Mugging up is the new VLSI – Very Low Surity of Intelligence
“In some of the cases I do accept that mugging up is of real importance, but not always. This is misinterpreted by many students, who start mugging up without even trying to understand the real cause of learning. Knowledge is to be applied. Application of mnemonics and analytics is not being applied. The members of faculty have also turned to be duty oriented and these days, it has become difficult to find a dedicated lecturer. Lack of experience or age gap, there are more number of misunderstandings in student – faculty relationship. Off late, the managements of most professional colleges have started becoming commercial. Those, who work for less salary are being absorbed no matter what knowledge they have in their respective subject”, exclaimed T. Naga Prasuna, Phd.{English literature, Malla Reddy Institute of Engineering and Technology (MRIET)}
“I’ve been teaching from the past 15 years and most often, I find my students mugging up and reproducing the same in their exams. Marks are undoubtedly, ‘the primary concern’, but the profound knowledge of the concepts is lost. If I ask a question, related to applications of the subject they read, I get surprised. They expect me to ask any question from the text book, which I know could be answered correctly or more precisely reproduced in the same way. According to me, ignorance plays a major role curbing down the probability to understand and decode things in a logical perspective”, says M. Ram Linga Reddy, professor of the Mechanical Engineering Department.
Group discussions would improve probability of understanding. Credit: Frank Einstein
“It is the responsibility of students to understand the concepts. Any college would ensure with 30% of effective guidance and the rest lies in the hands of students. This being technical education, we fix an idea that a student who is capable to reach to this stage, must have had minimum ability to understand the hard core concepts and research the same. Mugging up the concepts, will nowhere help a student until and unless he knows the exact application of the subject. As far as I know, education system from schooling follows the same principle of making students to sit and forcibly make them read. Concentration and preference is given to marks first by students and by teachers sometimes. This doesn’t mean that they have to mug up the concepts, if they really are enthusiastic, they can refer books and paraphrase them. This helps them in building knowledge about various releases”, says, M. Veera Venkata Subramanya Prasad, Asst. Professor of ECE Department, Malla Reddy Institute of Engineering and Technology.
“We expect to gain knowledge from the faculty. We are paying fee to college and, in turn, we expect the outcome. To my surprise, I hardly find a dedicated faculty who works not for sake of salary, but, for the sake of development of individuals. Most of my faculty dictates notes which are a direct copy from texts. They do not clearly illustrate of what the concept is related to. We expect them to give explanations with examples, but I’ve not seen this so far. Group discussions will help to sort this problem out but it is a tedious process. Exams demand marks, you score less and you would be preferred less no matter whatever knowledge you have in a subject. The more you are able to memorize, the best will be your result”, says Lingesh, a student of Malla Reddy Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Use technology to be a good techie. Credit: Frank Einstein
“Learning for the sake of learning is a bad idea. One must have hunger to learn something. Mugging up will not be benificial at all. Though you have outstanding scores on certificates, yet you will have to face the world which is highly competitive these days. In order to sustain the competition, one must start thinking on his own rather depending on others. Usage of technology in a positive way ( a mighty power- internet) serves as key to improve one’s intelligence. Constantly getting updated with new in technology would serve fine. Determination, love and affection towards the subject is sufficient for one to channelise one’s own talent”, says Anjaneyulu, a student of Malla Reddy Institute of Engineering and Technology.
“My daughter sits in front of the book for hours together. She is topper in her college and can answer anything if questioned from her book. My method of studying is different. There must be a change brought up in the education system”, expressed Mr. Purushotam, a parent.
“Indian education system is not good. We do not emphasize on practicality of the subject. It’s becoming difficult for us to judge of what category of students are ought to be absorbed. We interview people and at times we observe that interviewee try reproducing or recollecting the answer when questioned and are fired”, says Narasimha Rao, Administrative Manager, Infotrack Systems.
There are many ways to curb the problem down. One of the ways is emphasizing on practical applications of the subject. Group discussions and general awareness add up to improvise one’s own ability to perceive things in a better fashion.
