Comments on: My conscious is worse than my unconscious http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:03 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Torbjorn Larsson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/comment-page-1/#comment-13237 Torbjorn Larsson Wed, 15 Mar 2006 19:27:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/#comment-13237 "it's the professor and the students engaging with the material together." The best presenter I've had the pleasure to meet was Anders Barany (who later become secretery for the Nobel committe). He teached physics from exactly this viewpoint. It's not only that it gives the students a better feel for the material, by feedback or the professor explaining why he himself thinks what he thinks on the subject. But the fact that the professor seems so engaged in the material, and in a similar manner as the students, rises the enthusiasm all by itself. “it’s the professor and the students engaging with the material together.”

The best presenter I’ve had the pleasure to meet was Anders Barany (who later become secretery for the Nobel committe). He teached physics from exactly this viewpoint. It’s not only that it gives the students a better feel for the material, by feedback or the professor explaining why he himself thinks what he thinks on the subject. But the fact that the professor seems so engaged in the material, and in a similar manner as the students, rises the enthusiasm all by itself.

]]> By: Richard http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/comment-page-1/#comment-13234 Richard Wed, 15 Mar 2006 03:19:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/#comment-13234 One of my best graduate school math classes was taught by someone who wasn't totally organized and generally showed up with little or no notes. The class did not have a canned feel, and we learned by watching him think on his feet in front of the class. He did stumble and sweat through one proof in particular, but that day we learned to relax with the thought that even those who have made it also have days like that. One of my best graduate school math classes was taught by someone who wasn’t totally organized and generally showed up with little or no notes. The class did not have a canned feel, and we learned by watching him think on his feet in front of the class. He did stumble and sweat through one proof in particular, but that day we learned to relax with the thought that even those who have made it also have days like that.

]]> By: Sean http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/comment-page-1/#comment-13236 Sean Tue, 14 Mar 2006 23:36:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/#comment-13236 I think the philosophy is applicable in any teaching environment. The material is never the sole possession of the instructor; it's always bigger than any of the people in the classroom. No professor knows everything about even the most elementary subjects; there's always something new to learn, or a better way to understand what we already know. I think the philosophy is applicable in any teaching environment. The material is never the sole possession of the instructor; it’s always bigger than any of the people in the classroom. No professor knows everything about even the most elementary subjects; there’s always something new to learn, or a better way to understand what we already know.

]]> By: JustAnotherInfidel http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/comment-page-1/#comment-13235 JustAnotherInfidel Tue, 14 Mar 2006 19:56:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/03/14/my-conscious-is-worse-than-my-unconscious/#comment-13235 I agree with your philosophy of "us against the particles" quite alot, and wish some of my graduate professors had taken the same approach. I'm wondering, is there any application of this to undergraduate classes of reasonable size? Or will students feel patronized by it? And I have taught an 8 AM physics lab in house shoes and sweat pants. I agree with your philosophy of “us against the particles” quite alot, and wish some of my graduate professors had taken the same approach. I’m wondering, is there any application of this to undergraduate classes of reasonable size? Or will students feel patronized by it?

And I have taught an 8 AM physics lab in house shoes and sweat pants.

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