Who are those students who constantly take the seats in the last few rows at Quick Center and Oak Room lectures?
They are students who either have lecture requirements or extra credit options offered from professors.
But besides boosting the final class grade, there is much to be gained from attending these lectures.
Dean of Students Thomas Pellegrino said he thinks that lectures are beneficial because most learning is done outside of the classroom.
“Lectures and similarly situated outside the classroom experiences are the best proven mechanisms for deep learning experiences,” he said.
Pellegrino said students should attend lectures on a regular basis to expand on what they learn in class.
“We are here to develop competent and robust thinkers,” he said. “Mediocrity is not what we are about here.”
“Outside lectures provide real world context, variety and assimilation of thought that gives the learner a more intense and lasting learning experience,” said Pellegrino.
Professors share a range of reasons why students should attend lectures, whether their purpose is to supplement class lessons or to expand on personal interests independent of the course.
“I see nothing wrong in professors making some of the events a requirement, or optional for extra credit,” said Marion White, an English professor who encourages students to attend events.
White said that students should attend lectures not pertaining to students’ classes.
Jocelyn Boryczka, the director of peace and justice studies, has a service learning requirement in her politics course “Introduction to Feminist Thought.”
“The service learning project is designed as a part of the class to provide the students with actual social experiences,” Boryczka said.
However, Boryczka encourages her students to participate in their own ways on campus.
“I hope to inspire students to go to these events,” she said. “The way you do that is by making it fun, interesting and different. That’s what my aim is.”
Pellegrino said he agrees that out of class experiences are indispensable to students.
“In terms of motivation, if students look upon these experiences as burdens, they are shortchanged the experience,” he said. “This is value education at its best and where students are truly getting the most of their education.”
Gail Ostrow, an English professor, does not require attendance to out-of-class lectures but feels they are beneficial.
“The college learning experience is so much more than just classroom and textbook learning,” Ostrow said.
“They have many opportunities, both on and off campus, to hear new ideas, to be exposed to cultural events and most importantly to be exposed to what is happening in the world around them. The world they will soon be in,” she said.
Some teachers are known for giving points to students who regularly attend lectures. Professor Yohuru Williams, co-director of the history department, is a big believer in giving extra credit to students who write responses to lectures.
“Going to evening lectures and programs that are put up by the University in that subject you are studying is a natural way to pique your curiosity and interest,” he said.
“Really, 70 percent of learning goes on outside the classroom,” he added.
Leave a Reply