Overheard

[clevermanka]

In the hall outside my office just now:

Undergrad student: "Oh, so, wait. You mean we're supposed to do all this research and stuff just to form an opinion?"

GTA: "...Yeah."

Comments

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

At least s/he learned it sometime.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Of course, then the issue is "learn" vs. "retain."

[tessagratton.livejournal.com]

Oh my GOD.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

That's the future of humanity. Right there.

[slinka.livejournal.com]

Goodness, no. You're supposed to pull your opinion out of your ass.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

"But it's supposed to be my opinion! Why do I have to base it on someone else's facts?"

Seriously. Can't you just hear this as a response? Probably the only reason it didn't get voiced was because the GTA was bolted out of earshot before the undergrad's synapses could fire.

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

It worked for George W. Bush, and he was apparently good enough to become president of the USA.

Oh, god. I think I threw up in my mouth a little.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

he was apparently good enough to become president of the USA.

Thus calling into question whether the idea that "anyone can become president" is really a good thing.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Or you can just spout off at random and look like a complete idiot when someone asks you to back it up.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Luckily for them, this is not a problem when they're only interacting with their peers.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I find it useful in bars, myself.

[harmfulguy.livejournal.com]

Undergrads are allowed to have opinions now?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I don't know about other universities, but I always found KU instructors (regardless of faculty status) to be very supportive of students who had informed opinions. Perhaps this is an anomaly in higher education.

[harmfulguy.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was just engineering school. I don't remember having time to develop opinions.

[frugurl27.livejournal.com]

I am *so* excited about GTA-ing next semester.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Hey, better than not getting a GTAship, right?

[frugurl27.livejournal.com]

True, true... I'm actually kind of excited to see what it's like!

[theoneinblue.livejournal.com]

*sigh*. Yes. God forbid you should be exposed to anything other than the voices in your head and whatever your parents have told you.

Mostly I really enjoy teaching, but good grief...

By the way, would you describe said student's tone as incredulous, lethargic, eureka-ish, sarcastic, despairing, or dismissive? Because I've had students who finally had the light bulb go on when they figured out that research isn't a bunch of busywork...although the "just" in the quotation seems to suggest a less-than-positive tone...

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

The student seemed surprised. Honestly surprised. With a bit of despair thrown in--probably at the idea that he'd have to show actual effort in pursuit of something so trivial as an informed opinion.

[theoneinblue.livejournal.com]

Uh-huh...sounds like someone who's accustomed to sliding by on writing assignments on the strength of an unresearched opinion, i.e. culture shock, welcome to college, kiddo.