Reflections on Handbuilding Techniques & Elective Courses

Recently I have been thinking about my students and asking myself some questions:

1. What do students "expect" when they elect to take Ceramics?
2. How do they imagine the time is class will be structured or do they believe it is not structured in any way?
3. Do students perhaps think that working with clay (earthenware or stoneware) is going to be similar to working with something like play dough?
4. If the answer to the question above is yes.. clay is like play dough then do they think that there is really nothing to learn from an expert?
5. Do students realize that handbuilding techniques are "tried and true" and have been practiced throughout the ages?
6. Why are correct handbuilding technique necessary for the successful outcome of a peice of pottery form out of clay?