Lectures = the biggest waste of time ever

[Tyc00nman]

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do you guys actually go to the lectures and listen? i swear 80% of the professors i listen to are idiots. especially at community colleges. you have to be there for lab. Fine, i get that. But for lecture where the professor(and i use that term losely) can barely put a coherent sentence together? F it all.

I learn way better reading the book and doing hw problems. who else agrees? f'ng summer courses.

/rant

 

[EpiPEN]

do you guys actually go to the lectures and listen? i swear 80% of the professors i listen to are idiots. especially at community colleges. you have to be there for lab. Fine, i get that. But for lecture where the professor(and i use that term losely) can barely put a coherent sentence together? F it all.

I learn way better reading the book and doing hw problems. who else agrees? f'ng summer courses.

/rant

eh, we all learn differently. I'm not a fan of lecture, but still, got to have some prespect for them, afterall, those professors have also walked the walk.

 

[aster]

Perhaps you've just been unfortunate and had a scientist teaching your class? There are so many professors at universities that are there mainly for their research contributions and have to keep up with research to keep their current position and tenure track, and just teach since it comes with the job.

But...once you get a professor that really is there to teach and is very passionate about teaching, that's when you'll appreciate good professors and will understand that lectures are not just a waste of time. Heck, my favorite and most effective/efficient teachers have been adjunct professors, so you know there are most likely not there for the research, but to teach as their job.

to each their own

 

[rowerlauren]

I would completely disagree with the OP, but agree that it all depends upon the prof.

Some profs are exceptionally adept at presenting material that is difficult but accessible to students while other profs dumb it down or go flying through impossible things.
I attend all my lectures and do so because by going to lectures I learn what the prof believes is important. Also, I have nothing better to do with that hour. I sure wouldn't spend that hour studying instead.

 

[Pedsbro]

Perhaps you've just been unfortunate and had a scientist teaching your class? There are so many professors at universities that are there mainly for their research contributions and have to keep up with research to keep their current position and tenure track, and just teach since it comes with the job.

But...once you get a professor that really is there to teach and is very passionate about teaching, that's when you'll appreciate good professors and will understand that lectures are not just a waste of time. Heck, my favorite and most effective/efficient teachers have been adjunct professors, so you know there are most likely not there for the research, but to teach as their job.

to each their own

👍 Agreed

 

[kedrin]

i dont usually go to lectures unless the professor is an excellent lecturer or if the material is interesting enough to keep me there.

 

[Tyc00nman]

I would completely disagree with the OP, but agree that it all depends upon the prof.

Some profs are exceptionally adept at presenting material that is difficult but accessible to students while other profs dumb it down or go flying through impossible things.
I attend all my lectures and do so because by going to lectures I learn what the prof believes is important. Also, I have nothing better to do with that hour. I sure wouldn't spend that hour studying instead.

lol. you're kidding right?

same concepts professor goes over in 5 hours I can read and teach myself in about 1, maybe 2 hours, depending on the subject matter.

i've only had like 2 or 3 professors that actually knew what they were doing. community college teachers are simply the worst. it makes sense. if they were smart they would be teaching somewhere good.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I havent had too many really bad lecturers, but it doesnt matter all of my classes have a mandatory attendance policy..85% of classes must be attended or you fail.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

lol. you're kidding right?

same concepts professor goes over in 5 hours I can read and teach myself in about 1, maybe 2 hours, depending on the subject matter.

i've only had like 2 or 3 professors that actually knew what they were doing. community college teachers are simply the worst. it makes sense. if they were smart they would be teaching somewhere good.

OK! with that reasoning, if you were smart you would be attending somewhere good.

 

[Green Grass]

I would completely disagree with the OP, but agree that it all depends upon the prof.

Some profs are exceptionally adept at presenting material that is difficult but accessible to students while other profs dumb it down or go flying through impossible things.
I attend all my lectures and do so because by going to lectures I learn what the prof believes is important. Also, I have nothing better to do with that hour. I sure wouldn't spend that hour studying instead.

I agree with this post 100%. I view lectures as an hour spent studying old material or being introduced to new material. I also noticed that as I moved through my college years and actually started to listen during lectures, I learned a lot of material during that hour.

 

[EpiPEN]

OK! with that reasoning, if you were smart you would be attending somewhere good.

*reads the post again making sure that it was a burn*

...


Oh no he DIDN'T

 

[majik1213]

i feel ya on that .. that's why i make a distinction between a great professor and a great teacher .. a lot of professors at my school are experts at professing, but they suck at teaching ..

 

[Tyc00nman]

OK! with that reasoning, if you were smart you would be attending somewhere good.

ya, its not a bad school.

im not smart, or any smarter than you. my learning methodology is different. i just read the chapter and do the problems. what is so impressive about that?

maybe ive just had the bad luck of sh*tty prof.

im taking physics at a local JC this summer, and the lady teaching that class is from overseas. needless to say, she cant put one complete sentence or thought together.

i tried to get in to the same course at the university i attend and they were full. so im kinda f'd. only problem is at JCs you HAVE to go to class like you are in HS or something.

