what makes a class good?
Having taken so many classes in my life, I wonder what makes a class good.
First, what do we mean by good? I usually hope to get something out of a class – whether it is an issue that now has my attention but that I never heard of before until the teacher pointed it out for me, or whether the teacher offered me a perspective on an existing issue that I never thought of before. So, you hope to hear things that will challenge your existing thoughts, that are provocative, or that make you think about things you never thought of before.
Second, what kind of tools does the teacher have to achieve these goals? Well, form matters, so it helps if the teacher is eloquent and charismatic. It’s like sugar coating the medicine. Then the teacher can also assign readings. Readings have to be manageable, interesting and they have to have a point (you would be surprised how often I read texts that try very hard not to have a point). Then there is also the relationship with the students to be managed: do we try to include every single student,including tolerating those that have not done the reading or love to talk but have no point?
I guess it also depends on what the goal or objective of a class is – is a good class supposed to primarily add to our knowledge, or make us enthusiastic about the topic, learn to think critically more in general, or encourage us to find out for ourselves?
What have some of the best classes you have had been like? What made them good classes?
Posted in academia
October 18th, 2007 at 1:22 am
As far as I can remember it wasn’t the class that made it interesting nor even the subject. The best classes were always if there was a boy I secretly had a crush on in class. Probably not the comment you were hoping for. But I went to classes for the pple really. I’m more inspired b things I read or discover my self. Perhaps that;s why I am always stumped at a stock ‘Miss Universe’ question “If u were strandeed on a desert island with someone, who would it be?” Would I pick a world leader? the Dalai Lama? I would probaly realistically say , perhaps the Professor from Gilligans Island – because he’s cute and he could get us off the island. Totally off topic there but while I’m at it, have to say I’ve been reading your blog on and off for years since the time back when it was called silent dreams in 2000 maybe. Can’t succintly put it, but its one that hasn’t pissed me off or bored me to death as many rather self indulgent blogs of today tend towards. Perhaps if I wrote about things as keenly as you do I would like someone to be interested. Allthough your topics are beyond me most of the time its nice to be served up different fare mostly. Anyway thats a round about way of saying is good. Cheers from Downunder.
October 25th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
good class = good teacher, right? as students, why are we in class if not to learn from someone who will teach us what they know. certainly some of my best classes have had charismatic, engaging, interested, eloquent and clear-spoken teachers. they may have been great for many of us students, just fine to some others and maybe ineffective for a few. so maybe having a good teacher is not enough. like how we expect a teacher to be good, a ‘good’ class SHOULD expect the same from the students. and just cuz a student has the best grades doesn’t necessarily make them a good student, just as having a doctorate doesn’t automatically make one a teacher. so, the more that both are in place – good teacher + good students, then maybe some kinda synergistic effect will take place. certainly some of my best classes too have been those where everyone talked to everyone else and were comfortable enough for a dude to shout out to another dude “james! c’mon i know u have something to say!”… and then james actually says something.