If only Seth was a university prof. In high school we did an exercise sort of like this - current events sort of thing but you had to take a news story, broaden the scope of the issue and then lead a class discussion. It’s a great feeling when you get everyone interested, talking and engaged. It really doesn’t take much to turn on that ‘wanna talk’ switch…but

On an entirely other end of that Powerpoint-y spectrum, are the presentations where you either want to scratch your eyes out, or you just have a little cry for the poor scared soul just trying to read the words on the screen. It’s just unfortunate…

Here’s how I would conduct a university class.

Walk into the room the first day and say "Look, either you read the readings and have some questions or points of discussion…or we go home early."

Second day - everyone shows up. "Got any questions?" everyone looks around the room at everyone else, waiting for someone else to say something. "Nope? Okay then, I’ll see you next week." And leave.

Know why? Because I’ve been that student who didn’t read it and just waits for someone else to take the lead. I’ve been that student who does what the rest of us lemings students do when we see a powerpoint slide - write it down word for word (and it is just plain ridiculous when they tell you not too…I’m sorry, it’s human friggin nature). And I’ve been that student, when the responsibilty to learn was thrown back at me…rose to the occasion.