Throw Away the Spoon! Making Life Difficult for Students

Hardman, David (2006) Throw Away the Spoon! Making Life Difficult for Students. Investigations in university teaching and learning, 4 (1). pp. 62-73. ISSN 1740-5106

Abstract

In this article I suggest that there is truth to the oft-made complaint that modern universities are spoon-feeding students. I review the distinction between deep and surface learning, and suggest that some aspects of teaching and assessment practices may encourage the latter. In the second half of the article I look at evidence for a central role of self-discipline in academic success and argue that spoon-feeding should be replaced with “desirable difficulties” for students. In addition, several other ways of fostering long-term learning are discussed.

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