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Luke_A_Somers comments on Help Reform A Philosophy Curriculum - Less Wrong Discussion

22 Post author: JonathanLivengood 08 December 2012 10:45PM

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Tags: philosophy logic curriculum help

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Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 10 December 2012 03:49:15PM *  3 points [-]

If you're going to back off on the gating, you need to provide sufficient guidance to the students on what they will practically need to know that they can make an informed choice. I took a course in baroque music that went very badly. If I had known how much music theory I would have to have, and how much facility I would have to have with it, I would not have taken the course.

Comment author: JonathanLivengood 11 December 2012 04:37:34AM 0 points [-]

Good point.

Comment author: loup-vaillant 14 December 2012 05:07:56PM *  2 points [-]

So, we have a few alternatives:

  1. No filters at all.
  2. Full gating (if you didn't went through the prerequisite courses, you're out).
  3. Instructor's approval.
  4. Entry tests.
  5. Big warnings about prerequisites.

I think the best way is probably a mix:

  • If you took (and passed) the prerequisite courses, you can enter.
  • Otherwise, you pass the entry test (if available).
    • Above some threshold, you can enter.
    • Below some threshold, you're toast.
    • Between them, you need instructor approval.

The idea is to make prerequisite courses optional, while keeping the actual proficiency of the prerequisite material mandatory.

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