Lectures and different ways of learning

Referring to this YouTube video on lecture.

Here is a conversation that I have with Javed on FB

Javed Alam

John that is old way of doing it. Good for Math grads.

Every body else does like this:

def(matrix(A))
det(A)

done.

That is how student in Engineering wants to do it. They are not interested in knowing about the intricacies of determinants and matrices.

Here is a whole different way of introducing math to Engineers including data viz. at the end

http://bit.ly/dzwRIf

Javed Alam

Lots of money have been spent on OER. They generate lots of page views for the institution who are supporting it but their acceptance in mainstream has been very low.

I talk to my colleagues in Engineering education about OER and they go what???

John Mak

“They generate lots of page views for the institution who are supporting it but their acceptance in mainstream has been very low.” Why? Did students need more guidance with the online approach? Yes and no? Depending on the students’ needs, skills & experience. Or did students manage to DIY? Some could. I did study part of BSc Maths with distance long time ago, and it was done without any notes, professors, lectures, but DIY. At the end, take the exam, and if you pass, congratulations. So, I did pass luckily 🙂
I learnt some part of Pure & Applied Math from my Eng Degree (though the syllabus was totally different), so it depends on the Subject one is studying. For Maths, yes I think some students (brighter to brightest ones) could DIY. Though, if one wants to study more advanced and abstract/applied Math (like Eng Math), or Operational Research, more guidance is necessary to achieve high grades.

Many bright & talented students DIY (with studying through text, PLE, and some other artefacts), without attending ALL lectures, etc in the past, but for most students who are average in “performance”, then exposition by professors and tutors is important for their understanding.

For subjects like Math, I think some face to face/online lectures & tutorials are still important for them to share, practise, discuss problems & solutions with others.

So, even with most of the top Universities – MIT, Standford, Yale, how do they do it? Lectures? Tutorials? Yes, that was how they used to do, and how the Professors were educated (OR DIY as most were talented) and would like to do it! At the end, students still need to do the examinations, where assessments were based on “what they were taught or learnt” through the lectures, assigned problems. Is that reality? So is the old approach still “new” & “current”? OER could be good for learning, & great for motivated & talented students. For average students, I couldn’t speak on their behalf. Let them have their say on their needs.

Thanks again Javed for your insights. Would more people be interested in sharing their thoughts & questions on this?

May be some or many professors in HE would still like to do the lectures and think that it is the most appropriate way to “transfer” knowledge”. It is a matter of choice for both professors and students. But doing it other than lectures would require much more work.

If students could DIY, what is the role of the professors?  Professors as assessors?

John

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