Pros and cons to teaching technique?

^Absolutely, although it’s complicated. Some of them would be fine if they matured some and got their math skills up to par. In fact, that happens. I had a student a couple of years ago who seemed so clueless that I actually suggested he change majors (I NEVER do that). He decided to drop the Fall course and returned in the Spring and actually got a B. It was exciting to see him actually succeeding, and I’m not sure how he got there. He is struggling with the follow-on courses, but maybe he will get through. I would never have thought so that first semester.