[nmrm]

"And I think that's what a lot of professors forget - BE MORE INTERESTING. Have a better presentation style. Take public speaking classes. Do something to make yourself stand out above the distraction of internet and devices."

Have you done a lot of teaching?

As a matter of fact, managing a course-long sequence of lectures in a way that keeps everyone engaged is infinitely more difficult than keeping everyone engaged in a one-off conference presentation.

Your entire comment supposes that the content is interesting to the entire class, that you're moving at an appropriate rate for everyone in the course. This is never the case.

I don't care how engaging the lecturer is. If it's a lecture on linked lists (or something else I already know about) then, unless I plan on teaching in the future, I'm going to get work done instead of listening. Similarly, if the lecturer takes a class period to pound in an important concept I've already internalized, I'm going to get something done while s/he catches the rest of the class up.

The only way to make sure everyone has good reason to pay attention is to teach a very difficult topic. Which is why "not paying attention" is nearly non-existent in canonically difficult courses, regardless of the quality of presentation style.

[Swizec]

> Have you done a lot of teaching? > As a matter of fact, managing a course-long sequence of lectures in a way that keeps everyone engaged is infinitely more difficult than keeping everyone engaged in a one-off conference presentation.

No I haven't and yes that's totally understandable. But in my experience a lot of lecturers don't even try (or they probably do, but fail to different extents)

> The only way to make sure everyone has good reason to pay attention is to teach a very difficult topic. Which is why "not paying attention" is nearly non-existent in canonically difficult courses, regardless of the quality of presentation style.

Not in my experience. I've been to plenty of classes that were extremely difficult, but I just could not bring myself to pay attention to the presenter for longer than a minute at a time. I just couldn't.

[henrikschroder]

> but I just could not bring myself to pay attention to the presenter for longer than a minute at a tim

Then maybe the problem is you, not the presenter.

[Swizec]

Have you ever listened to somebody who is "so passionate" about the subject they're teaching that it looks like they're putting themselves to sleep?

But yes the problem is also partially me. I have a lot of trouble focusing on people talking. Especially if it isn't a one-on-one conversation. I think it's an issue with mismatched speed of comprehension and presentation (it's also why I have trouble listening to podcasts and such)