From: Arieh A Ullmann [mailto:
aullmann@binghamton.edu]
Posting slides has a distinct advantage -- it saves time and can improve
the lecture because stupid copying of charts and graphs can be eliminated.
Who of us has not experienced the moment when we lose our students'
attention because they have to copy that chart? So we stand there and wait
until they are ready to listen again. I think the critical element is
selectivity: Post key theory pieces, key insights, hard-to-copy charts.
But: Never post everything -- especially not the things that you plan to
add -- current events related to the topic, connections to other
topics/theories covered previously or in another course that you plan to
develop in class.
I think students have every right to skip a class if nothing is added
relative to the posted material or the textbook. Isn't optimal allocation
of resources (incl. time) an important element of management? How can we
criticize students if they do exactly that, for example by catching their
beauty sleep and reading the material in half the time it takes a lecturer
to present? I think students are very astute in selecting the courses where
value is added in the classroom. Our task is to make it worth their while.
Its not always easy.
Good luck!
Arieh