social life, academic life, teaching life [EDITED]

[grey_ghost]

EDIT (as of 22 September, 6:30 pm): Not a very interesting post, I say, and worth forgetting.

Despite the onset of Fall Term, my social life might actually have improved. Last night I drank beer and ate pizza with some of my profs, and listened absently to the discussion of a problem that was deceiving simple to explain yet beyond my capacity for

Comments

[palpablevt]

I could swear that the students were actually thinking of questions to ask, instead of having severe issues with the current material at hand. If I didn't know any better, they seemed like they were asking questions for the sake of being able to ask them.

Oh God, so true. I'm actually surprised you'd never noticed this before just as a college student, although I do remember it happening more in things like English and history than math. I think students think questions like that make them appear smart to everyone, while you are no doubt silently mentally noting who extended class by ten minutes. :)

[grey_ghost]

I think students think questions like that make them appear smart to everyone,

I'll agree with you, but it's just that this was in my Office Hours and not in class, so the notion of appearing smart doesn't seem to be as strong. Then again, maybe they wanted to assert to each other that they were smart and not to be ignored by their instructor?

I cannot claim to know the motives and minds of 18-19 year olds, I'm afraid, so this can only remain in mystery.

[palpablevt]

Sorry, I didn't mean appearing smart to the rest of the class, I meant to you. Anyway, this is also guesswork on my part, so maybe I should give your students the benefit of the doubt. :)

[grey_ghost]

I'm actually surprised you'd never noticed this before just as a college student,

It's been a while since I was an undergrad (2, going on 3 years) and longer since the last time I took an "entry-level" class. By that I mean being far enough along in your studies and no longer needing to impress people; I suppose that change in attitude might come about after you've been suitably humbled. For instance, at some point you may realize that there is no way you can be as smart as you'd like to be.