" I think this year may have set records for the number of students who just disappeared from class for a week or so, and it definitely set a record for students rolling into class 20 minutes late or just getting up in the middle of class and wandering off for 10-15 minutes.
I find both of those behaviors baffling, which is in large part a generational thing."
Wow, I am baffled as well. But then, I'm even older than you. Considering only the tuition, skipping class is a huge waste of money.
Anecdote? In my working life I have attended a ton of "training classes" covering a wide range of topics. I had one instructor who told us the first day he would not tolerate late arrivals. Every session after that, he locked the classroom door at the appointed time and would not open it, even one second later.
Off on a tangent, but I switched to the Openstax also for the same University Physics -- I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it. Overall I'm going to keep using it, although it just seems a bit clumsier than what I used to use (Serway, Moore, M&I).
I wasn't wild about it. It's very "Here's a formula, here's the recipe for using it to solve each of the three types of problems you're likely to see." There's not nearly enough explanation of how things fit together, or motivation for the tools they're introducing.
I really don't get wandering away during a class. I can see being late, stuff happens, especially early in the semester or early in your very first semester -- but if I was going to be late, I'd still come to class. You'll be farther behind if you miss the whole thing than if you just miss the first 5 or 10 minutes.
" I think this year may have set records for the number of students who just disappeared from class for a week or so, and it definitely set a record for students rolling into class 20 minutes late or just getting up in the middle of class and wandering off for 10-15 minutes.
I find both of those behaviors baffling, which is in large part a generational thing."
Wow, I am baffled as well. But then, I'm even older than you. Considering only the tuition, skipping class is a huge waste of money.
Anecdote? In my working life I have attended a ton of "training classes" covering a wide range of topics. I had one instructor who told us the first day he would not tolerate late arrivals. Every session after that, he locked the classroom door at the appointed time and would not open it, even one second later.
Off on a tangent, but I switched to the Openstax also for the same University Physics -- I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it. Overall I'm going to keep using it, although it just seems a bit clumsier than what I used to use (Serway, Moore, M&I).
I wasn't wild about it. It's very "Here's a formula, here's the recipe for using it to solve each of the three types of problems you're likely to see." There's not nearly enough explanation of how things fit together, or motivation for the tools they're introducing.
But, hey, it's free...
I really don't get wandering away during a class. I can see being late, stuff happens, especially early in the semester or early in your very first semester -- but if I was going to be late, I'd still come to class. You'll be farther behind if you miss the whole thing than if you just miss the first 5 or 10 minutes.