The detrimental dual

Sometimes, good things come in pairs. Shoes, cookies and good movie sequels are things that we would consider normal when they come in pairs. What about college professors teaching the same course?

Before the start of this semester, I enrolled in a course that was dual-taught by two very qualified professors. I had been warned about these dual-taught courses, but I decided that the concept of having two professors teach the same course was very logical.

I thought that having two professors would give me double the insight that I would normally get about a certain topic, thus expanding my knowledge. I thought that this would be a great learning experience for me. I could not have been more wrong.

Instead, I got the opposite effect. I have definitely gotten two perspectives on all the lecture material, but that is surprisingly very distracting. One professor will elaborate on a certain subject, getting my train of thought rolling in one direction. Just as the train gets going at a steady pace, the other professor butts in with a completely different thought, causing my train of thought to derail.

Instead of giving me double the insight on certain subjects, this dual-taught course seems to be giving me negative insight because I cannot seem to stay on track on a particular concept. In addition to the learning aspect of collaborative teaching, the grading system has presented a problem as well. Normally, a student learns from one teacher and that one teacher grades examinations. In dual-taught courses, both teachers, who have conflicting perspectives and thoughts about the course material, grade each test. Essentially, there is no room for error when taking a test because either professor might think a certain part of your argument is incorrect or irrelevant.

I decided to do a little research to make sure I wasn’t the only one struggling. A quick survey of many of my classmates showed that they, too, were struggling with the same concepts I was struggling with. With more Internet research, I discovered there are groups on university campuses across the country that are trying to do away with collaborative teaching due to the same complaints I have. 

Collaborative teaching is not only wasting our time and energy, it is wasting our money. 

College costs are higher than they have ever been before, so why should we not get the quality education we are striving to achieve? These courses offered at Ole Miss should be done away with completely. They are detrimental to the education we are paying so much for. 

As you are registering for classes next semester and for future semesters at Ole Miss, let this column be a fair warning to you. Let my mistake be to your advantage.

I agree with the fact that good things come in pairs, but two professors teaching the same course does not fall into that category.

Adam Ganucheau is a sophomore journalism major from Hazlehurst. Follow him on Twitter @GanucheauAdam.