If you had to teach a class on one subject, what would it be?

Question

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

"Introduction to Automatic Control" . It's what I taught 1987-1988. I think the first semester it was taught was Spring 1987 which would mean I was its first teaching assistant. Ever heard the phrase "In the loop"? That phrase comes from control engineering. AI Overview in the loop "In the loop" is an English idiom that means you are included, informed, and up to date with the latest news or decisions. Meaning and Usage * In the loop: Knowing what is happening and being part of the communication group. * Out of the loop: Missing important information or not knowing what is going on. * Keep me in the loop: A common request asking someone to continue sharing updates. Examples * "Please keep me in the loop on any changes to the project schedule." * "I was out of the loop because I missed yesterday's meeting." The phrase "in the loop" originated in the 1970s from the worlds of aviation, military, and engineering control systems. Here is how the phrase evolved from a technical term into a common office idiom: 1. Technical Roots (Engineering and Aerospace) In 20th-century engineering, a "feedback loop" was a continuous, circular process where an output system fed information back into the input system to maintain control. In aviation and military technology, the term "human-in-the-loop" referred to a system that required an actual person—like a pilot or an operator—to make a decision or provide input for the machine to continue functioning safely. 2. Early Communication Systems The term was also used in early electronics. For example, a group of teletype machines linked together to receive the exact same set of messages was said to be "in the loop." Anyone outside that circuit was "out of the loop" and completely missed the incoming data. 3. Shift to Business Culture By the 1970s, the phrase drifted from engineering into general business jargon. Instead of a literal machine circuit, the "loop" came to represent a circle of individuals who share information or hold the power to make important decisions. THIS IS "THE LOOP" in the engineering sense: Here is a layperson's version that I created that is applicable to ANYTHING in life that thinks. I have these textbooks and used for teaching "Auto Control" (Introduction to Automatic Control) in Spring 1988 and Spring 1987 respectively when I was the teaching assistant for that class in those semesters. In 1988, I actually taught about 1/2 of the course because my PhD advisor, the course instructor, had mononucleosis, so I took over. The class had a few dozen senior engineering students. I got great Tau Beta Pi teacher ratings - better than my advisor who taught it in Spring 1988. The Spring 1987 professor, who taught at my school (RPI) before I was born, said I was the best TA he ever had and wanted me as his TA for that class. (I TA'd for him in Fall 1986 for Mechanics I.) So, I have these great teacher ratings and my students loved me (and I was pretty cool and an actual American, so the girls would come to my office hours). What does RPI do? Make me give up being a teaching assistant and become a research assistant. It was a glorious waste. They should have let me continue to teach until I graduated. I loved teaching that class. I got over my fear of public speaking by teaching it. At that point, age 25, I knew I could teach, period.

Friendlybro79 · Accepted Answer

This is inspired by your other question with the George Carlin graphic you used.

Critical thinking. I want to build something that would start in American middle school as a class that is taught one quarter of the year every year starting from 6th grade through end of high school. I would intend it to start out as more logic based apolitical content and the work in to what propaganda is in highschool while somehow not turning it into a left vs right thing.

My true heartfelt intention would be to educate so they can be smarter than our current population so they can think for themselves and not read a headline and form an opinion. Our population is getting dumber and very susceptible to propaganda that can lead us to violence against each other.

There's more to it as well. Over the years I would want to teach kids with critical thinking to be better at understanding a problem, how to break it down, and come to a solution by using resources. It would need to be age appropriate. I would need help creating this because if done properly it will not have anyone accusing it of being biased or whatever concerns people have a lot kids being indoctrinated in schools.

Sirenboobzilla · Accepted Answer

Probably business economics. It was part of my BMA and it was a course I excelled at. Studying it through history, you really get a good look at how and why the dofferent economies of the world work how they work, and how a lot of them are unsustainable, like ours here in the US

menina · Accepted Answer

I love this quote, it's so true! I would teach History. It was one of my favorite subjects in school. Plus, I enjoy learning about it.

