tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27946614.post7708117818925952190..comments2024-03-07T14:43:21.888-08:00Comments on Whatever I want to write about: That's Entertainment! Sriram Khéhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06907731254833435446noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27946614.post-35593246452119730142016-07-29T23:00:57.376-07:002016-07-29T23:00:57.376-07:00hmmmm ... last term, out of a registered number of...hmmmm ... last term, out of a registered number of 30, typically 10 to 12 students were absent for meetings ... so, are you telling me that the large absences were because "the quality of teaching" was that awful? Maybe, eh ... <br />I don't agree with the "properly incentivized" either. For one, whether students like it or not, society has deemed that a college diploma is a needed passport for most jobs. There is that incentive. For another, students are paying money--not attending college for free. That is another incentive. In that case, is the claim that these huge economic incentives are not enough? You see my problem with the way you have phrased it?<br /><br />I have blogged enough, and even written op-eds, that the problem is that most students do not really want to be in college, yet society forces them to. It is unfortunate, and a tremendous waste of time and money. At least money we might be able to earn back, but time goes only in one direction.Sriram Khéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06724218458246880137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27946614.post-35119686757484508402016-07-29T12:03:43.057-07:002016-07-29T12:03:43.057-07:00In my experience as a teacher, students WILL come ...In my experience as a teacher, students WILL come to class if the quality of teaching is good and if they are properly incentivized. But it is crucial that they shut off their electronic devices. <br /><br />Personally, my attendance record as a student was quite poor. But the teaching was not so great, either! IP-MDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27946614.post-1206574827076551902016-07-28T18:33:57.711-07:002016-07-28T18:33:57.711-07:00Yes, it is not easy being a teacher. But, guess w...Yes, it is not easy being a teacher. But, guess what? As important as teaching is, and as difficult as it is, individuals clearly indicate in the marketplace that they would rather spend their money on entertainment than on education. What a disgrace!<br /><br />I wonder if I failed in my true intention behind the post, or if that was purposefully skipped over. It is the culture of entertainment that really pisses me off, and how much we people are willing to spend our time and money on entertainment. It is this entertainment culture that has made it worse for the learning environment. So, two things here:<br />1. I have no idea about IP-MD's background ... but, Ramesh and I made sure we gave our education the respect and attention that it needed. Else, we won't be where we are now, right? And that is despite the fact that Ramesh was entertaining himself by being an active cricket and TT (ping pong) player, while I was simply wasting away my time--sometimes by reading Russian literature, which clearly was not entertainment!<br />2. The possible ways in which a young person can be entertained now--as a passive spectator even--is phenomenal. in a context that highly prizes entertainment, and with more and more entertainment options, we can--and should--prepare ourselves for even more of a worsening situation.<br /><br />BTW, in the syllabi that I am drafting, for the first time ever, I have already included language that students need to put their electronic gadgets away during class time. But, I can't prevent students from sleeping in class, or not coming to class ;)Sriram Khéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06724218458246880137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27946614.post-67180962904926207492016-07-28T17:52:42.252-07:002016-07-28T17:52:42.252-07:00Its a familiar sight in every classroom in the wor...Its a familiar sight in every classroom in the world, and profoundly depressing to the teacher. Haven't we all done some form of what you have railed against, in our youth.<br /><br />Its tough being a teacher.Rameshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782192840421019943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27946614.post-40852038716026282762016-07-28T15:23:15.954-07:002016-07-28T15:23:15.954-07:00I feel for you...unless students are actively invo...I feel for you...unless students are actively involved in class, no education can happen. If they are on their cell phones, they are not really "in" the class. This is why it is crucial to ban the use of any electronic devices (laptops, tablets, cell phones) in class. IP-MDnoreply@blogger.com