General Discussion

fujiyamasan

(1,626 posts)

57. Is this class an elective or a requirement for a degree?

Tue Mar 17, 2026, 02:02 AM

12 hrs ago

Sometimes, if a class is a gen-ed or distribution requirement, you may not have the most motivated students especially if the class is not related to their major.

It won’t matter how much you try. Some just want to check it off their list, and they may use any shortcut available at their disposal.

Being an engineering major many years ago, I knew many others that couldn’t stand the humanities and various other classes (I was the opposite). They often treated them as blow off classes.

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Skittles

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This is what I'm dealing with: Assignment I gave to one of my classes..... [View all] Coventina 23 hrs ago OP

Probably too busy texting to listen to you. Ritabert 23 hrs ago #1

Exactly. Ray Bruns 4 hrs ago #61

"Yes. No. Check Your Class Notes." ColoringFool 23 hrs ago #2

This, right here. relayerbob 22 hrs ago #20

Tell them: the most important thing you need to learn from this class... Wounded Bear 23 hrs ago #3

So frustrating. Traildogbob 23 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 22 hrs ago #15

Wow. Traildogbob 22 hrs ago #22

Teaching is challenging, and an existentially important profession. What the AI companies have done to it is highplainsdem 21 hrs ago #29

AI is one of the most frightening developments out there right now. COL Mustard 21 hrs ago #30

I can relate. Conjuay 3 hrs ago #64

The AI companies have leaned very hard into promoting AI "democratizing" talent - letting people highplainsdem 3 hrs ago #65

"As I age, death does not seem as horrifying as it used to be" llmart 2 hrs ago #73

Write them back, saying... Totally Tunsie 23 hrs ago #5

Except be president. ananda 22 hrs ago #10

But only if he has a multimillionaire father who is willing to bankroll all his failures! 🤣 ShazzieB 21 hrs ago #33

I heard an interview several years ago on NPR mcar 23 hrs ago #6

and "I wasted my whole weekend studying when I could have been having a good time!" erronis 22 hrs ago #8

Yep mcar 22 hrs ago #19

I actually recall that when I tutored back in the 70s GenThePerservering 22 hrs ago #13

And "teaching to the test" where tests have become easier to grade - multiple choices, etc. erronis 22 hrs ago #21

The Republican's Dumbing Down America is working...... popsdenver 2 hrs ago #69

I went to a Jesuit uni in the late 70s mcar 21 hrs ago #34

I was always glad when a test or quiz was postponed. LisaM 22 hrs ago #24

"I will teach you to think." BarbD 21 hrs ago #41

In 1963 I was told "Think before you speak, then don't speak" dickthegrouch 1 hr ago #75

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but it's the students' fault MadameButterfly 20 hrs ago #48

Sometimes it isn't about learning vs memorizing... it's about recall OhioBlue 18 hrs ago #53

Well, sorry you didn't get to raise your grade MadameButterfly 11 hrs ago #60

I had a house mate in 1990 IbogaProject 1 hr ago #74

"...do I have to go out of my way to find the research?" CBHagman 23 hrs ago #7

and his definition of "go out of my way to find the research" is probably ask chatGPT. (n/t) thesquanderer 22 hrs ago #17

Since many students gravitate to AI's as their first source of information ... SomewhereInTheMiddle 11 hrs ago #59

Tell the student they can get five points of credit on the assignment... littlemissmartypants 22 hrs ago #9

But don't hold your breath while waiting SheltieLover 22 hrs ago #27

Exactly. I taught at a state college in NC. littlemissmartypants 12 hrs ago #56

When I was in Catechism class and I failed to pay attention I got a ruler across the hand. Jacson6 22 hrs ago #11

Brace yourself. There's more of them coming up through GPV 22 hrs ago #12

How sad. LoisB 22 hrs ago #14

I quit teaching after 15 years because of stuff like this perdita9 22 hrs ago #16

That must be BEYOND frustrating OddMom20 22 hrs ago #18

I've never been a teacher.. bless every one of you mountain grammy 22 hrs ago #23

Also retired prof here... flor-de-jasmim 22 hrs ago #25

Answer email with message to refer to their class notes. SheltieLover 22 hrs ago #26

Classes need Helper Captains in the class to prod the sheep along bucolic_frolic 21 hrs ago #28

You didn't mention whether the student was male or female. I would guess it was a male. flashman13 21 hrs ago #31

Yes, a male. nt Coventina 21 hrs ago #37

"...don't be an ignorant creep..." is a good place to start. 3catwoman3 21 hrs ago #43

Agree completely Grim Chieftain 21 hrs ago #32

You didn't say if the student could read. Sneederbunk 21 hrs ago #35

Let me provide some balance here Sympthsical 21 hrs ago #36

I am not that kind of professor AT ALL. Coventina 21 hrs ago #39

I understand that Sympthsical 20 hrs ago #46

It's not every student, but a lot of them. Coventina 20 hrs ago #50

Oh, it'd be a whole conversation Sympthsical 2 hrs ago #68

Critical thinking isn't the focus of a K-12 education anymore, if it ever really was. Jedi Guy 27 min ago #76

I love your asignment! Mossfern 20 hrs ago #49

Thanks! You're so kind! Yes, I'm an art history professor. Coventina 19 hrs ago #51

Hmmm, let's see BlueSpot 15 hrs ago #55

You did really well for someone without prior knowledge! Coventina 2 hrs ago #67

A little Trump in the making? peppertree 21 hrs ago #38

According to his sister BaronChocula 24 min ago #77

Smacks of effort, man. cab67 21 hrs ago #40

The student's nose is probably superglued to their phone, so they missed class despite being there. Vinca 21 hrs ago #42

I want to sign up for your class. Permanut 21 hrs ago #44

Geez Figarosmom 21 hrs ago #45

Lets hear it Cherokee100 20 hrs ago #47

gawd I'm glad I'm out mike_c 19 hrs ago #52

Jeezus. Joinfortmill 17 hrs ago #54

Is this class an elective or a requirement for a degree? fujiyamasan 12 hrs ago #57

IOW, ChatGPT couldn't figure it out for them. n/t flvegan 11 hrs ago #58

Graphic Organizers Scalded Nun 4 hrs ago #62

"Ask a classmate who was paying attention when I gave instructions." Reader Rabbit 4 hrs ago #63

Wow D_Master81 3 hrs ago #66

I've seen lots of articles and social media posts about many college kids being shocked if they're highplainsdem 2 hrs ago #72

Are you an Art History prof? Happy Hoosier 2 hrs ago #70

Maybe the only thing this student (and others?) may learn from you is the meaning of CONSEQUENCES! ihaveaquestion 2 hrs ago #71