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Show THE THUNDEABIRDO SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVEASITYOTHUASDAY FEBRUARY 'Zl, 19920 PAGE 5 A "D" FROM HELL: Test scores aren't always what we hope they' ll be. Sometimes a "D" from hell is caused by a teacher-fromhell, but probably more often it's caused by a student-work-ethic-fromhell or study-skills-from-hell or "who the hell cares." SPOON-FED STUDENTS: "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." (Chinese proverb). Is THINKING something we students try to avoid? In conversation with a teacher recently, the teacher said he felt that many students wish onJy to be spoon-fed, (Tell me what you want me to learn; then I'll go learn it, and give it back to you). Spoon-fed education-the "memorizing" of facts- is probably used too much by too many teachers, while creative and critical thinking is employed too little. ("Memorizing" is in quotes because so little is really memorized beyond test day, and therefore, it is of questionable value.) The teacher felt that if you allow students to work, interact, experiment, "do," explore, create and use the facts in practical ways, the knowledge would go beyond the last quiz, the last midterm, the last final. And research confirms his premise. However, it's probably harder to teach that way; may require more work for the teacher, and certainly more work for the student, but hey, this ain' t supposed to be a "wake me when we get to the beach experience." Not for the teacher or the student. Getting back to memory. How much are we expected to memorize during coUegc and what actually leaves the campus with us? You don't know either? Well, here's an idea; The average college education requirea approximately 60 cla,aes. So you take 60 text books, times 20 chapten per book, times 10 questions per chapter and you have 12,000 facts, concepts, ideas, images, perceptions, thoughts and hypothem to bring to the work place. (Yeah, if you have a photographic memory or the IQ of five Dolphins.) Since the average achool year ia 150 days long, then in tour years the average college student will have spent 600 days in school. So, to leave achool with 12,000 pieces of information you need only memorize 20 things per day. (So what's the problem? Get busy.) Obviowly-gee, no kidding- the figures above are not Richter scale accurate, but a questionable guesstimation. However, having attended a few classes myself, on occasion, I have wondered why I was required to memorize certain things. It's not like I like playing Trivia Quiz. And that's just what ,ome tests are. It's not like everything is worth taking with you. I wish all teachers would ask themselves this question before putting any questions on a test: " Will the information I'm asking the student to know be of value to him or her at any time other than on this test?" If the answer is yes, put the puppy on the test, but if no, throw the skunk out! NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: Is the place you rent a nightmare, but not because you made it one? Is your landlord a slumlord? One story goes like this: Our stove broke. The landlord said he would fix it. He did. It broke in June. He fixed it in November. Man was I hungry. Another story: I signed a contract. Never got a copy. Later the landlord complained about things. He showed me the contract. He'd changed it, but forgot to let us in on it (That's probably why they call them LORDS). Another: The woodburner didn't burn without smoking us out. It was cold, but only for three months. I later moved to Alaska and thought it was warm. Thank you, landlord. It used to be, you got what you paid for and that was expected, but with a shortage in housing, you may pay for it and get heaven. And then you wake up. What to do? You could grovel, whine, complain , sue or fix it yourself; clean it yourself; be the best tenant your landlord ever had and teach by " heaping coals on his head" (Not literally, that's a quote from the Bible). It's quite a fascinating story. Church of Christ 1075 S. Fir Street Watch Spealq the Tnih in to,,e (Eph. 4:15) KCCZ-TV Chin 4 Suld3y 9:ll a.m. TV Propn Listen Se.vch b Orection KSlB-AM Suld3y 9 a.m. 586-6418 Lum Bilie Study, Sm.. Kl a.m. ~ 'Mlr.np II a.m. E ~ Service 6 p.m. Bille Study, 'Md.. 6:30 p.m. SPICIALIZING IN: • SKIN CANCER • DERMABRASION FOR FACIAL SCARS • ACNE • SPIDER VEIN THERAPY 150 ALTAMIRA AVI., SUITI 900 BURGER KING Whopper Sandwich and a Bas of Fries $1.99 with coupon Limit 2 Per Coupon Please JXesent coupon t.o castier bebe ~ LiTit one coupon per customer. Not valid with ether COlfONS or OOERS. \bd where prohi>ited t,,, law. Che••• may be aclcled for a nominal charge. ( Good only at: 1215 West 200· North. Cedar City Exp. April 30, 1992 ·:JiOp:'t<I,lTl. WHILE SAVINGS& SELECTION ARE AT THEIR BEST! LEAP TO SUU BOOKSTORE FOR OUR ANNUAL FEB. 29TH SALE FRIDAY, FEB. 28TH &, SATURDAY, FEB. 29TH DON'T MISS IT!!!!!! (NEXT LEAP YEAR SALE '1996') |