This problem is compounded when the students feel obliged to stay in the class even if they’re not getting anything out of it. The result is a room full of tired, frustrated students terrified of being “found out” or giving the wrong answer. I encourage my undergrad students to leave and work on a problem later if their brains just aren’t up to the job, but they never do. It’s not clear if this is because of years of authoritarian schooling, or if they just don’t trust themselves to do the work outside of a classroom.
This problem is compounded when the students feel obliged to stay in the class even if they’re not getting anything out of it. The result is a room full of tired, frustrated students terrified of being “found out” or giving the wrong answer. I encourage my undergrad students to leave and work on a problem later if their brains just aren’t up to the job, but they never do. It’s not clear if this is because of years of authoritarian schooling, or if they just don’t trust themselves to do the work outside of a classroom.