Trust but verify
I start each new course by telling all my students to trust everything I say but verify everything I say. By this I mean dive into the mechanics of and see the physics of the systems and processes that I describe to you by critically thinking about it. If you just memorize the facts it will be very difficult for you to apply what you have learned out in the field. But if you can see the physics of what you have learned you will be able to understand it well enough to apply what you have learned. Prior to lecturing each section I ask them to look at it to see if they can figure it out prior to learning about it. It is amazing the conversations we have as a class as they work through their thought processes. Often it starts with one student giving his/her thoughts and it snowballs and builds from there. I get many eval comments that say how they loved being able to figure it out themselves with me there for guidance. Most every student loves it!
I can relate on this point. I have students who have access to laptops and smart phones who often will look up a concept that arises in class to add more context to a discussion. It is also a very useful strategy to implement in a philosophy class such as mine. It ties in beautifully with a lesson on logical fallacies.
Hi Steve,
I like how you encourage your students to double check you. We are human, and we make mistakes. By having your students double check you, you make a better student out of them.
Patricia Scales
I like this approach as well. I challenge students to double check my words and many times they come back and say the have taken a subject or idea to the next level and ask even more well thought out questions. What I enjoy is they learn more than they thought and occasionally don't recognize it.
Hi Randall,
I love this approach! It is amazing how much students can really figure out on their own, and they are more apt to try to figure things out on their own when they know that we are there to catch them.
Patricia Scales
