[benjvi]

Hasn't education always been about providing systems that encourage people to challenge themselves and learn difficult things (and signalling)? I am sure that it has always been possible to go to the library and learn almost anything you might to. And, the internet has built upon that capability. So, its legitimate to criticise a class for not challenging you or not supporting you.

[restofus]

You say encourage to challenge themselves (Internal) and then say the course must challenge them (external factor). In any course the basics are thought and the student must take it on themselves to learn more and ask when they do not understand. If you have played any sport the basics are easy but you spend time and practice so if your coach says hit the ball from 10 yards and if you feel that is easy you can move back to hit the ball from further why do you expect the coach to tell you that.You can ask the prof for more complex examples or use the homework in a real world example. This seems to be a case about he gets the same marks as me and I know a lot more than him.