You Can Leave Your Hat On

I am unorthodox in my teaching style.  I admit it.  I sing, I dance, I make horrible jokes and frequently at my own expense.  Every now and again, I've pushed what is probably appropriate in a classroom.  I teach a topic that is generally agreed upon to be a pretty dry subject.  I teach technology and, typically, college aged students think they know all they need to know.  It takes all of my singing and dancing and the occasional "did she just say that?" techniques to stop students in their tracks.  I think that I am the kind of teacher that I wanted to have when I was a student: I'm odd.

Today, I take that all back.  Clearly, I am not anywhere near in league with this guy.

This Columbia University professor, Emlyn Hughes, gave memorable lecture to his quantum mechanics students.  It would seem that his logic was: "In order to learn quantum mechanics, you have to strip to your raw, erase all the garbage from your brain and start over again."  I actually kind of understand this.  It mostly reminds me of the often told story called "empty your cup."  Usually, the names and dates and roles are confused and varried, but the basic story goes like this:

A Zen master received a [university professor] [scholar] [new monk] who came to inquire about Zen.  As the master served tea, the young [smart ass] spoke at length about Zen.  The master soon poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept pouring.  The [know-it-all] watched the overflow and yelled "No more will go in!  You're wasting it!"  "Like this cup," the Master said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

I have this conversation with my students at the beginning of the semester.  I am not a Zen Master, but the sentiment is similar.  You have to let go of what you think you know in order to understand computer science or, it would seem, quantum mechanics.  I worry that what Professor Hughes was trying to do will be lost in the noise around HOW he said what he said.  He told his class to empty their cups by taking off his clothes.  I have told my students the same thing, in my own way.  And my students have never seen my underpants.  So, I guess I win.