Comment Re:What we do/don't need in Calculus. (Score 1) 1153
To clarify my below comment, I use your running analogy:
- while two runners may run at the same speed, they may not start from the same position. I do not care who "wins" (is the fist) I care only how far they get at the end
- unlike running, it is not immediately obvious who runs faster
- running speed is not constant, but grows slowly. For some students it starts growing later but stronger and lets them close the gap
- some students are behind because of an injury -- you cure them and they will be as fast as the others
- unlike running, you are not alone
Of course there are guys that will never be up to the challenge. It is just quite complex to figure out which ones. Have you been to "class reunion" (is this the correct English term?) events? Which are the students who lived up to everyones expectations? Who were the ones that surprised you?
I personally think that assessing people is very hard, and most of us think that we are good judge of character. I keep a mental list on people I misjudged and that constantly reminds me how hard is to judge others.