Actually, we're in total agreement there. I just didn't say what I was really trying to say originally. My point about Herb having a Masters degree wasn't that it automatically makes him a good teacher; rather I mean to say that having a Masters degree in Computer Engineering validates that he doesn't lack in general technical acumen. That is, I meant to suggest that Herb is *qualified* to teach advanced, highly technical material... but may struggle to teach a Linux Security class only because he doesn't have experience with that specific technology.
Ah, ok. I was wondering if it might be something like that.
[...]The issue of whether somebody is a "good teacher" or not, is obviously a separate issue from their technical qualifications, but see below for more of how I agree with you on that issue. :-)
Absolutely. I've had a few teachers with Masters degrees and/or Phd's who appeared to be absolutely BRILLIANT, but couln't *teach* their
way out of a paper sack. I suppose you could generalize and say that
technical qualification is a necessary, but not sufficent, condition for being a "good teacher".
To go even further, I've had some great "teachers" that were horrible lecturers. I took a class once from someone who was so far above everyone in the class that it was the difference between a paper airplane and a 747. The only hope most in the class had was in slowing him down. If you came to his office and asked questions, though, he'd bend over backwards trying to come up with a way to help you understand. He was an excellent teacher but not quite so good as a lecturer, at least for the mere mortals in the class. :-)
It all comes down to tailoring your message to your audience, and this is something that is even applicable to people giving talks/classes/etc at TriLUG functions. (How's that for bringing things back on topic? ;-)
Cheers, Tanner -- Tanner Lovelace | Don't move! Or I'll fill ya full of... little [EMAIL PROTECTED] | yellow bolts of light! - Commander John Crichton -- TriLUG mailing list : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug TriLUG Organizational FAQ : http://trilug.org/faq/ TriLUG Member Services FAQ : http://members.trilug.org/services_faq/ TriLUG PGP Keyring : http://trilug.org/~chrish/trilug.asc
