Sep 2006
Is That Relevant?
09/26/06 09:20 PM Filed in: Academia
I'm in a programming
class at Kirkwood. Every day I wake up sometime
between 7:00-7:20 a.m., get ready, and head to
Kirkwood for my 9 o-clock class. Pardon me for saying
this, but the class is filled entirely with nerds.
Now, I'm a big lover of computers--all types. I'm
down with a PC, Mac, Linux, whatever floats your
boat. Hey, if it works or if it stretches your
knowledge of computers, go for it! But why is it when
you enter into the classroom of a programming class,
EVERYONE is checking the system configuration of the
PC in front of them. You come in the first day and
you see 15 "Network Configuration" windows open on
various monitors. Of course, it being the first day,
everyone is twenty minutes early, and having nothing
else to do they pour over the configuration of the
computer, staring at it like there's a secret lying
deep within the numbers and letters. Occasionally
they nod and grunt, then click open a new window.
Excuse me...the network configuration does, in fact,
achieve a purpose. If perhaps the computers network
is not functioning properly, or you need to get the
IP address of the network you're on to set up a new
computer to get on the same network, then I
understand you opening the network configuration
window. If you don't need the information then what's
the point in looking at it? Do you really get
amusement out of a 12 digit number? Apparently these
people are trying to impress the people who happen by
with their vast knowledge of the
inner-system-workings of a computer. I'm not
impressed...I only question you!
In these same classes, these students who know "all too much" about computers ALWAYS seem to think they have the right answer. Chances are they don't. Friend, you're in this class to learn, so take advantage of that! What's with students constantly trying to correct the teacher. Does it every ACTUALLY happen? Apparently you're trying to show your superior knowledge to the teacher by correcting him, but you don't look any smarter when the teacher shuts you down. Worse yet, half of you KEEP arguing with the teacher after you have already been disproved by the teacher. Finally, you "submit" to the teacher by shrugging and saying something like "we must be talking about two different things," or "oh, right, that's not what I thought you were talking about." That's as good as saying, "I have no idea what you're saying, but I don't want to look like a moron, so I'll just duck out of this carefully." For some reason you keep correcting the teacher though. Want my opinion? If you are one of those who try's to correct the teacher, when he comes back with his defense, leave it alone! Look at it this way--it's what the teacher knows, so it's going to be on the test. You'd better submit and learn it his way, even if he is wrong (which is unlikely), because otherwise you're not going to do good on the test. Better yet, don't correct the teacher at all...just accept his lecture as fact. It probably is.
Questions--there's a whole other story. For that, I turn you over to this wonderful flow chart of "How to Properly Ask a Question." It's a wonderful thing. Please, take it to heart.
In these same classes, these students who know "all too much" about computers ALWAYS seem to think they have the right answer. Chances are they don't. Friend, you're in this class to learn, so take advantage of that! What's with students constantly trying to correct the teacher. Does it every ACTUALLY happen? Apparently you're trying to show your superior knowledge to the teacher by correcting him, but you don't look any smarter when the teacher shuts you down. Worse yet, half of you KEEP arguing with the teacher after you have already been disproved by the teacher. Finally, you "submit" to the teacher by shrugging and saying something like "we must be talking about two different things," or "oh, right, that's not what I thought you were talking about." That's as good as saying, "I have no idea what you're saying, but I don't want to look like a moron, so I'll just duck out of this carefully." For some reason you keep correcting the teacher though. Want my opinion? If you are one of those who try's to correct the teacher, when he comes back with his defense, leave it alone! Look at it this way--it's what the teacher knows, so it's going to be on the test. You'd better submit and learn it his way, even if he is wrong (which is unlikely), because otherwise you're not going to do good on the test. Better yet, don't correct the teacher at all...just accept his lecture as fact. It probably is.
Questions--there's a whole other story. For that, I turn you over to this wonderful flow chart of "How to Properly Ask a Question." It's a wonderful thing. Please, take it to heart.
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