NationStates Jolt Archive

When I commuted, and later when I worked on an assembly line, I was forever listening to college lectures on my MP3 player.

Every once and a while, The Teaching Company makes a lecture available at no cost, and I thought this one would be good for all you young'uns.

As students head back to school this fall, we are reminded that learning is a lifelong experience that continues year to year. "A Philosophy of Learning—The Right Attitude" is presented by Dr. Tim McGee as part of How to Become a SuperStar Student. We offer free lectures to our customers at various times throughout the year as part of our goal to provide a lifelong learning experience.

Tim McGee (Ph.D., Trinity) has taught since 1988 at Worland High School in Worland, Wyoming. He has received endorsements or degrees from Abilene Christian University, York College, the University of Nebraska, and Trinity College in English, psychology, philosophy, and theology. He graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska, where he received his master’s degree in education. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy of theology from Trinity. Dr. McGee has been nominated for several teaching awards, including Master Teacher. Dr. McGee also teaches English composition, literature, and philosophy at Northwest Community College. Dr. McGee has published in several journals, including The English Journal and Poet’s Magazine. He received the National Endowment for the Humanities reading award and the Wyoming Arts Council New Fiction Award.

Click here to access the free lecture. (http://www.teach12.com/ttc/SuperStarLecture.asp?ai=19423)

You may listen to this lecture at your computer through September 30, 2005 by choosing to "stream" it, or you may download it to listen on your computer without being attached to the Internet. You may also burn it to a CD or load it on a portable listening device if you download it.

Please feel free to send the link to this lecture to any friends of yours who might also enjoy it. This lecture is free for them as well.

It is a pleasure for us to bring you the joy of lifelong learning every day in recorded lectures on DVD, audio CD, audiotape, and videotape. Dr. McGee is one of the more than 100 great teachers we offer on a variety of course topics. We hope you enjoy this taste of his lecturing style.

As always, thank you for being our customer!

Tom Rollins
President and CEO
The Teaching Company

Have fun with it!

That's pretty cool. Thanks :)

That's pretty cool. Thanks :)
You're Welcome.

Have you listened to it?

Anybody? (of the 47ish reads this thread has had)

Am I the only person who takes offense when people set ideal character norms for students?

Am I the only person who takes offense when people set ideal character norms for students?
You mean like your School Board, Principle, Teachers and Law Enforcement? :rolleyes:

You mean like your School Board, Principle, Teachers and Law Enforcement? :rolleyes:

I mean like them not just saying: "get good grades, obey the law," but actually trying to instill some sort of moral code/concept of the "ideal student". Just because they don't mention a god doesn't make their moral code not indoctrination, and setting an "ideal student" concept is very Nazi-esque.

Am I the only person who takes offense when people set ideal character norms for students?

No, you're not.

There isn't any such thing as the ideal student.

No, you're not.

There isn't any such thing as the ideal student.
Sure there is.

The ideal student is one who actively wants to learn. If you don't want to learn, then you aren't a student.

There may be sociological factors that make some students "more ideal" to some teachers than others, but the fact remains that, all else being equal, the "Ideal Student" is one who wants to learn and works both within and around the system to do so.

Sure there is.

The ideal student is one who actively wants to learn. If you don't want to learn, then you aren't a student.

There may be sociological factors that make some students "more ideal" to some teachers than others, but the fact remains that, all else being equal, the "Ideal Student" is one who wants to learn and works both within and around the system to do so.

Wanting to learn isn't what makes an ideal student. It's what makes a student, period. As you stated. It's a requirement, not an advantage.

The concept of the ideal student is foolish, because there is a place for both those who are studious and take in what they hear, and those who question the validity of what is being taught.

Wanting to learn isn't what makes an ideal student. It's what makes a student, period. As you stated. It's a requirement, not an advantage.

The concept of the ideal student is foolish, because there is a place for both those who are studious and take in what they hear, and those who question the validity of what is being taught.
In Socratic terms, the Ideal Student would embody both principles.

Without Questioning, you get simple Scholasticisim, and boy did that get us out of the dark/middle ages... :rolleyes:

However, to validly Question, one has to have done enough Studious activity to be able to base their Questions on more than "feelings".

Thus, both are required in a student that is above par, the "Ideal Student"... i.e. one who is neither an automaton nor a Troll.