General Discussion

mcar

(45,940 posts)

6. I heard an interview several years ago on NPR

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 03:04 PM

Yesterday

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 Yesterday OP

Probably too busy texting to listen to you. Ritabert Yesterday #1

Exactly. Ray Bruns 8 hrs ago #61

"Yes. No. Check Your Class Notes." ColoringFool Yesterday #2

This, right here. relayerbob Yesterday #20

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

So frustrating. Traildogbob Yesterday #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 Yesterday #15

Wow. Traildogbob Yesterday #22

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

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

I can relate. Conjuay 7 hrs ago #64

The AI companies have leaned very hard into promoting AI "democratizing" talent - letting people highplainsdem 7 hrs ago #65

"As I age, death does not seem as horrifying as it used to be" llmart 6 hrs ago #73

Write them back, saying... Totally Tunsie Yesterday #5

Except be president. ananda Yesterday #10

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

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

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

Yep mcar Yesterday #19

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

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

The Republican's Dumbing Down America is working...... popsdenver 6 hrs ago #69

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

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

"I will teach you to think." BarbD Yesterday #41

In 1963 I was told "Think before you speak, then don't speak" dickthegrouch 5 hrs ago #75

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

Sometimes it isn't about learning vs memorizing... it's about recall OhioBlue 22 hrs ago #53

Well, sorry you didn't get to raise your grade MadameButterfly 15 hrs ago #60

I had a house mate in 1990 IbogaProject 5 hrs ago #74

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

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

Since many students gravitate to AI's as their first source of information ... SomewhereInTheMiddle 15 hrs ago #59

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

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

Exactly. I taught at a state college in NC. littlemissmartypants 16 hrs ago #56

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

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

How sad. LoisB Yesterday #14

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

That must be BEYOND frustrating OddMom20 Yesterday #18

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

Also retired prof here... flor-de-jasmim Yesterday #25

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

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

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

Yes, a male. nt Coventina Yesterday #37

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

Agree completely Grim Chieftain Yesterday #32

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

Let me provide some balance here Sympthsical Yesterday #36

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

I understand that Sympthsical Yesterday #46

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

Oh, it'd be a whole conversation Sympthsical 6 hrs ago #68

Critical thinking isn't the focus of a K-12 education anymore, if it ever really was. Jedi Guy 4 hrs ago #76

I love your asignment! Mossfern Yesterday #49

Thanks! You're so kind! Yes, I'm an art history professor. Coventina 23 hrs ago #51

Hmmm, let's see BlueSpot 19 hrs ago #55

You did really well for someone without prior knowledge! Coventina 6 hrs ago #67

A little Trump in the making? peppertree Yesterday #38

According to his sister BaronChocula 4 hrs ago #77

Smacks of effort, man. cab67 Yesterday #40

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

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

Geez Figarosmom Yesterday #45

Lets hear it Cherokee100 Yesterday #47

gawd I'm glad I'm out mike_c 23 hrs ago #52

Jeezus. Joinfortmill 21 hrs ago #54

Is this class an elective or a requirement for a degree? fujiyamasan 16 hrs ago #57

IOW, ChatGPT couldn't figure it out for them. n/t flvegan 15 hrs ago #58

Graphic Organizers Scalded Nun 8 hrs ago #62

"Ask a classmate who was paying attention when I gave instructions." Reader Rabbit 8 hrs ago #63

Wow D_Master81 7 hrs ago #66

I've seen lots of articles and social media posts about many college kids being shocked if they're highplainsdem 6 hrs ago #72

Are you an Art History prof? Happy Hoosier 6 hrs ago #70

Yes I am. Coventina 2 hrs ago #80

Awesome, she just returned from Italy on an Art History field trip over Spring Break. NT Happy Hoosier 2 hrs ago #82

I did a study abroad trip with my students to Florence for a month back in 2023. Coventina 1 hr ago #84

They didn't have anynproblems... Happy Hoosier 16 min ago #85

Maybe the only thing this student (and others?) may learn from you is the meaning of CONSEQUENCES! ihaveaquestion 6 hrs ago #71

You're in school. Mblaze 3 hrs ago #78

"Do you want a good result?" OldBaldy1701E 3 hrs ago #79

I'm having a hard time understanding the replies here given OP's presentation of the assignment. Ilikepurple 2 hrs ago #81

"go out of my way" lol...there is a non so subtle messag in that phrase BlueWaveNeverEnd 1 hr ago #83