In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Is preparation the key to student success?

(USA Today) Students who rarely do their homework still get good grades, according to a U.S. study released Nov. 10. The National Survey of Student Engagement polled 380,000 freshmen and seniors at 722 colleges and found 25 per cent of freshmen don’t do readings or assignments before going to class and about one in five seniors don’t come to class prepared. Of those, 29 per cent of freshmen and 36 per cent of seniors get mostly A’s, the study says. While the study does not explore the reasons why students are getting good grades with little effort, it does suggest that there is a disconnect between what professors expect, and what students actually do.

1.

Lazy profs, lazy students

Irascible Professor
This article by Dr. Mark H. Shapiro looks into the effect that professors who don’t make much of an effort may have on students’ work ethics. He comments on the methods some professors use, such as teaching directly from the textbook. This may make classes easier for both teachers and students, as students don’t really have to attend classes, and professors don’t have to prepare their own detailed notes. Shapiro believes that lazy teaching methods will produce lazy students who don’t learn as much as they could, so in the end, no one really wins.

2.

Gadgets for lazy students

Gizmodo
Gizmodo has compiled a list of handy gadgets that will allow students to take shortcuts. Included on the list are clothing items, such as a mathematics equation t-shirt and a calculator belt buckle as well as a pen that also serves as a voice recorder that will sync your notes with audio recordings of lectures. The best (and most subtle) is the suggestion that students purchase eyelid stickers so they can nap during class with the appearance of being alert.

3.

Are slack students the norm?

City Data Forum
In this forum, an older student who recently returned to school questions whether slack attendance has become the norm in college classes. Many students contribute on the board, and most people agree that students are less concerned with showing up to class regularly. There is some discussion as to whether more access to lectures through new technology innovations is cultivating laziness among students. Some posters question whether professors should take a tougher stance on disciplining students who refuse to attend classes as many people see it as disrespectful to the other students.

4.

Mandatory attendance debate

Campus Life
This article presents a debate as to whether professors should enforce a mandatory attendance policy. In the ‘pro’ section it is suggested that classroom time is important because it creates a sense of community, helps prepare students for the workforce and can improve student marks. The main argument against such policies is that they are patronizing to college students, and that it is futile to force unwilling students to sit through lectures. The article also points out that most universities do not have such policies, so attendance enforcement is at the discretion of the professor.

5.

Fake your way through a college paper

WikiHow
WikiHow offers insight on how students can write a college paper, even if they don’t entirely know what they’re talking about. It suggests that students should learn to make sweeping generalizations, use the biggest vocabulary words possible and subtly raise the font size. The steps are tongue-in-cheek, but at the same time, these are the kind of tips that any true slacker may take to heart. The article concludes with a series of warnings, advising that students avoid cheating and prepare for the possibility of a bad grade. Students are also reminded that professors can often see through these approaches and will grade accordingly.