Graduate quality vs. undergraduate quality

[ucbalumnus]

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@jkeil911

I think of the great researcher who’s also a great teacher of large classes of undergrads as the exception to the rule. You might find two in a department, maybe three. What you may also find is a lot of intro classes taught by grad students who are still learning whether or not they like teaching let alone how to teach.

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<p>The most common class format in common introductory courses at research universities is to have a faculty led lecture with associated smaller discussions led by TAs, not the “large lectures taught by TAs” that seem to be implied by the “LACs are always better” posters.</p>

<p>The merits or demerits of such a class format can be debated, but it does seem odd that discussions about class format often give an inaccurate impression of what people believe the class format actually is.</p>