[geeks] geeks Digest, Vol 86, Issue 11

[der Mouse]

> If the teacher enjoys what they're doing and is happy, that bleeds
> over to the students who do better.

This is *so* true.  In my own experience, I contrast my group theory
class with my analysis class.

The former was at some insanely early hour of the AM (it was seriously
difficult for me to get up in the morning back then) and was taught by
someone who...well, I don't actually know how he felt about teaching
it, but he certainly didn't come across as liking it.  Lectures feel in
my memory like him throwing stuff at us and it was up to us to catch it
or not.

The latter was taught by perhaps the best professor I've ever had.  He
liked the subject, he came across as liking it, and he taught as if he
cared more about the students' learning than about their getting good
grades.  (For example, he once told the class you should never study
for the 24 hours before an exam: if you don't know it by then, the most
you'll manage is a "cram, pass, and forget", which cheats everybody
involved.)  Made you work twice as hard as other classes but it felt
like half as hard.  Lectures feel in my memory less like lectures than
like a friendly roundtable with an expert[%].

No prizes for guessing whether I remember group theory or analysis
better today - or which I enjoy more. :)

[%] I've seen it said that, in cases where it works, the best way to
    learn is basically "You're here to learn $SUBJECT; I'm one of the
    resources available to you.  Have at it.".

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