I believe Stephen Fry is somewhat right but also somewhat wrong on this section about learning solely from your friends because although it is important, it is not the be all and end all. Of course you learn a lot from your peers as you all reflect and chat about the day but the formal lectures and textbooks have their place also. If anyone has ever tried to take an online class for the first time they will realize that it is very different that learning from a teacher who is a master of the given subject. I tried to take an online class with a friend but it was extremely difficult to teach ourselves and we ended up having to go for help from the teachers. In a classroom environment I'm sure that the topics we were trying to learn would have come very fast and easily for us. The time where learning from your peers is after the formal lecture when you can all reflect and share opinions and ask each other about the things that you did not understand. Chances are that at least one of your friends will be able to explain it to you.
Both learning from your peers and learning from a professor are important so I both agree and disagree with Fry at the same time.
I believe Stephen Fry is somewhat right but also somewhat wrong on this section about learning solely from your friends because although it is important, it is not the be all and end all. Of course you learn a lot from your peers as you all reflect and chat about the day but the formal lectures and textbooks have their place also. If anyone has ever tried to take an online class for the first time they will realize that it is very different that learning from a teacher who is a master of the given subject. I tried to take an online class with a friend but it was extremely difficult to teach ourselves and we ended up having to go for help from the teachers. In a classroom environment I'm sure that the topics we were trying to learn would have come very fast and easily for us. The time where learning from your peers is after the formal lecture when you can all reflect and share opinions and ask each other about the things that you did not understand. Chances are that at least one of your friends will be able to explain it to you.
Both learning from your peers and learning from a professor are important so I both agree and disagree with Fry at the same time.