Who's teaching who?

            Over the past century the institutions of higher learning in America have experienced a great amount of change.  One such change is how the professors are presenting themselves.  Today’s professors are becoming more like their students than ever before and I believe it’s having positive results in the classroom.   

            The change in how the professors dress is one example.  In the early 20^th century, the classroom was a very professional environment; both the teachers and students wore very strict business attire.  Between the 1950’s and 1970’s there was a shift.  The students began to dress differently; they dressed more for style than for business.  Unlike the students, the professors, for the most part, were still wearing professional attire.  Today, the classroom seems like anything but a professional environment.  Most of the students, and professors, seem to dress more for comfort.  It’s not an uncommon problem on the first day of class to be unable to distinguish the professor from the rest of the students. 

            The way the professors speak is another example.  In order for students to learn the course material they need to be able to understand what’s being said in lecture.  The easiest way to accomplish this is for the professors to speak in terms that the students understand.  This has always been common in the classroom.  Being able to explain the same thing in many different ways is what separates the good professors from the great professors.

To me it seems as if the students are slowly rubbing off on the professors.  Every year the professors seem to become more like the students.  The gap between the students and professors is shrinking.  It’s becoming easier for the students to relate to the professors.  Because of this, the students have become less intimidated to seek help and ask questions.  In this ever changing world of technology, it’s much easier for the students to communicate with their professors. 

Overall, I believe these changes have benefited both the students and the professors.  It’s much easier to succeed in the classroom and they both come out with a positive relationship.

Word Count: 349

How to teach a professor.

Over the past century the institutions of higher level learning in America has experienced a great amount of change, some more obvious than others.  One such change that may be difficult to notice is how the professors are presenting themselves.

Throughout the years the student body has gone through many changes as far as appearance goes.  In the 1940's the students and professors dressed very similarly.  Both dressed very professionally, they would all wear a button down shirt accompanied with a vest, jacket, and matching tie.  Also worn was a pair of slacks that would require a belt, a pair of nice dress shoes and matching socks.  Their hair would also be combed.

Now onto the 1970's.  The fashion of the student body has changed tremendously.  Long gone are the days of combed hair and bow ties.  In fact nearly every aspect has changed for the students, ranging from long hair to bell-bottom jeans.  As for the professors, the style is now simply a common suit and tie.

And finally back to present day.  Calling the fashion of the students professional is laughable.  The normal attire of the student is a t-shirt and jeans.  Sometimes the students don't even bother getting dressed in the first place. They just go to class in their pj's.

Unlike last time the professors have undergone a great deal of change.  It’s as if the students’ lack of professionalism is rubbing off on them.  It is very rare to see a professor give a lecture while wearing a suit and tie.  You are more likely to see them wearing a button down collar shirt with a pair of slacks.  However, in some cases it is nearly impossible to distinguish the professor from the students based on appearance alone.

I believe that this new semi-lack of professionalism is a good thing.  One thing that it does is allow the gap between the student and professor to decrease.  Decreasing the style of dress between the professor and student has allowed more students to approach the professors and seek the help they need.  

Word Count: 345

My First Day of School

It was the first day of class; I arrived five minutes before the lecture was scheduled to start.  When I got to the lecture hall, the first thing I noticed was that the room was very dark.  The only source of light was coming from a fixture that shown onto a dusty chalkboard.  I found a seat near the front and began to unpack my things.  The room was very muggy and smelled of damp wood.  The seats were obnoxiously close to one another.  Shortly, the door at the front of the lecture hall opened.  Out walked the professor.  He set his briefcase on the front desk and opened it with a loud click.  He withdrew a single piece of chalk and proceeded to write on the board.  Around me, the shadows of my peers began to scribble furiously.  I looked to the board and what I saw made my heart sink.

“The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Part I”  

            The professor turned to the class with a giant grin on his face and said, “Welcome to calculus, where math is no longer numbers.”

            The class let out a collective sigh. 

            The professor then briskly walked over to one side of the room and fiddled with the lighting; when the lights turned on, spirits rose as people began to accept their fate.   

            Because of that lecture, my entire perspective of math had changed and, therefore, the way I looked at the world had changed with it.

Word Count: 246

The Beginning

Hello, my name is Andy Passmore; however, at home my parents call me Andrew.  I am from the Hereford Zone, which is located in northern Baltimore County of Maryland.  I take great pride in my high school.  I feel that this is where my life truly began.  In high school, running was my life and the team was my family.  Currently, I am a mechanical engineer attending UMBC in my junior year.  I am not running nearly as much as I did in high school but I have found a new interest in puzzles.  If I’m not working on school work or exercising, then I will most likely be thinking of a puzzle.  I would also like to mention that my friends are a huge part of my life.  They allow for a certain degree of randomness to enter my life, just as how this raccoon has now entered yours.

word count: 150