 

[Revilla]

ya, its not a bad school.

im not smart, or any smarter than you. my learning methodology is different. i just read the chapter and do the problems. what is so impressive about that?

maybe ive just had the bad luck of sh*tty prof.

im taking physics at a local JC this summer, and the lady teaching that class is from overseas. needless to say, she cant put one complete sentence or thought together.

i tried to get in to the same course at the university i attend and they were full. so im kinda f'd. only problem is at JCs you HAVE to go to class like you are in HS or something.

Maybe you shouldn't generalize based on one bad experience. There are good lecturers and bad lecturers. In my experience, where they teach has very little to do with being good or bad.

 

[RySerr21]

Perhaps you've just been unfortunate and had a scientist teaching your class? There are so many professors at universities that are there mainly for their research contributions and have to keep up with research to keep their current position and tenure track, and just teach since it comes with the job.

But...once you get a professor that really is there to teach and is very passionate about teaching, that's when you'll appreciate good professors and will understand that lectures are not just a waste of time. Heck, my favorite and most effective/efficient teachers have been adjunct professors, so you know there are most likely not there for the research, but to teach as their job.

to each their own

👍 +1 👍

you just described the professors at my school (99% of them). the only professor i had that wasn't like that was my physics professor. he was so wrapped up in his research he didn't care about anythng else. he shoulda been at a large research-oriented university, not at a small private liberal arts college. it sucsk he has tenure, but ive heard that many people over the years have been working hard to get him out, and it might come full circle this year!! woo whoo!!

i hardly ever miss lecture at my school...in fact, i didnt miss any last year, and i had 830am class every day.

 

[Tyc00nman]

Maybe you shouldn't generalize based on one bad experience. There are good lecturers and bad lecturers. In my experience, where they teach has very little to do with being good or bad.

you're joking right? hohum JC vs. a top 30 undergrad? you can honestly say the level of educating is the same at the two?

hey, i thought so too. hence my current situation. 400$ for a summer course vs. 1800$ seemed like a bargain to me. you get what you pay for though.

 

[Revilla]

you're joking right? hohum JC vs. a top 30 undergrad? you can honestly say the level of educating is the same at the two?

hey, i thought so too. hence my current situation. 400$ for a summer course vs. 1800$ seemed like a bargain to me. you get what you pay for though.

In some cases, yes. When I first went to college, I went to a junior college and had some professors who were leaps and bounds better than the professors at my top 50 university. Again, don't generalize based on your experience.

 

[Tyc00nman]

In some cases, yes. When I first went to college, I went to a junior college and had some professors who were leaps and bounds better than the professors at my top 50 university. Again, don't generalize based on your experience.

so should i generalize based on YOUR experience? wtf? lol.

and don't tell me not to generalize. thats ridiculous. its your opinion versus mine.

 

[Revilla]

so should i generalize based on YOUR experience? wtf? lol.

and don't tell me not to generalize. thats ridiculous. its your opinion versus mine.

Wow. Okay...

 

[Murphy Brown]

I think Revilla's point is that when you stereotype, as you did about JC professors, you look like a fool.

 

[Tyc00nman]

Wow. Okay...

thats what she said.

anyhow, my original premise still stands. which, i guess is: you are capable of teaching yourself more efficiently than having someone else teach you. thus, lectures suck. peace.😎

 

[Tyc00nman]

I think Revilla's point is that when you stereotype, as you did about JC professors, you look like a fool.

stereotyping makes you look like a fool? LOL! please, more sociology 101.

everything you think you know about social norms is underlined by some form of stereotyping.

for what its worth, i don't think you know what your are talking about much less what revilla is talking about.

stereotyping? get the f outa here dude. LOL

 

[Bacchus]

I would have to disagree. I like the "spoonfed" process of lecturers going over material. Lets talk about my microbiology class for example. If you didn't attend lecture you would fail because you simply can't read the text. 3/4 of the textbook was not used and that which was was only partially on the test. The lecturer injected his own material for the majority of the lectures and exams so I had to be there and boy did I learn a lot. The same goes for my advanced calc courses. If I wouldn't have attended lecture then I would have failed. It depends on the person and the gross generalization that lectures are pointless is a foolhardy thought.

 

[Bacchus]

Now, lets get back to the discussion at hand. Do you attend lecture and do you find them worthwhile?

 

[MedStudentWanna]

stereotyping makes you look like a fool? LOL! please, more sociology 101.

everything you think you know about social norms is underlined by some form of stereotyping.

for what its worth, i don't think you know what your are talking about much less what revilla is talking about.

stereotyping? get the f outa here dude. LOL

I won't speak for Murpy Brown, but I know you sound like a snot-nosed smartass kid who has a lot of growing up to do. That's what I know.

 

[Tyc00nman]

Now, lets get back to the discussion at hand. Do you attend lecture and do you find them worthwhile?

Point taken and thanks for that post. I think the ONLY time going to lecture is beneficial is the situation you described. The prof. uses mostly his materials to teach. You can't side step that. But that is still an aside thought. If I had the professors teaching materials I would still prefer to go over it and learn it on my own.

