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8 Reasons why students lack the desire to learn beyond the given scope of Syllabus

This article contains information on why students lack the desire to learn beyond the given scope of Syllabus.

8 Reasons why students lack the desire to learn beyond the given scope of syllabus
Find out why students lack the desire to study beyond the scope of syllabus

In some parts of the world, students have been wired to stick to only what was taught by the teacher. On different occasions as a Secondary and University student, I had answered some examination questions according to the extra things I read outside what the teacher and lecturers taught in class. One of the cases was defining a giving term outside what was given by the lecturer. The good thing was that the definition was the same but in different words. Would you believe that my teacher warned against such? In his words, “I’m not discouraging you from reading beyond what was taught in the class but give me the exact definition I gave in class.”

That was the day I stopped trying to study beyond what wasn’t contained in the syllabus.

A syllabus [1] is a document that outlines all the essential information about a college course. It contains topics you will study, as well as the due dates of any coursework including tests, quizzes, or exams.

A syllabus lets students know what the course is about, why the course is taught, where it is going, and what will be required for them to be successful in the course, assignments to expect, etc. The importance of a syllabus [3] can not be overemphasized.

In simpler terms, the syllabus helps students to know the chapter’s to read in preparation for exams so as to prepare for questions that are coming from those particular chapters.

While there are teachers who do not get impressed when students go beyond the scope of a syllabus, there are teachers who encourage students to learn beyond the scope of a given syllabus.

As a student, it is important to learn beyond the scope of a syllabus, but sadly, many students are not cut for that.

In this article, we will be looking at some of the reasons why students lack the desire to learn beyond the scope of syllabus.

Here are some thought provoking reasons why students stick to what’s only contained in a syllabus and not learn beyond what’s contained in it:

1. Lack of Interest:

One of the most common reasons why students lack the desire to learn beyond the scope of their syllabus is due to a lack of interest. The lack of interest might be caused by certain factors of which not liking a given subject is a very common reason. 

Mathematics was my worst subject in back then in school. I could count the number of topics I genuinely liked. As a result of this, studying beyond the syllabus was never a thing for me unlike my classmates who lived and breathed Mathematics.

Like me, some students may not have a natural interest for certain subjects which can make it challenging for them to want to learn beyond the set syllabus.

2. Lack of Relevance:

Every subject is relevant but the fact still remains that students determine the relevance of a subject based on how they feel about it. 

Students are more likely to engage in learning beyond a syllabus if they find the subject matter relevant to their daily lives. When they fail to see how certain subjects relate to their lives, they may lack the desire to learn beyond the scope of their syllabus.

3. Poor Teaching Methods: 

One thing I realized as a student is that no matter how tough a subject may be, the teaching method used by the teacher can go a long way in making students like the subject. 

When the teaching methods used in the classroom are not engaging or do not keep students interested, it can result in poor student engagement and a lack of interest in learning beyond the scope of what is required.

Moreso, when teachers are not effective in engaging students in meaningful learning experiences, it may have a significant impact on their desire to learn, not to talk of learning beyond the syllabus. This is why I maintain that the teaching profession requires proper training before anyone can venture into it.

Still on the teaching method, limitations within the educational system can also contribute to this lack of desire to learn beyond the syllabus. Traditional teaching methods that prioritize memorization and regurgitation of facts may fail to instill critical thinking skills. If students are not encouraged to engage with knowledge beyond what is explicitly provided, their motivation to explore further may dwindle.

In other words, the lack of engaging teaching methods, uninspiring discussions, or disorganized lesson plans as well as the age long practice of reproducing exactly what was given by the teacher can hinder student’s drive to learn beyond the syllabus.

4. Time Constraints:

It is normal to think that the major focus of every student should be on studies. While that is true, we can’t overrule the fact that students are humans too. They also have a life outside school.

Students may have other commitments such as work, family, or extracurricular activities which limit their time to study beyond the syllabus. Infact, technology has taken a lead in distracting students with numerous time consuming activities on social media, from chatting with friends to cyber bullying.

With these activities, students may feel that they do not have the time to learn more than what is required in their syllabus.

It takes a very dedicated student with time management skills to learn beyond the syllabus, with all the time consuming activities we have to deal with on a daily basis.

5. Pressure to Perform:

It is known that teachers will never set questions outside the content of the syllabus, except by error. Knowing this, some students may prioritize high grades over anything else and focus only on the syllabus which is deemed essential for exams and disregard learning beyond the syllabus. This is the reason why many students do not know beyond classroom work.

6. High Workload: 

This particular factor is very relatable. Although some students engage in other fun activities that consume their time for studies, there are times students have a lot of academic responsibilities ranging from assignments, multiple classes, and exams. These can lead to a lack of motivation to learn additional material.

In cases like this, students will be more focused in learning only what’s contained on the syllabus for fear of failing the examination.

7. Lack of Resources: 

Lack of learning resources

It is not enough to tell students to learn beyond the scope of the syllabus. The question is, are there available resources?

For some students, learning beyond the syllabus will require access to resources that fosters self-driven learning such as libraries, books, or internet resources. Where students do not have access to such resources, students may not have the zeal to learn beyond the syllabus.

8. Lack of Support: 

Getting encouragement and motivation from people goes a long way to spur students to put more effort into their studies. The lack of support from teachers, peers and even parents can also dampen a student’s desire to learn beyond the scope of syllabus.

Conclusion

Understanding the factors contributing to why students lack the desire to learn beyond syllabus is crucial in devising strategies to nurture a genuine thirst for knowledge and promote lifelong learning.

As stated, students may lack a desire to learn beyond their syllabus due to reasons such as perceiving it as irrelevant, time constraints, fixed mindset, lack of interest and a focus on assessment-centric education.

By identifying these key factors, educators, guardians can develop ways to foster a more holistic and engaging learning environment.

While some students [2] lack the desire to learn beyond the given scope of the syllabus, it is important to acknowledge that many individuals possess an innate curiosity and motivation to explore topics outside their coursework. The reasons discussed above serve as potential explanations for the lack of desire among certain students, recognizing that individual motivations and circumstances can vary significantly.

References

[1] “Answers to: Five Reasons Why Students Lack a Desire to Learn beyond the Scope of Their Given Syllabus.” Class Ace, https://www.classace.io/answers/five-reason-why-students-lack-a-desire-to-learn-beyond-the-scope-of-their-given-syllabus.

[2] “Examples of Students Who Lack the Desire to Learn beyond the Scope of a given Syllabus.” My Courses, 23 May 2023, https://mycourses.co.za/examples-of-students-who-lack-the-desire-to-learn-beyond-the-scope-of-a-given-syllabus/.

[3] Watch Our Video. 2022.

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