Is going to lecture a huge waste of time?

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The discussion centers on the diminishing value of traditional lectures in higher education, particularly among medical students who increasingly opt not to attend. Many students find that lecture content is often redundant with textbook material or easily accessible online, leading to sparse attendance. Some argue that lectures can be beneficial for real-time interaction and guidance from professors, while others feel that self-study and online resources are more effective. The conversation highlights the importance of personal learning styles, with some students thriving in interactive environments while others prefer independent study. There is a consensus that lectures can sometimes lack engagement and that the educational system may need to adapt to modern learning preferences, potentially shifting towards more flexible, self-directed learning models. Concerns about the high cost of education and the effectiveness of lectures in justifying that cost are also raised, suggesting a need for universities to reconsider their teaching methods.
  • #181
chill_factor said:
to those that say you learn better from textbooks than from lectureres:

good luck with books like Jackson, Goldstein, McQuarrie, Marder and Mukamel. You know, a professor is a recognized expert in the field; even the worst PhD is magnitudes superior to a typical BS student - they already did the mental weightlifting, so to speak, and it'll be ludicrous to say that a boxer who weightlifted for 10 years is weaker than a novice boxer trainee. when both boxers are just jumping rope (intro classes) you probably can't see the difference. When the boxers are in the ring, the difference is clear.

I'll just say this: For those books its not possible to solve many of the problems with knowledge only given in the book. The professor will usually either assign self written problems, or pick and choose the problems that are actually solvable in reasonable amounts of time. Also the exam often has nothing to do with the homework, unlike in lower division classes.

I am in lower division classes. It's my 3rd week of college
 
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  • #182
Kuhan said:
I am in lower division classes. It's my 3rd week of college

then don't make judgments so fast.

i will go to lecture despite not understanding the professor at all because the professors actually know if you go or not, and when it comes down to crunch time on the tests, and you're 1 point away from passing or failing, guess who the professor sympathizes with:

the guy that comes to class every day without fail, tries, and the material is just a bit too hard
the guy that skips class and does badly
 
  • #183
chill_factor said:
then don't make judgments so fast.

i will go to lecture despite not understanding the professor at all because the professors actually know if you go or not, and when it comes down to crunch time on the tests, and you're 1 point away from passing or failing, guess who the professor sympathizes with:

the guy that comes to class every day without fail, tries, and the material is just a bit too hard
the guy that skips class and does badly

lol I used to sit in the front (the most front) of class for the first 2 weeks then suddenly I didn't go the third week.
 
  • #184
Vanadium 50 said:
Yes, you've said that.



Your own money? I find that people who are paying for college themselves tend not to skip lectures.

I'm on a full scholarship
 

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