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Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?
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I took a semester where a professor was teaching Statistics. He gave out no lecture materials or no name of text books.
When I asked him for a text book name, he gave me a name of a 1000+ page book.
I could not find anything relevant in the text book which matches his lectures.
Finally, I quit the course.
The same thing happened to my Numerical Analysis course.
Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?
lecture-teaching-method
asked 2 hours ago
yahoo.com
368318
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up vote
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down vote
favorite
I took a semester where a professor was teaching Statistics. He gave out no lecture materials or no name of text books.
When I asked him for a text book name, he gave me a name of a 1000+ page book.
I could not find anything relevant in the text book which matches his lectures.
Finally, I quit the course.
The same thing happened to my Numerical Analysis course.
Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?
lecture-teaching-method
asked 2 hours ago
yahoo.com
368318
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I took a semester where a professor was teaching Statistics. He gave out no lecture materials or no name of text books.
When I asked him for a text book name, he gave me a name of a 1000+ page book.
I could not find anything relevant in the text book which matches his lectures.
Finally, I quit the course.
The same thing happened to my Numerical Analysis course.
Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?
lecture-teaching-method
asked 2 hours ago
yahoo.com
368318
I took a semester where a professor was teaching Statistics. He gave out no lecture materials or no name of text books.
When I asked him for a text book name, he gave me a name of a 1000+ page book.
I could not find anything relevant in the text book which matches his lectures.
Finally, I quit the course.
The same thing happened to my Numerical Analysis course.
Why don't some professors recommend a text book for a course?
lecture-teaching-method
lecture-teaching-method
asked 2 hours ago
yahoo.com
368318
asked 2 hours ago
yahoo.com
368318
asked 2 hours ago
yahoo.com
368318
asked 2 hours ago
yahoo.com
368318
asked 2 hours ago
yahoo.com
368318
368318
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.
Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.
A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.
Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.
Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.
Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.
Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.
I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.
answered 2 hours ago
Buffy
16.9k55193
I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
– Solar Mike
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.
But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?
answered 50 mins ago
SmallChess
1,5491820
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.
answered 1 min ago
CodeNamePope
1
New contributor
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.
Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.
A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.
Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.
Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.
Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.
Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.
I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.
answered 2 hours ago
Buffy
16.9k55193
I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
– Solar Mike
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.
Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.
A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.
Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.
Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.
Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.
Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.
I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.
answered 2 hours ago
Buffy
16.9k55193
I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
– Solar Mike
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.
Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.
A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.
Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.
Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.
Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.
Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.
I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.
answered 2 hours ago
Buffy
16.9k55193
For individual courses and professors you need to ask the professor. However, there are a number of reasons why someone might want to make no recommendation.
Least likely is that the prof feels that any book is as good as any other.
A bit more likely is that the prof feels that any book is as bad as any other.
Up the scale a bit is the sense (possibly misplaced) that the prof's lectures are all the student will need. If this is the case, the student's are strongly advised to attend every lecture and take lots of notes. For some this is a valid position if the professor also puts extensive materials online or otherwise makes them available. However, it can also be a trap if the professor thinks that lectures deliver the needed information and skills perfectly to every student. That is a serious error of judgement.
Another reason is that the prof wants the students to actually seek out answers to questions online or in the (gasp) library. Some professors don't answer questions with answers but with a strategy for finding the answer. This, of course, disadvantages lazy students.
Still higher on the (my) list is that the course is intended to use active learning and so more passive approaches (reading, watching, listening) are discouraged and the student is expected to do most of his or her learning by doing exercises and projects. For Statistics and Numerical Analysis, this seems to me to be a worthy goal. I find it useful also in much of computer science.
Given that one learns by practice and reinforcement, this last strategy can be very effective. Active learning gives you an operational knowledge of a subject that reading (or even reading and underlining) a book won't.
I have, on occasion, "recommended" a book, not for help on the things in the course, but for things that won't be covered. There was no obligation to buy the book. I've also made such recommendations about a pair of quite different books for the same reason.
answered 2 hours ago
Buffy
16.9k55193
edited 38 mins ago
answered 2 hours ago
Buffy
16.9k55193
answered 2 hours ago
Buffy
16.9k55193
answered 2 hours ago
Buffy
16.9k55193
16.9k55193
I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
– Solar Mike
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
– Solar Mike
6 mins ago
I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
– Solar Mike
6 mins ago
I totally agree with the "active learning" bit and that is how I work my course (demonstration of method with detail and lots of practise after). plus one from me just for that.
– Solar Mike
6 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.
But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?
answered 50 mins ago
SmallChess
1,5491820
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.
But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?
answered 50 mins ago
SmallChess
1,5491820
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.
But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?
answered 50 mins ago
SmallChess
1,5491820
Reasons could be anything, down to personality preference. If you had an advanced statistic course, there might not be a book that covers your materials.
But this is 2018. You have Google, digital library, Amazon... Why can't you do some searching yourself?
answered 50 mins ago
SmallChess
1,5491820
answered 50 mins ago
SmallChess
1,5491820
answered 50 mins ago
SmallChess
1,5491820
answered 50 mins ago
SmallChess
1,5491820
1,5491820
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.
answered 1 min ago
CodeNamePope
1
New contributor
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.
answered 1 min ago
CodeNamePope
1
New contributor
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.
answered 1 min ago
CodeNamePope
1
New contributor
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Not every Professor is a great Professor. I’ve had great instructors and some terrible ones. You can usually feel them out at the beginning of a course. If the syllabus is all over the place, the organization is lacking, the books don’t match the lectures or provided materials ... it’s safe to say you aren’t with one of the great ones. Unfortunately the only thing you could do is, fight through it or drop the class. You can’t force people to be better Professors. Some have the fire and some don’t.
answered 1 min ago
CodeNamePope
1
New contributor
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 1 min ago
CodeNamePope
1
New contributor
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 1 min ago
CodeNamePope
1
answered 1 min ago
CodeNamePope
1
1
New contributor
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
CodeNamePope is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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