Learning is also a responsibility

In general, Maths needs lot more participation from students than any other subject. Understanding of a concept, even at a face-level, requires immediate involvement from the student. More involvement from a student will earn him even deeper insight into how maths works.

If students are not willing to think (as is often the case with maths) they are less likely to understand the working of the Maths. Understanding can happen when there is both, teaching efforts and learning efforts. While there is a lot of focus on teaching efforts today, we don't seem to pay much attention to the need of learning efforts.

I have observed that students who are unwilling to do the maths work are most likely to claim that they haven't understood the sum - when the time comes to check the sums. This is almost a sure sign of an excuse. This distracts teachers into thinking that better explanation would lead to the understanding. However for these students 'not understanding' is an excuse to avoid work and a way to put the ball in teacher's court.

This has resulted in commonly seen attitude amongst students (and parents as well) that teacher is whole and sole of education. We all understand that teaching is teacher's responsibility. But do we understand that learning is equally serious and demanding responsibility on the students ? Good understanding of a concept can happen only when both, teachers and students, are making efforts to meet their responsibility.

PS: I was made aware of this parity by a teacher friend of mine. I was making a feedback form for the course I had just taught. I asked my students, "What contributions did you make to make this course successful and useful to you ?" and got back equivalent of a blank-look saying, "us ? do we have to do something as well ?".