university introduces electronic monitoring of student attendance

[gorcorps]

I don't see this as changing a god damned thing. If the classes include a participation grade then you're in the same position as you were before and the prof will probably still manually take attendance. If it doesn't include participation then the prof will never look at the data.

 

[gaidensensei]

I have to admit, some professors are REALLY lazy. Not pointing fingers but I have seen many in my day who don't give a crap about attendance anymore past a bit into the semester. I notice TA's always keep up with it or pass the roll sheet around.

Face it do teachers want to be checking on their students with this excess method 180 days a year? Sounds easy, but it also sounds like more trouble than it's worth when you have bugs or people glitching the system.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Most of my professors layed out their class so that important info was delivered in class, rather than textbook regurgitation. Sure notes were shared, but attendance was higher on average than intro courses.

 

[ShawnD1]

Professors should be given the flexibility to pick their own text books

They did in my school. The teacher would say what his favorite book was then assign reading out of that book. The teachers would still go over that same material in class because they assume you don't have the book, but if you wanted to look at it and start thinking about it before class, there it was. The teachers would also say what we were going to go over in future classes, so if you want to check wikipedia or google what a "MOSFET" is before we cover it in class then go ahead.

Attendance was a big deal in my school because the school has a reputation for putting out good employees. If you can't even show up for morning classes, they don't want to put their stamp on a piece of paper that says you meet their standards when you clearly don't.

 

[PrinceofWands]

I guess I agree that in some instances where the curriculum is very well defined, i.e. calculus, it's entirely possible to get an A+ without ever attending class. (I also disagree with trident on the issue of math texts - I've read a great number of math texts that did an excellent job of explaining the material, although I should also point out that it would only be understood by someone who has mastered any pre-requisite mathematics.)

However, your example of Roman history actually lends support to what I said, rather than provides for a counter-argument. There are TONS of resources on Roman history - while a history textbook may only have 1 chapter on it. A professor can easily go into great detail about some aspects of Roman civilization that he finds fascinating (and not arcane facts.)

There definitely are two types of classes though - those taught by professors who were assigned to teach those classes, and those taught by professors who love the material that they're teaching. The former group - often from the text. The latter group - grades suffer if you miss class - not that you'd want to miss their classes anyway since they're generally the best classes.

I COMPLETELY agree with the last paragraph. Any time I had a prof worth their salt (which was usually btw) I would look forward to class and found their own enthusiasm adding to my own. The addition of debates, outside lecturers, projects, cross-discipline inclusions, etc all added a lot to the understanding and enjoyment.

My roman history course had something like 12 assigned texts entirely about the material, and about 50 more on the suggested reading list to draw from for projects and paper support. That's on top of the journal articles critiquing them, short articles, documentaries & films, museum notes, etc. With that kind of information base there was seriously only so much more to be added that was of value.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Attendance was a big deal in my school because the school has a reputation for putting out good employees. If you can't even show up for morning classes, they don't want to put their stamp on a piece of paper that says you meet their standards when you clearly don't.

That mingles education with employment in a way not everyone agrees with. Personally I don't think jobs should have ANYTHING to do with 99% of university studies. If you want to attend a trade school or specialized college, sure. But not a university education.

 

[sdifox]

That mingles education with employment in a way not everyone agrees with. Personally I don't think jobs should have ANYTHING to do with 99% of university studies. If you want to attend a trade school or specialized college, sure. But not a university education.

lol, tell that to the employers.

 

[EarthwormJim]

That mingles education with employment in a way not everyone agrees with. Personally I don't think jobs should have ANYTHING to do with 99% of university studies. If you want to attend a trade school or specialized college, sure. But not a university education.

It's really amazing what pay, even a little bit can do for a person's motivations. I do have a hard time attending morning classes. I had no problem opening at Best Buy (7am) when I was making a measly $15 an hour.

It's not quite fair to judge a person based on their University attendance. Everyone is pretty much in it for the money anyway.

I guess employers have to look at every little measurable statistic to differentiate candidates.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

It's not a problem in PRIVATE schools, but if kids are not attending while spending tax dollars at public schools... They better go to fucking class and get those good grades.

Many kids who skip class also happen to not get great grades... whodahthunk.

this isn't the UK....college isn't paid by taxes here.

 

[EarthwormJim]

this isn't the UK....college isn't paid by taxes here.

Public Universities are payed with State tax money. You really think $3 grand a semester would cover my University's expenses?

 

[Train]

Public Universities are payed with State tax money. You really think $3 grand a semester would cover my University's expenses?

Obviously not enough was "payed" for your education

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Public Universities are payed with State tax money. You really think $3 grand a semester would cover my University's expenses?

You don't honestly think that classroom attendance affects the costs of operating a university do you?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Attendance was a big deal in my school because the school has a reputation for putting out good employees. If you can't even show up for morning classes, they don't want to put their stamp on a piece of paper that says you meet their standards when you clearly don't.

If I employed someone I would rather that they did their job and be late than be pedantically on time and do nothing. And it's not like University is the same as a job. In a job you get paid. In a university course, you pay someone else. See the difference?

Public Universities are payed with State tax money. You really think $3 grand a semester would cover my University's expenses?

Same here. About 2/3 of my course fees are covered by the government. And as a cost-saving measure they're looking at reducing their subsidization. Which is kind of stupid, cause the real motivation for doctors to go overseas is money, and people are already complaining about how we have too few doctors, and think about what adding an extra 30k to our student loan at the end of our course would do.

 

[joebloggs10]

You don't honestly think that classroom attendance affects the costs of operating a university do you?

Agreed. Anyone thinking that attendance is a parameter of a variable cost is mistaken. Once the class is scheduled and made official, it becomes a sunk cost. Attendance is not a relevant factor in operating that class. Attendance only becomes a factor in deciding which sunk costs to accept or avoid in future periods.

 

[joebloggs10]

*sigh* A bachelors is slowly degrading into a highschool degree :|

FRY
Good old Coney Island College! Go Whitefish!



LEELA
Don't take this the wrong way, Fry,
but you don't seem like the educated
type.


FRY
Oh, yeah? Read it and weep. I'm a certified
college dropout.


LEELA
Please! Everyone knows 20th century
colleges were basically expensive daycare
centres.


FARNSWORTH
That's true. By current academic standards,
you're merely a high school dropout.



FRY
What?! That's not fair. I deserve the
same respect any other college dropout
gets. By God, I'm gonna enroll here
at Mars University and drop out all
over again!