Kid 1: No!, give it to me its mine!!
Kid 2: Definitely not! It is mine.. Go away!
Kid 1: Can't you see its blue in colour..
Kid 2: Hey you! Its my blue colour pencil box! My
mom got it for me.
Kid 1: No way! It is a double-back box, which only
belongs to me...
Kid 2: Hey let's look at the label on the box. Haa
do you see? It has my name written on it. See. See. See.
Kid 1: Huh??? Mummmyyyy! My box is missingg....
Interesting conversation right?? Immature kids
squabble to find out who the rightful owner is. They start by comparing the
properties of the box; the issue is resolved when they find a property (the
label which has a name) being different. So, what it all ammounts to, is an
invocation to overriden equals method of box class!
public class PencilBox {
private Color boxColor;
private boolean isDoubleBack;
private String ownerName;
@Override
public boolean equals(Object
obj) {
if (this ==
obj) {
return true;
}
if (obj ==
null) {
return false;
}
if (!(obj
instanceof PencilBox)) {
return false;
}
PencilBox
other = (PencilBox) obj;
if (boxColor
== null) {
if (other.boxColor != null) {
return false;
}
}
else if
(!boxColor.equals(other.boxColor)) {
return false;
}
if
(isDoubleBack != other.isDoubleBack) {
return false;
}
if (ownerName
== null) {
if (other.ownerName != null) {
return false;
}
}
else if
(!ownerName.equals(other.ownerName)) {
return false;
}
return true;
}
}
The point that I am making is... Why cant
professors include such anologies during the course of the lectures? These are
simple tricks to make a class interesting. Sadly, there are very few who do
that. Taking into account a student's difficulties in sitting in a class for an
hour, why shouldn't a prof aim at keeping the class enthusiastic. I would
deliver such a lecture if only I were a prof.
Say I would have to lecture on Comparable
interface, the conversation I would provide is this:
Dad: Only 87?? Why??? Why didn't you score a 100?
Son: Dad, only 5 people have got above 80 and only
1 above 90! No 100s this time dad.
Dad: Don't you say that! Why were you not that
person who scored 90.
Son: Dad!!
Dad: Are you aware of something? At your age,
Einstein was a brilliant student!
Son: Dad, at your age, Nehru was the Prime Minister
of India. Please don't compare me with others!
Hmm.. that's right... To all parents out there,
don't ever compare your kids with their friends. Well, students do not
implement Comparable interface; so you cant do that!
Here is a report on "The
Teaching-With-Analogies Model" :
"An analogy is a similarity between concepts.
Analogies can help students build conceptual bridges between what is familiar
and what is new. Often, new concepts represent complex, hard-to-visualize
systems with interacting parts. Analogies can serve as early “mental models”
that students can use to form limited but meaningful understandings of complex
concepts. Analogies can play an important role in helping students construct
their own knowledge, a process that is encouraged in the Standards and
consistent with a constructive view of learning. As students' develop
cognitively and learn more science, they will evolve beyond these simple
analogies, adopting more sophisticated and powerful mental models. The model
has been validated in formal experiments and classroom settings in which the
strategic use of analogies has been found to increase students’ learning and
interest."
I wish to stress on the point that to be or not to
be a good lecturer completely depends on the way a professor carries himself in
the class. India has produced great gurus – Dronacharyar, Ramanujar,
Adisankarar, Dr. Radhakrishnan, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the list is actually
endless. Who would forget the famous story of Dr. Radhakrishnan's carriage
being pulled by students with cries of 'Radhakrishnan ki jai', when he left the
Calcutta university. Devotion towards to gurus is absolutely essential for a
student to progress. We learn this from many - Vishwamitra - Rama, Krishna
- Arjuna, Satakopar - Madurakavi, Ramanujar - Ananthazhwar etc. Acharya
Devo Bhava!
Professors can bring about a significant change in
students lives. Professors, inspire and carry them with you, for they will
bring all laurels back to you!
Reference: The Teaching With Analogies
Model, http://www.coe.uga.edu/twa/PDF/Glynn_2007_article.pdf
