Wesley Joyce0:00 So this is my fourth and final year here at Georgia Tech, and as a construction management major, I would say probably 80% of my construction classes have been taught by ex-industry professionals who have since come back to teach either as like a passion project or they're getting their PhD and then going back into the industry.0:25 But the other 20% of my classes have been taught by what I don't know if this is the correct term, but I would say pure academics, as then people who got their undergrad, went straight into grad school, became an assistant professor, lecturer, and have just continued to teach.0:44 And construction is an industry that is resistant to change and things are changing, and tech likes to be at the forefront of all change.0:57 And so, you know, when I when I get to these, for example, my I'm in a class right now, it's called Integrated Construction and Design, and it's about the new contract types that are starting to take over in the market.1:13 And when I say starting to take over, these integrated as in general contractors and um architects working together, they still only amount to about 10% of all contract types, and it's something I probably won't see for, you know, it could be 15 years into my career before I work on a site like that.1:33 Um it's being taught to me by a woman who's very smart, but she's never worked for a general contractor, and she's never managed any of these contracts she's teaching me about.1:45 And she's done, you know, extensive research on the outcomes of these projects, but she hasn't lived the experience.1:55 And the guest speakers she brings into the class are also you know, academics from Georgia Tech who are writing their thesis on these topics, but also have no lived experience with it.2:08 So, you know, when I'm writing my reflections about all these case studies and whatnot, it almost feels like I'm just talking about you know, like pretend scenarios because these are just like random case studies she generates.2:26 And that and I and I feel I and also I just am more willing to listen to somebody who has real world experience and has walked what I'm about to walk in the early stages of my career.2:38 So I feel like this class is a good example of a class that you should have a required um you should have industry experience with different contract types to teach us about them.2:52 Like she's learned the same thing I've learned about the I mean on a more extensive level, but she's never gone into the real world and seen this.2:59 And so I think this is you know, I talked a lot about construction in this, but I think this is applicable to a lot of things that are you know like um real real world application.3:09 Like how can you teach the real world application when you've never applied it in the real world?3:13 So I want to hear y'all's thoughts on this because I know there's probably some professors who are better than others, but I feel like I've been wasting my time with this class, and I don't think she's a good professor for it.
Vansh Patel0:00 Wesley, I think you brought up a very strong argument and interesting question on how the college system should be structured.0:09 And as a Georgia Tech student, I've definitely thought about this.0:13 Um I think the college system now has really been restructured to the point where we are going to college rather to get a degree than to be educated.0:25 I mean, I can't think of the last time I talked to a student who said, yeah, I'm really interested in this course.0:32 I'm really just here to learn.0:34 I don't care about my grade.0:35 And I think that's gonna pose a severe problem in the coming years at careers.0:41 I mean I I understand the idea of general courses.0:46 I think, in my opinion, to answer your question, the college system should be structured with the first one to two years possibly of general education courses and background to your career and pertaining to just general knowledge.1:03 I think a balanced student is the best kind of student.1:06 And I think to have that broadness of knowledge would be beneficial to all careers.1:13 And I really think the third and fourth year, possibly even after, should be experience-based learning.1:21 I think that's the best teacher you can ever have in life.1:24 And I think the professors for that should be experience-based professors rather than pure academics, like you mentioned.1:33 I think people who have worked in that career, like such as the medical field.1:38 I think doctors should be the one teaching that.2:05 I think college should be that foundation that allows the transition to working a real job and being able to manage larger projects such as these.2:18 I think we are at Georgia Tech for a reason, and that is to advance in the industry we are choosing.2:24 And I think that's the only necessary step we need to take as a college system.2:31 I think experience-based learning should be on our priority for the next upcoming years.2:36 And I think that's something that we really need to focus on.
Casey Comerford0:00 Yeah, Wesley, that's a great point.0:02 Um, just thinking to my time in business school, um, I do feel like I've been taught mostly by pure academics or you know, whoever those people that you're describing.0:11 Um they're good.0:13 I mean, they teach you the basics, what you need to know, more of just an academic standboy, and they're kind of just re-reiterating what a textbook is saying about, say, marketing, for example.0:22 Um, but where I've really learned the most in the shortest amount of time is through direct calls with people who are still in or or have worked um in different industries.0:34 They I feel like have been able to give me the most knowledge that's actually applicable for me to be successful in the future.0:40 Um, and obviously you do need some of those academics to teach you just the basics, the formulas, stuff like that.0:45 But I mean, I think someone who has worked in the field can do that that same thing while also giving you, you know, their own advice or their you know, their talk about their own experiences where you kind of get a mix of both.0:57 Um and that'll kind of prepare you more to handle interviews, getting jobs, and then in the future, actually knowing how to manage people and work those jobs, as opposed to just getting taught stuff out of the textbook from an academic.1:11 Um, you know, I think it is definitely harder to find those those peak those ex-workers in the field.1:18 Um, and at the same time, I do think it is, you know, a student's job to go out of their way and try to connect with those people.1:24 Um, but I do think if those people could could could come into the classrooms and teach, uh it we it would definitely be more beneficial.1:30 Um just because at the end of the day, school isn't just about memorizing formulas, it's about learning how to interact with people and the field you're gonna be in, how to manage people, how to work with people.1:40 And I think getting someone who has gotten that experience in the field is invaluable.1:45 Um and you'll learn more things from them just from the stories they tell and advice they give than you will from a textbook or a scholar.