General Discussion

Grim Chieftain

(1,644 posts)

32. Agree completely

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 04:47 PM

12 hrs ago

I am a retired professor. I noticed in the last years of my tenure, I had to "dumb down" my lectures each year. Perhaps it's social media, the internet, texting, whatever, but many students today are less engaged and less intellectually curious than they once were.

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This is what I'm dealing with: Assignment I gave to one of my classes..... [View all] Coventina 15 hrs ago OP

Probably too busy texting to listen to you. Ritabert 14 hrs ago #1

"Yes. No. Check Your Class Notes." ColoringFool 14 hrs ago #2

This, right here. relayerbob 13 hrs ago #20

Tell them: the most important thing you need to learn from this class... Wounded Bear 14 hrs ago #3

So frustrating. Traildogbob 14 hrs ago #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 13 hrs ago #15

Wow. Traildogbob 13 hrs ago #22

Teaching is challenging, and an existentially important profession. What the AI companies have done to it is highplainsdem 13 hrs ago #29

AI is one of the most frightening developments out there right now. COL Mustard 13 hrs ago #30

Write them back, saying... Totally Tunsie 14 hrs ago #5

Except be president. ananda 14 hrs ago #10

But only if he has a multimillionaire father who is willing to bankroll all his failures! 🤣 ShazzieB 12 hrs ago #33

I heard an interview several years ago on NPR mcar 14 hrs ago #6

and "I wasted my whole weekend studying when I could have been having a good time!" erronis 14 hrs ago #8

Yep mcar 13 hrs ago #19

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

And "teaching to the test" where tests have become easier to grade - multiple choices, etc. erronis 13 hrs ago #21

I went to a Jesuit uni in the late 70s mcar 12 hrs ago #34

I was always glad when a test or quiz was postponed. LisaM 13 hrs ago #24

"I will teach you to think." BarbD 12 hrs ago #41

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but it's the students' fault MadameButterfly 12 hrs ago #48

Sometimes it isn't about learning vs memorizing... it's about recall OhioBlue 9 hrs ago #53

Well, sorry you didn't get to raise your grade MadameButterfly 2 hrs ago #60

"...do I have to go out of my way to find the research?" CBHagman 14 hrs ago #7

and his definition of "go out of my way to find the research" is probably ask chatGPT. (n/t) thesquanderer 13 hrs ago #17

Since many students gravitate to AI's as their first source of information ... SomewhereInTheMiddle 2 hrs ago #59

Tell the student they can get five points of credit on the assignment... littlemissmartypants 14 hrs ago #9

But don't hold your breath while waiting SheltieLover 13 hrs ago #27

Exactly. I taught at a state college in NC. littlemissmartypants 4 hrs ago #56

When I was in Catechism class and I failed to pay attention I got a ruler across the hand. Jacson6 14 hrs ago #11

Brace yourself. There's more of them coming up through GPV 13 hrs ago #12

How sad. LoisB 13 hrs ago #14

I quit teaching after 15 years because of stuff like this perdita9 13 hrs ago #16

That must be BEYOND frustrating OddMom20 13 hrs ago #18

I've never been a teacher.. bless every one of you mountain grammy 13 hrs ago #23

Also retired prof here... flor-de-jasmim 13 hrs ago #25

Answer email with message to refer to their class notes. SheltieLover 13 hrs ago #26

Classes need Helper Captains in the class to prod the sheep along bucolic_frolic 13 hrs ago #28

You didn't mention whether the student was male or female. I would guess it was a male. flashman13 12 hrs ago #31

Yes, a male. nt Coventina 12 hrs ago #37

"...don't be an ignorant creep..." is a good place to start. 3catwoman3 12 hrs ago #43

Agree completely Grim Chieftain 12 hrs ago #32

You didn't say if the student could read. Sneederbunk 12 hrs ago #35

Let me provide some balance here Sympthsical 12 hrs ago #36

I am not that kind of professor AT ALL. Coventina 12 hrs ago #39

I understand that Sympthsical 12 hrs ago #46

It's not every student, but a lot of them. Coventina 11 hrs ago #50

I love your asignment! Mossfern 11 hrs ago #49

Thanks! You're so kind! Yes, I'm an art history professor. Coventina 10 hrs ago #51

Hmmm, let's see BlueSpot 6 hrs ago #55

A little Trump in the making? peppertree 12 hrs ago #38

Smacks of effort, man. cab67 12 hrs ago #40

The student's nose is probably superglued to their phone, so they missed class despite being there. Vinca 12 hrs ago #42

I want to sign up for your class. Permanut 12 hrs ago #44

Geez Figarosmom 12 hrs ago #45

Lets hear it Cherokee100 12 hrs ago #47

gawd I'm glad I'm out mike_c 10 hrs ago #52

Jeezus. Joinfortmill 8 hrs ago #54

Is this class an elective or a requirement for a degree? fujiyamasan 3 hrs ago #57

IOW, ChatGPT couldn't figure it out for them. n/t flvegan 3 hrs ago #58