"Richard A. O'Keefe" wrote:
> 
> Was it Mark Guzdial who wrote:
>         >>What would you think of a manufacturing process that threw away
>         >>10-30% of its input raw material?
> 
//snipped/

> Before we start beating our breasts about a 10-30% dropout figure,
> how does that compare with nursing, or carpentry, or deep-sea fishing,
> or mathematics, or media studies, or fine arts, or Law?

Well. I know computing courses where students are graduates with
programming experience where the failure rate (that is, drop outs and
students who don't pass) is 40%. While that certainly isn't all down to
failures of the teaching method/methodology, I do think it should give
us pause for thought. 

In general, I'm inclined to think that standards of teaching (rather
than of teachers) need looking at (from personal recollection, areas
where there is little or no formal teaching -- like fine art -- have
very low drop out rates) need looking at. If we're that way inclined, we
might choose to beat our breasts, too!

Moreover, I'm glad that it's something that Mark -- as someone who
teaches -- is concerned about.

Cheers

John



-- 
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Marx: "Why do Anarchists only drink herbal tea?"
Proudhon: "Because all proper tea is theft."
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