In my last one year of being in a b-school, I have seen students grow indifferent to the component and they don’t care about it anymore. While some still look to score through it, others decide to not participate at all in class discussions. What most of the students feel, is that it is a component which is forcing them to give answers in class. Some professors also like to point out names and ask questions that will award marks according to your response. Even if you do not know the answer, the professor does not care, and you lose some points there, whereas someone might give an answer to a question he/she knows about. Again it comes down to the whims and wishes of the professor. It simply isn’t fair.
After completing my first year of MBA along with the internship, I can say without any doubt, that what happens on the industry floor is very different from what is taught in the classrooms. One may get an internship project, regarding which s/he may have no idea at all because the problem is very company specific or the results desired are more realistic than the theoretical knowledge that one accumulates during their education or simply because the project topic is one that was not taught in class. Class participation scores are getting us nowhere. It is high time b-schools started focusing on real and contemporary issues through better teaching methods which will help in the process of learning and not just giving answers in class.
Comments
Chirag Shukla
"I can say without any doubt, that what happens on the industry floor is very different from what is taught in the classrooms. One may get an internship project, regarding which s/he may have no idea at all because the problem is very company specific or the results desired are more realistic than the theoretical knowledge that one accumulates during their education or simply because the project topic is one that was not taught in class." This hints towards not just a problem with class participation, but a larger fundamental issue in management education! How significant is this disconnect between the industry and the classroom, according to you? Is anything that is taught of any practical use?
19 Jun 2018, 05.17 PM
MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
I couldn't agree more. Class participation kind of builds unhealthy competition. The students who are can speak even if their input is utter crap, end up getting CP marks. According to me, the class participation marks should be awarded based on the "Value Addition" done by particular student to the class. Did the student bring a new perspective? Did the student cryptically analyse the situation? Did the student have genuine doubt? These are some of the questions professors should ask for themselves before giving away the CP marks. However, The Dunning Kruger effect is so evident in cp that Students with more confidence and on the good eyes of the professors end up grabbing CP marks irrespective of value addition.
30 Jul 2019, 09.15 AM
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MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
Critically*
30 Jul 2019, 09.16 AM |
Sharad Wankhede
to the point...
30 Jul 2019, 09.20 AM
ABHISHEK KUMAR
Abhishek Kumar PGP 2021 Candidate, IIM Nagpur An insouciant thinker and a problem solver.
Hi Aroon. Well written, each an every word to the point. But I have an argument. We do we (students) need to be evaluated on our understanding in class? Does the professor think that students don't understand concepts in the class? Why was the concept of CP started? Was it to ruin the lives of students or to help them think critically? A 2 hour analysis and 1 hour discussion with friends, on the case, before the class is enough to bring in valuable (non RCP/DCP) points in the class. What if the students view the CP as a platform to discuss and defend their point, in some cases agree with others opinion, rather than speaking for marks, don't you think that CP could be a very valuable aspect in a students life?
30 Jul 2019, 10.14 AM
Soumya Swaroop Patro
A witty MBA in making from IIM Sirmaur. A Computer Science engineer, who almost forgot how to println("Hello, World!"). A potential leader in making.
precisely summed up my feelings since last year!
30 Jul 2019, 10.58 AM
Vatsal Shah
There are problems faced by companies in the industry that cannot be taught in a classroom, what can be taught is how to think differently and generate perspective to start solving the problem (which is exactly the purpose served by case studies if done sincerely). No real life problem has the same solution or can be taught theoretically. About the class participation, it's not the concept that is the issue, it is the execution even at the college you come from. The college where I was, teachers actually marked students negatively for DCP and ACP. It was all about bringing a fresh new set of ideas to a classroom as people from different backgrounds are sitting together and they obviously view a problem from different angles. As long as that is appreciated by the professor and DCP is penalised, class participation is one of the best ways to open people's mind towards problem solving by thinking from multiple angles. Lastly class participation marks were barely 5% which doesn't impact the grade exponentially but encourages people to share ideas. With no class participation component people will stop talking in class and the entire concept of peer learning will be thrown out of the window.
31 Jul 2019, 06.33 PM