Greg, et al, I agree that repetition is the way to rote memorization, if not understanding. Unfortunately, we do have time constraints and must move on each day. That said, there is a certain degree of repetition in that many succeeding labs contain portions of previous labs.
At the CCNP level we assume a certain degree of motivation and seriousness of purpose on the part of the student. We provide open lab time for them to practice. Also, we hope to soon be implementing a web based simulator that will allow students to practice at home. I am afraid though, that some students equate the academy program to a Cisco approved brain-dump and aren't prepared to put in the hours out of class that are required. Now matter how forcefully I tell them at the beginning, they still don't come into class properly prepared. I'm sure you have had the same experience with your students (those would be the ones ending up as slip&fall specialists, right?). :) Best Holiday Wishes to You and Yours, Prof. Tom Lisa, CCAI Community College of Southern Nevada Cisco Regional Networking Academy P.S. I don't consider reading your posts a waste of time. Greg Macaulay wrote: > Hello Tom -- and "et al" > > Now that the crush of the holidays are ebbing I can try and focus on some > email responses which are past due. > > Tom, I didn't intend by my original response to negate any specific > professor/trainer/teacher. I simply cited my own personal experience that I > found successful in teaching. Perhaps it was because I was trained in a > "rigid" catholic elementary school. But I have found that "reps" and > "continued reps" tend to reinforce tasks to the brain that a "one-time only" > exhibition (which is usually undertaken "once" because of time constraints) > fails to ensure a student truly understands. For myself, I learned the > multiplication tables standing in the aisles with my classmates and loudly > reciting (and re-reciting) many times 1x1=1, 1x2=2, etc. until it was > permanently stamped on my brain. I have transferred (for better or worse) > those teaching traits to my own teaching along with personal -- one-on-one > sessions. > > The personal sessions I have utilized to give a student confidence and to > allow for each student to ask questions that he/she would otherwise be > reluctant to raise in front of their peers -- for whatever reason. Also, > these sessions allow me to drive home the various concepts I have been > teaching and to ensure -- as much as humanly possible -- that each of my > students has a firm grasp on these concepts. I have always believed that it > was my responsibility as a teacher to ensure that my methods were successful > for each of my students. On the other hand, I don't sugggest that a teacher > is shirking their duties by not doing this. Rather, I consider it my > personal responsibility. > > Anyway, enuf ( I always wanted to spell it that way -- God Bless you Sr. > Victoria!!! ) preaching. Just, a further explanation of my own .02!! > Have a great New Year to you Tom (and your family) and to everyone else who > may want to waste time reading this thread!!!! > > Greg Macaulay > (Almost) Oldest CCNP/CCDP on Earth > Lifetime AARP member > Retired Attorney/Law Professor > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tom Lisa" > To: > Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 2:45 AM > Subject: Re: cisco academy's routing skills final ,tough!!! [7:29212] > > > Greg, > > > > You may not be aware, but many, if not all, academies allow the student a > > retake if they fail the Skills Based Assessment (practical exam in plain > > english -- just put that in since you're a lawyer) the first time. Every > > area > > tasked in the practical is covered at least once in a lab experiment > > during the semester. > > > > The 60% failure rate I had indicated was for the first try. Final pass > rate > > was 90%. I don't think this is an unacceptable failure rate for CCNP > > level students. BTW, I am reminded, from my days as a consultant for > > law office management systems, that there isn't anything brief about a > > legal brief. > > > > Happy Holidays All, > > > > Prof. Tom Lisa, CCAI > > Community College of Southern Nevada > > Cisco Regional Networking Academy > > (Still Pres., Groupstudy Old Geezers Club) Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=30288&t=29212 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
