How college at Hopkins is different from high school

High school

The vast majority of students in this audience received an A in last high school math
course, and were in the top quarter of that math class.

Common view of what a good teacher does: Makes sure that the students learn;
teaches at the student's level.

Which student? [not you!] and what sort of level? [high school]

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Hopkins

The history (in Calculus I and II): Only somewhat more than half actually do, and
on the average, 10% or so do unsatisfactory work.

Reason: An issue of attitude (unwillingness to work), not ability.

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Changes from high school:

Two basic differences (see the Hopkins Freshman Planner, page 7):

. . . . . 1. Most of the learning takes place outside the classroom.

. . . . . 2. It's the student's responsibility to learn the material.

Role of the college instructor: to guide the students' learning.

It's not to cover the material, for that's the textbook's job.

It's not to teach everything to the student: Teaching in college becomes a cooperative
effort shared by the instructor and the student.
You are expected to learn also from written materials---even in mathematics!
(This includes the students' looking over the material in the textbook beforehand to
prepare to receive the lectures).

Common misconception: . . . . . College will be like high school, perhaps a bit harder. . . . NEXT: