Extra lectures should be prohibited. A few caveats before I make this argument.
- Unless they significantly add to knowledge or, in the alternative, the absence of the extra lecture diminishes the value an individual gets out of a particular course, lectures ought to be conducted within the scheduled class hours.
- Extraneous circumstances which may require extra lectures – such as the cancellation of classes. These too, however, should be slotted within the regular time-table.
Naturally, these thoughts stem out of the fact that I had a set of extra guest lectures this afternoon from 2pm – 4pm. I paid attention for some time and then, I must confess, I switched off and began to read a book. This is traditional/typical University behaviour. My reason for switching off was primarily because the afternoon is when I usually switch off and take time to do things that I consider leisurely, and there was no way I was giving that up for the lecture that happened today.
I think afternoon lectures are just unproductive for all parties.
I recognize there is no argument here. This is just a display of frustration in some keystrokes.
Also, it’s March, so the attendance calculations have begun every morning. Sigh. I will miss these days.
Tejas Rao 