Scott Overmyer (Scott.Overmyer@cis.drexel.edu)
Fri, 30 Oct 1998 09:18:33 -0500
From: "Scott Overmyer" <Scott.Overmyer@cis.drexel.edu> Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1998 09:18:33 -0500 Subject: Re: [ifets] Can learning be enjoyable?
It seems to me that "enjoyable" is a uniquely human attribute that is
subjective and highly
dependent on individual differences in personality and experience. Some
instructors receive
evaluation comments regarding their course as being "enjoyable", and some
do not, even
though the material being presented is the same (in content). So why is
this, and what makes
some people subjectively rated high on the "enjoyable" meter and others
rated low. I suspect
it doesn't have a great deal to do with the subject matter. I'm sure that
there are instructors who
have, and do, receive comments that even their TQM courses are "enjoyable",
(although just
how this is possible escapes me at this time). Is it possible to identify
the factors that
contribute to the "enjoyable" attribute? ;-)
(Personally, I have mixed feedback from students. For example, I did a
lecture the other day on
hard disks (yes, I'm the "stuck-ee" for INSYS 101 this term), during which
time there was considerable
discussion, laughter, and the students left the class talking with each
other. There are other days
when I think the material will be enjoyable, when the class is stone cold.
Go figure!?)
scotto...
Sue Lowe <low@tilc.com> on 10/29/98 10:08:43 PM
Please respond to ifets@gmd.de
To: ifets@gmd.de
cc: (bcc: Scott Overmyer/Drexel_IST)
Subject: [ifets] Can learning be enjoyable?
Hi Everyone,
I am teaching a quality class for Mississippi State University to about
25 students from 2 sites by video conferencing. There are students in
my class from the service sector and industrial sector and I have tried
to create interactivity and interest, maybe not enjoyment. We use
Demings approach that quality is universal, it doesn't matter what
company you work for but TQM is TQM. My adult students are interested
as much as possible because they are seeing "what's in it for them" as
they relate quality concepts to their own environment. They are
understanding the concepts. As I hard as we educators try there are
some courses that will not be enjoyable; liked, appreciated, accepted
are positives without enjoying and I agree with in some cases you just
have to take your medicine and make the best of it.
Chris wrote: I am open to being convinced that making learning
'enjoyable' is i)
possible, b) desirable at all times. I agree one should seek to make
it as *interesting* as possible, and there are times when it lends
itself to being made enjoyable, but there are times when you just
have to do the more tedious bits - like reading the whole of
Richardson's Clarissa!
I agree totally but even though all courses may not be enjoyable it
would be nice if they were interesting or thought provoking.
Sue Lowe
--
Sue C. Lowe: low@tilc.com; scl1@ra.msstate.edu
Telephone: Work (601)328-9116 Home (601)329-2397
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