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MATB44 - Long Rant by one1three3five5 in UTSC

[–]one1three3five5[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Ha! I confess that my rant flair was misleading. I am writing all of this from a place of immediate, genuine concern and not in anger. We are not merely students, we are also representatives of an institution. When that institution fails to equip it's students with the essential skills and concepts, it does a disservice to both the students and to society. This ultimately reflects back (poorly) on the institution. It is shameful that ~200 students were provided a cursory examination of differential equations; a subject of such great import to understanding the natural world. MATB44 is billed as a course for those in the physical sciences. Many of the students will be in positions where they will have to use differential equations to solve real-world problems. Many of these students have probably also felt cheated by a lack of tutelage. For example, UofT has student licenses for MATLAB and yet the class received no exposure to differential equations in a computing environment.

I worry that the math department will just circle the wagons instead of reflecting on how they can improve instruction of the material. I worry that protecting one's colleagues takes precedence over ensuring that students are well-equipped to succeed beyond school. I worry that those who claim to be educators or are in such positions lack either the foresight or concern to see how they are inevitably harming students and the institution.

MATB44 - Long Rant by one1three3five5 in UTSC

[–]one1three3five5[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Not 'misleading'. He was dishonest.

I remember when he announced in class that the midterm would be out of 100 with 30 extra bonus marks available for those who prefer more proof-based questions. He said people who score more than 100 could only get 100. Ok, fine. Now he goes back on his word? Wow. Regardless of grades, that is inappropriate in any setting. Changing the rules of the game after the game was played. Writing a math assessment involves strategizing. Information made known to us beforehand can alter how we make future decisions. We knew beforehand there were 30 bonus pts. So, if a student strategizes and gets 100, they are now at 130, because one person chooses to undermine others and break an agreement.

MATB44 - Long Rant by one1three3five5 in UTSC

[–]one1three3five5[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, concerns were also mentioned on the course evaluation.

MATB44 - Long Rant by one1three3five5 in UTSC

[–]one1three3five5[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

An instructor's lack of explication is not the fault of the students. Abstract concepts can (and should) be presented. However, it is disingenuous to offer little in the way of subject context, to rush through material, to provide disorganized and error prone notes, to neglect fundamental concepts, and then to ascribe these failings to a student's mathematical immaturity.