 

[chman]

Plus, you never know if there is going to be some random in class project.

EDIT: The whole podcast thing is pretty cool. I have been watching a bunch of gen chem lectures from the MIT website to prepare for when I take it. If I had the book it would be like taking the whole class for free.

 

[BlueElmo]

Plus, you never know if there is going to be some random in class project.

EDIT: The whole podcast thing is pretty cool. I have been watching a bunch of gen chem lectures from the MIT website to prepare for when I take it. If I had the book it would be like taking the whole class for free.

Or random pop quiz.

 

[Beren]

Or random pop quiz.

Some of the bio classes at my school were webcasted. When attendance dipped in a large lecture, the professor handed out out 'pop quizzes' and collected them. Some ppl called their friends, who showed up 20m later, out of breath.

 

[CoolWhipp]

Why would they pop quiz a webcasted class? That just sounds f'd up to me.

 

[absolute8]

So, my professor posts all lectures online in a podcast a few hours after class, his notes are online, and attendance is not graded.
I've been attending every lecture simply out of habit, but I'm starting to wonder if it's really necessary. Would you still go to class in this situation? If yes, Why?
It's a physics course btw.

If you chose to stop going to class just make sure that you do actually listen to the lectures once they are posted. It sometimes is easy to say well I have other stuff to do so I will come back to that later and the next thing you know the exam is in two days and you have not done much since the last exam.

 

[apumic]

Why would they pop quiz a webcasted class? That just sounds f'd up to me.

Perhaps because the purpose of podcasting a class usually isn't so people don't have to go to class so much as it's to allow those who went to review the class lecture later if they missed something. Yes, people abuse it, but I would guess it tends to hurt people's grades if they always "attend" by podcast. (That is, my guess is that if a study were performed, the grade in a given class for those who only watch online would be lower than the mean grade for those who attend lecture regularly.)

 

[Pills Of Soap]

i went to every single class my freshman year...

needless to say, i was a fool then.

if you think u can do well without the lecture, then dont invest time into it. get that extra sleep/whatever

 

[CoolWhipp]

Perhaps because the purpose of podcasting a class usually isn't so people don't have to go to class so much as it's to allow those who went to review the class lecture later if they missed something. Yes, people abuse it, but I would guess it tends to hurt people's grades if they always "attend" by podcast. (That is, my guess is that if a study were performed, the grade in a given class for those who only watch online would be lower than the mean grade for those who attend lecture regularly.)

Podcast should be for impacted classes as to allow for increased enrollment into classes at more conducive times for students and the professors alike, without as much regard to room size.

Whatever, though. I'm just a lowly undergrad, what do I know.

 

[LizzyM]

Some med schools operate the same way with course packs of lecture materials and podcasts. Some people never go to class and do fine studying on their own. If it works for you (you are pulling As in the course) then go with the flow.

Of course, you won't be asking this professor for a letter of recommendation as he has nothing on which to base a letter other than the grade book.

 

[2008orbust]

My medschool does this for many classes.

It's actually better for me to stay home and watch them. I can have reference books spread out around me, pause the lecture and clear up any questions I have before going on. I can also watch lectures at double speed (while jogging on my treadmill) which frees up a lot of time.

 

[brooklynblunder]

going to a physics course is useless, imo