Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The problem with many academics...

You know what you teach about...but is it blurry for your students?
Students need a link. They need something to cling on. Students need applications. Students need demonstrations. The problem with many academics is this: they are the only ones interested in their subjects. They teach about something that is very specialized and not very relevant to the student experience.

I am not saying that very specialized subjects should not be taught. They should be but in a general context. A very specialized subject usually comes from a specific context. Applications and examples are sometimes difficult to find especially with very specialized content. It is, nonetheless, an important part of teaching. I think that if researchers have the imagination to conceptualize complex ideas...they should have the imagination to find examples that students can understand and rely to.

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