Sunday, October 23, 2011

Prototypes vs. Stereotypes

In class, I used the example of the old white dude with a tweed jacket with suede elbow pads as a prototypical example of a professor. One of my students made the apt point that this sounded more like a stereotype. After pondering this, well this student was correct. This would be an example of a stereotype. Stereotypes may inform our prototypes, however prototypes are based on personal preferences (thanks to Sam for putting it this way) and experiences. So for example, your example of the perfect instructor results from your personal experiences of past instructors, your learning style, and etc, but your notion of the perfect professor may still be informed by cultural icons such as Robin Williams' character in Dead Poet's Society (is that cultural reference too outdated?).

(also, thanks to Suzanne for pointing this out in the first place!)

10 comments:

  1. Yes, I have to agree with this such evaluation of stereotype vs. prototype. Because for me, I love things that are not sterotypical, it makes things more interesting and more fun. I am finding that UNT is not a very stereotypical campus for example, and the professors fit into that discovery. My professors this semester are not the old man in the tweet jacket with the shoulder/ elbow pads. Most of mine are female, in fact. And all of them are assertive, fun, and not afraid to throw in some "curse" words in their normal speech. This makes the classroom more comforting to me, in that they are here to teach and make you learn, not to be some perfect robot teacher who doesnt even know your name. So yes, all of my professors fit into my prototype of a great professor, and I would not change any of their teaching methods for any reason. I felt like I have learned much from them, especially because of how their personality affects and assists their teaching. Robin Williams does a fantastic job, and if I were ever to become a teacher (which it might happen, might not since im a rtvf major wanting to do film; anyways) would be the exact style of teaching that I would conduct. Not afraid to get out of the classroom, not afraid to do crazy things, stand on desks. So no, the cultural reference does not seem too outdated for me personally. Also, another professor I would love to emulate would be Morrie Schwarts. From the book, "Tuesdays with Morrie". He has a fantastic philosophy on a lot of things, and I have learned much from Mitch Alboms book over his former professor.

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  2. In my opinion, a stereotype and prototype is kind of the same thing. For one, the stereotype is made off of what "you" have experienced. Then the again, the prototype is personal preferences. Last time I checked "personal" and "you" are similar in most cases. So I believe that stereotype and prototype are very close if not the same.

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  3. I feel that the stereotype of professors being the old white guy with elbow pads is played out. This is my third year in college and have only experienced this a couple of times. Although when in those professors presence I am overcome with a feeling of wisdom and experience which I prefer over other teaching styles but this is not concrete. Usually my professors seem to be mid to late twenties to early thirties. Personal preference is key when it comes to stereotypes, the "ideal" teacher for one may not fit the mold of another.

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  4. i believe that this stereotype along with many others is way outdated! while i am sure there are a few professors that fit this stereotype, they are not all this way. In fact, there are many that do not even come anywhere close to this stereotype. All of my professors so far have ranged far from the stereotype. Majority are young, or young minded(older in age, but are as up to date in speech, technology etc) , and are women. I have one professor thats a man and he's in his late twenties/ early thirties. I personally like all kinds of teacher, in my opinion it depends on the subject, if its an elective class then i like a fun more laid back young teacher, and to be honest i would prefer that over a old boring, monotone teacher. But it definitely depends on the person.

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  5. Honestly stereotype and prototype go hand in hand. Its what we think fits and that fulfills both of these. I don't have that view of the professor but i can see how some people do. My generation is use to younger teachers and we have almost "changed" that stereotype and prototype. And no Robin Williams Dead poets society is not outdated yet.

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  6. I think the fact that prototypes are a personal preference, or ideal, might be the most defining difference between the two of them. I think the way you (Jenna) first gave the example might work, if it was tweaked a bit. If I was to imagine my ideal of a college professor, exactly what I would want, I might imagine that old man with the beard, scholarly glasses and elbow-patches. If I was to imagine the stereotype (more of what I would expect), especially at UNT, I would picture a younger woman who was more laid back and liberal. That is what I have experienced most often in my college career here, so far. The professors who fit my prototype break my stereotype. I think it's very interesting how it appears that the prototypes and stereotypes have switched places.

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  7. As a Jewish person I hate stereo types. Prototypes should be the only thing people should focus on other people.

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  8. People automatically assume since I have long hair that it's a weave ..Everybody can have short or long hair It doesn't matter what race you are.

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  9. I think a persons opinion should be based on a prototype. I was a cheerleader in high school and because of that people assumed that I was stupid. I was actually the opposite. I thought it was funny when people would say "Oh your just a cheerleader so you stupid" in reality I was actually smarter than the people who were saying that so it made me laugh.

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  10. Very informative and this is on the final exam review. I really needed this and it helped me in my studies.

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