General Discussion

mcar

(46,066 posts)

6. I heard an interview several years ago on NPR

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 03:04 PM

Mar 16

with a university professor talking about this generation of students.

On a Friday, she told her students there'd be a quiz on Monday. Something happened over the weekend and she wasn't able to prepare the quiz. No biggie, she assumed.

When she informed the students that the quiz was postponed until Thursday's class, they freaked out. "I spent the weekend memorizing the material. I'll forget it by Thursday!" Apparently the concept of actually learning the material wasn't something they were familiar with. They only knew how to memorize to pass the tests.

I don't blame the students - it's the standardized test heavy K-12 system at fault. Our students don't know how to think.

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This is what I'm dealing with: Assignment I gave to one of my classes..... [View all] Coventina Mar 16 OP

Probably too busy texting to listen to you. Ritabert Mar 16 #1

Exactly. Ray Bruns Mar 17 #61

"Yes. No. Check Your Class Notes." ColoringFool Mar 16 #2

This, right here. relayerbob Mar 16 #20

Tell them: the most important thing you need to learn from this class... Wounded Bear Mar 16 #3

So frustrating. Traildogbob Mar 16 #4

They don't have to buy a report. All they have to do is use a free dumbing-down tool from one of highplainsdem Mar 16 #15

Wow. Traildogbob Mar 16 #22

Teaching is challenging, and an existentially important profession. What the AI companies have done to it is highplainsdem Mar 16 #29

AI is one of the most frightening developments out there right now. COL Mustard Mar 16 #30

I can relate. Conjuay Mar 17 #64

The AI companies have leaned very hard into promoting AI "democratizing" talent - letting people highplainsdem Mar 17 #65

"As I age, death does not seem as horrifying as it used to be" llmart Mar 17 #73

Write them back, saying... Totally Tunsie Mar 16 #5

Except be president. ananda Mar 16 #10

But only if he has a multimillionaire father who is willing to bankroll all his failures! 🤣 ShazzieB Mar 16 #33

I heard an interview several years ago on NPR mcar Mar 16 #6

and "I wasted my whole weekend studying when I could have been having a good time!" erronis Mar 16 #8

Yep mcar Mar 16 #19

I actually recall that when I tutored back in the 70s GenThePerservering Mar 16 #13

And "teaching to the test" where tests have become easier to grade - multiple choices, etc. erronis Mar 16 #21

The Republican's Dumbing Down America is working...... popsdenver Mar 17 #69

I went to a Jesuit uni in the late 70s mcar Mar 16 #34

I was always glad when a test or quiz was postponed. LisaM Mar 16 #24

"I will teach you to think." BarbD Mar 16 #41

In 1963 I was told "Think before you speak, then don't speak" dickthegrouch Mar 17 #75

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but it's the students' fault MadameButterfly Mar 16 #48

Sometimes it isn't about learning vs memorizing... it's about recall OhioBlue Mar 16 #53

Well, sorry you didn't get to raise your grade MadameButterfly Mar 17 #60

I had a house mate in 1990 IbogaProject Mar 17 #74

Having spent the last 3 days studying for an art history exam, Ms. Toad Mar 17 #87

"...do I have to go out of my way to find the research?" CBHagman Mar 16 #7

and his definition of "go out of my way to find the research" is probably ask chatGPT. (n/t) thesquanderer Mar 16 #17

Since many students gravitate to AI's as their first source of information ... SomewhereInTheMiddle Mar 17 #59

Tell the student they can get five points of credit on the assignment... littlemissmartypants Mar 16 #9

But don't hold your breath while waiting SheltieLover Mar 16 #27

Exactly. I taught at a state college in NC. littlemissmartypants Mar 17 #56

When I was in Catechism class and I failed to pay attention I got a ruler across the hand. Jacson6 Mar 16 #11

Brace yourself. There's more of them coming up through GPV Mar 16 #12

How sad. LoisB Mar 16 #14

I quit teaching after 15 years because of stuff like this perdita9 Mar 16 #16

That must be BEYOND frustrating OddMom20 Mar 16 #18

I've never been a teacher.. bless every one of you mountain grammy Mar 16 #23

Also retired prof here... flor-de-jasmim Mar 16 #25

Answer email with message to refer to their class notes. SheltieLover Mar 16 #26

Classes need Helper Captains in the class to prod the sheep along bucolic_frolic Mar 16 #28

You didn't mention whether the student was male or female. I would guess it was a male. flashman13 Mar 16 #31

Yes, a male. nt Coventina Mar 16 #37

"...don't be an ignorant creep..." is a good place to start. 3catwoman3 Mar 16 #43

Agree completely Grim Chieftain Mar 16 #32

You didn't say if the student could read. Sneederbunk Mar 16 #35

Let me provide some balance here Sympthsical Mar 16 #36

I am not that kind of professor AT ALL. Coventina Mar 16 #39

I understand that Sympthsical Mar 16 #46

It's not every student, but a lot of them. Coventina Mar 16 #50

Oh, it'd be a whole conversation Sympthsical Mar 17 #68

Critical thinking isn't the focus of a K-12 education anymore, if it ever really was. Jedi Guy Mar 17 #76

I love your asignment! Mossfern Mar 16 #49

Thanks! You're so kind! Yes, I'm an art history professor. Coventina Mar 16 #51

Hmmm, let's see BlueSpot Mar 16 #55

You did really well for someone without prior knowledge! Coventina Mar 17 #67

Interesting BlueSpot Mar 17 #86

A little Trump in the making? peppertree Mar 16 #38

According to his sister BaronChocula Mar 17 #77

Smacks of effort, man. cab67 Mar 16 #40

The student's nose is probably superglued to their phone, so they missed class despite being there. Vinca Mar 16 #42

I want to sign up for your class. Permanut Mar 16 #44

Geez Figarosmom Mar 16 #45

Lets hear it Cherokee100 Mar 16 #47

gawd I'm glad I'm out mike_c Mar 16 #52

Jeezus. Joinfortmill Mar 16 #54

Is this class an elective or a requirement for a degree? fujiyamasan Mar 17 #57

IOW, ChatGPT couldn't figure it out for them. n/t flvegan Mar 17 #58

Graphic Organizers Scalded Nun Mar 17 #62

"Ask a classmate who was paying attention when I gave instructions." Reader Rabbit Mar 17 #63

Wow D_Master81 Mar 17 #66

I've seen lots of articles and social media posts about many college kids being shocked if they're highplainsdem Mar 17 #72

Are you an Art History prof? Happy Hoosier Mar 17 #70

Yes I am. Coventina Mar 17 #80

Awesome, she just returned from Italy on an Art History field trip over Spring Break. NT Happy Hoosier Mar 17 #82

I did a study abroad trip with my students to Florence for a month back in 2023. Coventina Mar 17 #84

They didn't have anynproblems... Happy Hoosier Mar 17 #85

Maybe the only thing this student (and others?) may learn from you is the meaning of CONSEQUENCES! ihaveaquestion Mar 17 #71

You're in school. Mblaze Mar 17 #78

"Do you want a good result?" OldBaldy1701E Mar 17 #79

I'm having a hard time understanding the replies here given OP's presentation of the assignment. Ilikepurple Mar 17 #81

"go out of my way" lol...there is a non so subtle messag in that phrase BlueWaveNeverEnd Mar 17 #83