22/09/2012

LXXXVII.

"There is also a difference in the basic assumption that underlies university teaching. A high school teacher is primarily that: a teacher, who (in theory) has spent several years learning the craft of teaching. At university, the professor is primarily an expert in the given subject domain, and though many put a great deal of effort into their teaching, and take courses in pedagogy, that still remains secondary. The system is built on the assumption that when it comes to advanced learning, it is better to learn directly from the domain experts – the people who create the knowledge that the courses try to impart. It's a good system that's been used successfully for over a thousand years, but it does take some getting used to."

© Keith Devlin 
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