[Logic] One dayers

2002年4月20日 14:03:43 -0400

>All in a "one-day" short course.
>>Wow, I am impressed. Took me an entire semester in engineering
>school to learn how to solve all those impedance, complex
>plane, R+/- jX problems. And 20 of these guys learned how
>to do those, along with all that other stuff, and STILL the same
>day took and passed the Extra license exam????
>>Maybe what those five instructors "taught" was the answers
>to the questions on the test to be given that day??? At least
>one enquiring mind would like to know! I believe what is
>being reported is not possible and still be legitimate, unless
>those 20 guys had way above genius IQ's. Or maybe, they
>all have "perfect recall" memories.
>>Guess I was a real slow learning; I was years getting the education,
>experience and UNDERSTANDING under my belt before I went
>for the Extra. Oh yes, also had to pass the 20 wpm CW test
>that same day, but that isn't needed anymore. Maybe it was
>getting to 20 wpm CW that took me all that time, no, don't
>think so. Just took me awhile to learn/understand what the
>meaning of the stuff on the Extra Class license was all about.
>>Yes, what does the Extra Class license mean anymore??
>>Just a bit disappointed,
>>73, Jim KH7M

While this is not the best forum for your question, it is question that 
should be asked within our hobby. Remember Bash Books? The battle has 
long been basic knowledge vs teaching to the test. In today's world faster 
is not always better but that is the way it is. Teach to the test has 
become the primary focus, especially when evaluating the status of 
education. Students have been reduced to numbers with points on a scale of 
debatable merit. An industrial model misapplied to education. Students 
should not be input receptacles absorbing information on a conveyor belt, 
at a predetermined rate. They require individual attention to maximize 
their potential. There are a variety of learning styles. Classes, such as 
the one used in your example, can be successful with some candidates, but 
certainly not in the main stream. I am sure growing up you "hated" that 
kid who could scan a book, retain everything, was an "A" student, and 
didn't have a clue about reality, while you studied hard to grasp the 
concepts to master the material. People learn at different rates, with a 
wide range of processing skills, such, visual, auditory, tactile. Note 
too, in many cram type courses, the learners are required to do their 
reading and preparation BEFORE attending, so in all fairness, they are 
probably not going from zero to 100, but starting at 50. Having spent my 
career in education, one of my guiding principles has always been to 
remember that knowledge is wasted when you don't know how to apply 
it. Mastery, not the spitting back of facts. While doing my Navy tours, a 
wise Chief observed of a freshly assigned Ensign , "he has so many degrees, 
he doesn't know which way to turn." Ah, chiefs, direct to the point! As 
far as there being a poor Extra class op and good Extra class ops, 
diversity is found in all classes and groups in society, generalizations 
have a host of exceptions. My 2 cents worth.
73,
Pete, KZ1Z