We have a big community/junior college system in California that allows a person to do the first two years of college very cheaply, and then you could either get an AA or move up to a larger university for the final two years and for your major. Saves a ton of money that way! My son did that, and after his community college two years he went to UC Davis for his science course major. He said the teachers and education he got at the community college were far superior to what he got at the UC, where highly paid and much vaunted professors didn't even bother to teach their own classes, relying instead on teaching assistants. It was a major ripoff of epic proportions. Important math classes (as well as other courses) were held in big theaters with as many as 700 students in one case. In community/junior college there were a maximum of about 30 students in a classroom. This makes a huge difference because there can be interaction with the teacher and other students.
Yeah, I've heard of university classes with +000's of students. That's not learning or teaching; that's just a money grab by the institution.
I remember our Business Math teacher talking to a student one day. The student was having difficulty in grasping something (I don't remember what) and the teacher said "If you're having problems with this problem; this is probably the problem....".
Community college instructors don't have to publish. It's easy to get with them if you are having difficulty with a concept. They truly are there for the student, or they were when I was in classes.
Same in Florida. My son got his AA and then went to UCF. He had a great experience in junior (community) college with the average class size about 25. I got my AA from the local community college, then went back and got an RN at the same school (a 2 year degree). Finally got my BSN from UNF. My son transferred to UCF and went to university classes on campus. I don't think he had any of those auditorium size classes because he came in as a junior. I got my BS online. My daughter went to FL State. She was in the honors program so she didn't have any of those auditorium classes.
All those community colleges in Florida are now state colleges and offer 4 year degrees. Each one offers specific four year degrees in specialized areas. All credits are transferable to Florida universities. FCCJ (Florida Community College of Jacksonville) now FSCJ (Florida State College at Jacksonville) offers over 63 2 year certificate programs. Many of these are highly paid careers and all are valuable to the community.
I agree. Many of the instructors have real life experience. Certainly all those teaching the business courses did. Makes a difference. I went on to get my BSN eventually.
Praise to the Associate's Degree! Got mine in '91, in Data Processing.
We have a big community/junior college system in California that allows a person to do the first two years of college very cheaply, and then you could either get an AA or move up to a larger university for the final two years and for your major. Saves a ton of money that way! My son did that, and after his community college two years he went to UC Davis for his science course major. He said the teachers and education he got at the community college were far superior to what he got at the UC, where highly paid and much vaunted professors didn't even bother to teach their own classes, relying instead on teaching assistants. It was a major ripoff of epic proportions. Important math classes (as well as other courses) were held in big theaters with as many as 700 students in one case. In community/junior college there were a maximum of about 30 students in a classroom. This makes a huge difference because there can be interaction with the teacher and other students.
Yeah, I've heard of university classes with +000's of students. That's not learning or teaching; that's just a money grab by the institution.
I remember our Business Math teacher talking to a student one day. The student was having difficulty in grasping something (I don't remember what) and the teacher said "If you're having problems with this problem; this is probably the problem....".
I thought it was funny.....
Community college instructors don't have to publish. It's easy to get with them if you are having difficulty with a concept. They truly are there for the student, or they were when I was in classes.
Same in Florida. My son got his AA and then went to UCF. He had a great experience in junior (community) college with the average class size about 25. I got my AA from the local community college, then went back and got an RN at the same school (a 2 year degree). Finally got my BSN from UNF. My son transferred to UCF and went to university classes on campus. I don't think he had any of those auditorium size classes because he came in as a junior. I got my BS online. My daughter went to FL State. She was in the honors program so she didn't have any of those auditorium classes.
All those community colleges in Florida are now state colleges and offer 4 year degrees. Each one offers specific four year degrees in specialized areas. All credits are transferable to Florida universities. FCCJ (Florida Community College of Jacksonville) now FSCJ (Florida State College at Jacksonville) offers over 63 2 year certificate programs. Many of these are highly paid careers and all are valuable to the community.
I agree. Many of the instructors have real life experience. Certainly all those teaching the business courses did. Makes a difference. I went on to get my BSN eventually.