Curriculum is curriculum. Regardless if prof. X teaches it or prof. Y. All im saying is lecture has NOT been beneficial for me. In fact, its usually counter-productive.

 

[Tyc00nman]

I won't speak for Murpy Brown, but I know you sound like a snot-nosed smartass kid who has a lot of growing up to do. That's what I know.

cool dude thanks.👍

oh wait. Stop "stereotyping" me as a snot-nosed smartass kid!

womp womp

 

[RySerr21]

cool dude thanks.👍

oh wait. Stop "stereotyping" me as a snot-nosed smartass kid!

womp womp

he didn't stereotype you. stereotyping you would be if he took a look at your avatar and said "wow look at this snot-nosed kid posting his senior pictur from high school. he's probably a smart ass like every other douche kid in a tie."

that wasnt the case. he based his opinion on your actions/words in this forum, he didn't stereotype you.

 

[cornpops21]

One of the things I've learned in college is that if you want to actually understand and enjoy lecture, do the reading before coming to class. It makes absorbing the lecture so much easier and understandable. That could possibly be a reason why you're not that fond of hearing someone talk for an hour. I can tell you from personal experience that if you do the reading beforehand and THEN attend class, it's like the professor is telling you a story you already know.

I'm not attacking anyone when I say this, but most of the time it's more the student's hard-headedness and unwillingness to actually listen to a professor, than it is the professor's lack of teaching ability.

 

[Tyc00nman]

One of the things I've learned in college is that if you want to actually understand and enjoy lecture, do the reading before coming to class. It makes absorbing the lecture so much easier and understandable. That could possibly be a reason why you're not that fond of hearing someone talk for an hour. I can tell you from personal experience that if you do the reading beforehand and THEN attend class, it's like the professor is telling you a story you already know.

I'm not attacking anyone when I say this, but most of the time it's more the student's hard-headedness and unwillingness to actually listen to a professor, than it is the professor's lack of teaching ability.

eh, point taken, and I agree with you to a certain extant. But, if i want a story ill go to borders. premise still stands.

 

[cornpops21]

anyhow, my original premise still stands. which, i guess is: you are capable of teaching yourself more efficiently than having someone else teach you. thus, lectures suck. peace.😎

This is not always the case. Book material can often be confusing and professors don't always go completely by the book. In your O-chem class (assuming you've taken it), what if you didn't understand the mechanism of how Grignard reagents yield alcohols, or what if there is a difficult synthesis problem that you just can't map out? Who are you gonna go to at that point? Most likely the professor who teaches the class.

Your premise holds true up to a certain point, and I strictly believe that point is at the CC level. If the professor teaches completely by the book, there is little point in attending class. But if he/she gives information that is not in the textbook and can only be gained through attending class, then not going to lecture may actually hurt your grade in the end. Don't underestimate their value.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

he didn't stereotype you. stereotyping you would be if he took a look at your avatar and said "wow look at this snot-nosed kid posting his senior pictur from high school. he's probably a smart ass like every other douche kid in a tie."

that wasnt the case. he based his opinion on your actions/words in this forum, he didn't stereotype you.

Thank you. I'm glad there are at least a few adults still posting on this thread.

 

[Tyc00nman]

This is not always the case. Book material can often be confusing and professors don't always go completely by the book. In your O-chem class (assuming you've taken it), what if you didn't understand the mechanism of how Grignard reagents yield alcohols, or what if there is a difficult synthesis problem that you just can't map out? Who are you gonna go to at that point? Most likely the professor who teaches the class.

Your premise holds true up to a certain point, and I strictly believe that point is at the CC level. If the professor teaches completely by the book, there is little point in attending class. But if he/she gives information that is not in the textbook and can only be gained through attending class, then not going to lecture may actually hurt your grade in the end. Don't underestimate their value.

hey cornpops, thanks for posting dude. as stated earlier, I agree that attending lecture for professors that supply their own material is essential. However, I would still prefer self-study if the lecture notes are thoroughly provided.

Actually, I agree with your whole post completely. Perhaps I will have to seek the help of a prof. when the material becomes more dense. That has yet to be the case.

 

[Quix]

Professors at all levels can be good or bad, for a number of reasons (some already mentioned). There are brilliant researchers who suck at conveying material to students, or who are better teaching more advanced students (e.g., Jeane Kirkpatrick was on the faculty at Georgetown University, but only taught graduate students). There are great teachers who do not want to get sucked into the publish or perish mentality of universities and who opt for JC's instead. Additionally, there are excellent teachers who get screwed by universities; the emerging trend in collegiate education is to hire adjunct faculty members for most slots (since they are dramatically cheaper (paid by the course with no benefits)), meaning that we are seeing increasing numbers of JC positions taken up by recent PhD's who are stuck in the position of having to cobble together multiple adjunct appointments.

The bottom line is that it's really bad to generalize about the quality of the instructors between universities and JC's; sweeping statements quickly become unfounded. Crap does not necessarily bind itself to any particular level of education - it can float to the top, too.