Creativity is a great motivator

I understood this beginning in my fifth-grade math class, when I started bringing in books to hold in my lap and read while the rest of the class did busy work. The teacher had created 'packets' of repetitive worksheets and students were supposed to collect them and fill them out, then she would sit at her desk the entire period and grade them. You got a star by your name on a wall chart for each packet you completed. I got the first packet to sit on my desk as a prop, but never wrote on it. That was the whole class, even as a child I recognized this had to be the dullest and laziest teacher ever. I tuned out and read some great books instead. The math wasn't that hard and I did okay on my tests.

The fun part was several months later when the students began to notice that while everyone had dozens of stars by their names, one student had none at all. One of the other students raised their hand and asked her about it in front of everyone else (I was amazed the teacher had never noticed). She was upset and berated me about it in front of the class, then sent me to the Principal's office. I knew instinctively that she was totally fucked for being so clueless, and I happily explained exactly what I did to the Principal and later to my parents. I wasn't in trouble and I knew it. About a week later a new teacher was brought in and she was great, she interacted with the class and I started participating because class was once again more interesting. I don't know how a teacher that bad ever got hired, but at least the school did the right thing later.

I agree with you. But I think what needs to be emphasised is that the teaching should be geared towards creating something throughout the semester or at the end of semester, instead of just culminating in an exam that in the end that nobody wants to see. I know some subjects still needs the exam approach, but it would be nice if more classes are designed in a way to build something.

Ah, university notes. By the time we get to university, we're usually in good hands and you're smart enough to make it regardless of what you think about your education.

The issue is more about public education policy and the millions who don't make it to higher education, or who waste it. And all the lower level classes that don't amount to anything.

For someone to amount to something, they need to be productive. If you have a job, you know this by heart. Your production is the amount to measure, just as an artist is measured by their paintings. And to say mathematics or programming is about learning before building is total BS. Most self taught programmers do so building things. Engineering requires understanding, so if you've engineered it, you've acquired the knowledge.

If something has no productive value, then it would have no value (beyond academia). So the key is simply this: Make sure to arrive at productive value before the end of each course, and let students experience the production of it.

Of course there are better schools, better classes, and better teachers who practice this. There are students who get it, and already do it without being told. It's just that the whole paradigm is still backwards.