General Discussion

mcar

(45,943 posts)

6. I heard an interview several years ago on NPR

Mon Mar 16, 2026, 03:04 PM

Monday

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 Monday OP

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

Exactly. Ray Bruns Yesterday #61

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

This, right here. relayerbob Monday #20

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

So frustrating. Traildogbob Monday #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 Monday #15

Wow. Traildogbob Monday #22

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

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

I can relate. Conjuay Yesterday #64

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

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

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

Except be president. ananda Monday #10

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

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

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

Yep mcar Monday #19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I had a house mate in 1990 IbogaProject Yesterday #74

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How sad. LoisB Monday #14

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

That must be BEYOND frustrating OddMom20 Monday #18

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

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

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

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

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

Yes, a male. nt Coventina Monday #37

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

Agree completely Grim Chieftain Monday #32

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

Let me provide some balance here Sympthsical Monday #36

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

I understand that Sympthsical Monday #46

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

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

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

I love your asignment! Mossfern Monday #49

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

Hmmm, let's see BlueSpot Monday #55

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

Interesting BlueSpot Yesterday #86

A little Trump in the making? peppertree Monday #38

According to his sister BaronChocula Yesterday #77

Smacks of effort, man. cab67 Monday #40

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

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

Geez Figarosmom Monday #45

Lets hear it Cherokee100 Monday #47

gawd I'm glad I'm out mike_c Monday #52

Jeezus. Joinfortmill Monday #54

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

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

Graphic Organizers Scalded Nun Yesterday #62

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

Wow D_Master81 Yesterday #66

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

Are you an Art History prof? Happy Hoosier Yesterday #70

Yes I am. Coventina Yesterday #80

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

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

They didn't have anynproblems... Happy Hoosier Yesterday #85

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

You're in school. Mblaze Yesterday #78

"Do you want a good result?" OldBaldy1701E Yesterday #79

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

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