Thread

1. a57721 · 1790407197 · focus · HN ↗

   I am teaching some math courses, and I see how LLMs disrupted all standard approaches, and I don't know what to do.

   I rely on written exams that are open book, but forbid any use of computers and smartphones in class.

   The university insists that homework can't be optional, but it lost its meaning. I've tried to explain to my students that it's in their interest to think about home assignments on their own, but the majority will obviously use gen AI, and it's such a waste of time to check and grade LLM output.

   I just had an experience where all students were given "sample problems" to try at home and prepare for the written test. Many of them just dumped the document into an LLM, asked it to produce some "exam guide", and showed up with that thing printed out, asking me during the test to explain what LLM output meant.

   It seems like the university also has many people pushing for AI use for everything, but I teach basic stuff where the goal is to make students think on their own and digest some fundamental ideas, LLMs can produce perfect solutions, but relying on them is pointless.

   1. throw93038383 · 1790407512 · focus · HN ↗

      > I've tried to explain to my students that it's in their interest

      Perhaps some people do not belong at university? It is just a waste of everyone time, to insist 50% of population studies until 25 years old.

      1. ant6n · 1790410964 · focus · HN ↗

         It's like we're putting everybody on crack and then say they're too weak if they become addicted.

         1. Hendrikto · 1790414803 · focus · HN ↗

            If you do not want to learn, and take every shortcut available to avoid it, university might not be the path for you.

            1. johnnyanmac · 1790493983 · focus · HN ↗

               1. We don't exactly do a great job showing upcoming adults their options and paths in life to begin with.

               2. We're also actively giving them less paths in life to begin with. How many high school grads @ 18 will find any job whatsoever without additional school/training, and how else will they afford housing with zero income? The military is the only consistent employer at that age, and the only one who'd provide shelter with the deal.

               3. On top of all that, it's in university's best interests to keep 1) and 2) the way they are. Their incentives start at recruitment, and end at enrollment. Past keeping them in college for 4-6 years, they do not care about performance, post-grad job placement, nor societal wellbeing. And part of that is due to a lack of pressure in the recruitment stage to make universities focus on such metrics. Turns out a fancy new gym is a cheaper investment.

               1. threatofrain · 1790508535 · focus · HN ↗

                  By the time you are 18 and going to college it’s time to reap your lifetime of prep, you’re about to spend a ton of money to specialize. What does it mean to show you all the doors and motivations of life when you’re basically going “all in” on a domain?

                  Hopefully it doesn’t mean extending high school two years into college, still prepping to make a bet not yet made.

                  1. alpaca128 · 1790511614 · focus · HN ↗

                     That lifetime of prep is completely disconnected from actual job & life experience. The kids are shown all the doors but have to choose without first opening any. Aside from the occasional internship they might have done by that point or a glimpse into what their parents are doing, which is very hit or miss.

                     As long as students ask the teacher what they're going to need understanding of maths for they are not prepared adequately.

                  2. johnnyanmac · 1790533720 · focus · HN ↗

                     >What does it mean to show you all the doors and motivations of life when you’re basically going “all in” on a domain?

                     I don't know about you, but I sure didn't have my life set at 18.I could have easily been a mechanical or electrical engineer if my alma mater rejected me. And that was more focused than most students.

                     It pretty much means what it says on the tin. Before hoisting an 18yo with the sudden responsibility of an adult, show them what lies beyond their GED. That's not just limited to college; there's many more roads out there and seeing what options motivate you can let you try to specialize while you're still in your prep phase.

                     That's precisely why some student go into a major undeclared or even take a gap year after graduating. No one gave them that exploratory transition time, so some make it for themselves.

            2. ant6n · 1790760413 · focus · HN ↗

               That's easy to say. I might as well say nobody wants to be addicted to crack (or whatever drug), yet here we are.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.