A prof. from IIT-Madras has come over to TI to give brief training on selected topics. I am attending that training. It is very useful and all. You are taken through all the basics and things are quickly put in perspective for you; And its a quick way to get introduced to a new topic.

But there are somethings which I don't like about sitting in a classroom. The professor, in most cases, knows what he is talking about. And he is prepared. He knows exactly what he is going to say. So he says it very fast. OK this so this because of this, therefore that. All of which you quickly agree with, because it is put in such a logical fashion and two because the prof has already gone on to another sentence and he is making another point.

What I am saying is there is no time to actually question and understand and reconcile yourself with everything the prof is saying. Sometimes you think you have understood the point but actually you havent. You would have found out that you had'nt if you had given it some more thought, for which there was no time. Some profs (or others who are putting you fundaes) have a cajoling or a bullying attitude ("You will agree that this definitely is...") , which sort of makes you 'agree' with them quickly. I myself, when I am explaining somethings, in Design reviews or team meatings, have the cajoling attitude, I think.

The prof sometimes asks questions to keep his audience interested. Some are simple ones asked just to get a response and some are difficult ones to promote thought. Somepeople are blessed with enough confidence to quickly judge which are which and answer appropriately. I end up quickly ( and hence wrongly) answering the difficult ones and consequently double-checking before answering the easy ones. The whole thing is extremely painful. Some questions are trick questions which the prof asks so that he can smile patronizingly at you once you have answered wrongly.

Design that way is much more forgiving that way. You have enough time to make the subject yours before you face an audience which will test your command over it. And several times you get apportunities to pose and answer your own questions.