WhiteSteve · Answer

Hmm…maybe hockey fighting? Lmao. I actually do know a good bit about technique, but I don’t know if I’m properly credentialed to be a teacher of it. But I could definitely teach a history of hockey fighting/fighters. I’ve been obsessed with it since 8 or 9 years old, more than the sport of hockey itself😂 So I do know a ton about that, and I’d have the passion to expand my knowledge to then pass onto others. A certification in any of this plus six bucks will get you coffee and a donut, lmfao, but if someone wants to learn, I’m glad to teach😝

Lesson One - “The “Night-Night” Post-KO Gesture🙏😴: A History Of One Of The Coldest Moves In Sports🥶”

Arber Xhekaj in 2021…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZpCZnQ35K8

…. was just a tribute to Aaron Asham from 2011…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0WeOnn3Gs5M

…. which was just derivative of Scott Mellanby from 1987…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nBCNsrVOXLw

This is HISTORY, kids. Even in big 2025, the young’uns playing junior box lacrosse were still carrying on this longstanding tradition…

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ8MF5exB0J/

If you had to teach a class on one subject, what would it be?

AviatorTom · Answer

I've actually taught several classes in my career, mostly about teaching customer personnel how to use the computer systems my company installed at customer sites.

If I could choose one topic to teach others, it would be about safety in everyday living, a topic that is not really taught much, if at all.

thegreenyogi · Answer

The importance of listening to your body and mind. Inner awareness.

itss_lily · Answer

I don't know. i would teach either algebra, calculus or biology

tiredpanda · Answer

Basic manners and common sense since people obviously lack them.

ElenaLena · Answer

If I could teach one subject, I would teach financial independence…I would show people how to earn, save, and grow their money wisely from a young age so they can retire early...

NathanDavis · Answer

how to defend more properly... in soccer a lot of these professional players are way too passive... and not as effective as they could be, lol

WhitneySnow · Answer

Kindness and empathy Einstein’s right. Everybody’s differently abled. He was a genius at physics but actually sucked at math.

Nerdvana · Answer

How to be considerate and patient with everyone

xawyx-3 · Answer

Probably Biology, or Geography, or maybe History.

Bricealan · Answer

@nikki1989 I would like a class on Quantum Physics... but well, how about Public Speaking.

Bradleyyeldarb · Answer

Anything where the student could learn by watching. I’m not a very good teacher but I’m a very good doer. I don’t mind an apprentice watching/helping and asking questions. I find it helps me to learn more by teaching but the scales are tipped in my favor 😆.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I would rather want that class to teach  ME  what they would like to know about :)

Massageman · Answer

Massage Therapy, of course- and I have.

But also music, writing, and photography to Homeschoolers, Graphic Arts and calligraphy to several, Horticulture to a particular individual, and a few others I've really lost track (of).

just_a_potato · Answer

History! I love learning about history, specifically war history as well as innovation. I would be a very fun teacher. 😌

fish5505_87 · Answer

Great question! I was a better versed, Intro to Meteorology.

midnightmoon05 · Answer

How to love oneself and how to let go of earthly things

kültigin_tr · Answer

probably football tactics i could talk about why teams play the way they do for hours :D

Stevepro68 · Answer

Critical thinking do it all the time

elizamichale1 · Answer

Definitely sex n I believe I would be the best teacher ever

loveslongnails · Answer

"How To Discern The Difference Between Shit and Shinola"

Kelly6 · Answer

@nikki1989  Geopolitics Science or  Religion/ civilization

EmmaMary · Answer

Home Economics and Good Manners/Politeness.

MemeSupreme · Answer

chemistry that sounds so fun

slatyb · Answer

Probably calculus or computer science.

MrChinaski · Answer

Modern cooking for beginners

manrich · Answer

Just find what you are good at and give it ur utmost best.

_Jenny_ · Answer

@nikki1989 History

Darkest-Knight · Answer

Playing bass guitar.

CubaPirate · Answer

Manners and politeness

linka_pat307 · Answer

Entrepreneurship education

Xdressertiff · Answer

Respect

Smegskull · Answer

Data structure and information flow optimisation.

purplepoppy · Answer

Probably morality.

MikeMetal79 · Answer

How to beat a level in vedio game.

blshbnz · Answer

Choir 🎶

Paige2006 · Answer

Psychology

kaucky1 · Answer

Magic...

If you had to teach a class on one subject, what would it be?

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If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

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