Michael Arnzen at Pedablogue has a great post on the overabundance of student e-mail, and links to a few more great insight sites into this relatively new form of student-teacher communication. I realize that I am quite dependent upon e-mail with some of the professors in my courses, and oddly enough, thought that weblogging would take care of some of the "shoulda said that in class" problems that less vocal students tend to carry out of the classrooms with them unspoken. But the ability to e-mail the instructor can be an abuse of privilege, and in fact, conflict with the basic notion of learning social skills and participation in the classroom.
Steve Ersinghaus, of the Great Lettuce Head is also questioning the educational environment, and the necessity of "homework" or work done outside of the classroom, as brought up by a new trend in teaching that is experimental at a particular instituion. This is something that centuries of children have prayed for, hoping someone would come up with eliminating homework. What prevents us from thinking it is a good idea, may often come out of the "well, we had to do it, so can they" attitude and this thinking must be put aside to really look at the question of its value versus classroom teaching with the hope that students will go further on their own initiative.
Meanwhile, Dennis Jerz at Jerz’s Literary Weblog is following a trail of thought that provides feedback by student opinion and self-evaluation.
For an inside look at what goes on in a classroom, the Moebius Stripper at Tall, Dark and Mysterious gives some humorous (and I’m sure aggravating) instances of what instructors deal with daily.
All of these show a continuing interest in improving the educational system, especially in view of computer technology and what it can and cannot offer students. Quite an important quest; quite a necessary delving into the learning habits of both the successful and unsuccessful student.
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