Re:[tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
Joan Warmbold wrote ...I have had my cell phone ring during class a couple of times and it the few times this has occurred, the class has erupted with laughter as they know how we instructors really don't like cell phones. FWIW, we just had a member of Campus Security discuss security issues at a Dept. meeting. One thing he said is that tyhe prof's cell SHOULD BE LEFT ON. This is so we can receive messages through the campus' electronic alert system should the need arise. I suppose one could ssimply leave your phone on vibrate but when it rings, you still need to check it to see if it's important. I plan to warn my students that mine will be left on for that purpose. Frankly, I don'r mind if students leave their phones on vibrate for their own emergencies. Some of my students have children and need to be available. Of course, if they want to answer a call they need to go outside. Ed Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D. Department of Psychology West Chester University of Pennsylvania http://home.comcast.net/~epollak Husband, father, grandfather, biopsychologist, bluegrass fiddler and herpetoculturist.. in approximate order of importance. --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
Re: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
Something for Stephen. I used to require that my students interview someone from another country as a part of a cross-cultural assignment. One student e-mailed him and asked if he could interview his Canadian roomate,His request was denied Send Stephen something.(SSS) Michael 'the irrepressible' Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
RE: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
Well, my perennial favorite (this is common to many of you, I'm sure) is, I'm sorry I missed class today. Did we do anything important? -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts Sciences Baker University -- -Original Message- From: sbl...@ubishops.ca [mailto:sbl...@ubishops.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:23 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing) A misguided friend of mine, retired not too long, decided to go back to teaching. He discovered something new this time: an elevation in the level of student chutzpah. For example, one of his students e-mailed him that he had received 73% for a B, and asked for a free 2% so his mark could be upgraded to a B+. My friend commented that this student seemed to think of university grades the way someone in a restaurant thinks of the bread basket: could I have more, please? Another of his students e-mailed him that he missed a good part of the course and the first test because he was on vacation and didn't realize that the course didn't wait for him to get back. He asked that his grade be based on the tests given after his return. Note that in both cases, the outrageous requests were made by e-mail. Coincidence? I think not. It seems to me that now that the twittering facebook generation has become comfortable with e-mailing their profs, we can expect much more of the same. What they wouldn't dare ask for over the phone or in person is worth a try by e-mail. Maybe I'll get lucky, they think. My friend asked me whether students at Bishop's behaved like this. Not then, I replied, but probably now. And in the spirit of the irrepressible Michael S. I throw the question out to the list: Do you have any examples of your own of outrageous importuning, in particular by e-mail, but also by other means? Send me something. Stephen - Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sbl...@ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ -- - --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto (e-mail) is sent by Baker University (BU) and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify Baker University by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you. --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
Re: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
When my students say they missed class, they usually follow it with, Did I miss anything? As per a great list of possible answers that I got from TIPS years ago, I reply, with a rather affected glint of humor in my eye, Why, no. When you didn't show up, we just canceled class. That usually makes them see the silliness of their question. I then add, seriously, that they're responsible for anything that happened in class and they might look for a good student and ask to borrow their notes. I'm also toying with the idea of changing an attendance grade from present to absent if they text during class, and saying in my syllabus that I will do this. My rationale is that if they're busy texting, they're not paying attention (and are even more disruptive - to me - than if they're absent) and are thus, essentially, absent. I like this idea better than Louis' four dozen doughnuts penalty. I don't need the calories and they can't use the I don't have the money excuse. Of course, I have to make sure that I don't have my own cell phone going off during class!! And this will only work if you routinely take attendance. (I do.) How do TIPSters feel about this? It's not going to kill them to keep their thumbs off their cellphones for an hour. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM, Marc Carter marc.car...@bakeru.eduwrote: Well, my perennial favorite (this is common to many of you, I'm sure) is, I'm sorry I missed class today. Did we do anything important? -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts Sciences Baker University -- -Original Message- From: sbl...@ubishops.ca [mailto:sbl...@ubishops.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:23 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing) A misguided friend of mine, retired not too long, decided to go back to teaching. He discovered something new this time: an elevation in the level of student chutzpah. For example, one of his students e-mailed him that he had received 73% for a B, and asked for a free 2% so his mark could be upgraded to a B+. My friend commented that this student seemed to think of university grades the way someone in a restaurant thinks of the bread basket: could I have more, please? Another of his students e-mailed him that he missed a good part of the course and the first test because he was on vacation and didn't realize that the course didn't wait for him to get back. He asked that his grade be based on the tests given after his return. Note that in both cases, the outrageous requests were made by e-mail. Coincidence? I think not. It seems to me that now that the twittering facebook generation has become comfortable with e-mailing their profs, we can expect much more of the same. What they wouldn't dare ask for over the phone or in person is worth a try by e-mail. Maybe I'll get lucky, they think. My friend asked me whether students at Bishop's behaved like this. Not then, I replied, but probably now. And in the spirit of the irrepressible Michael S. I throw the question out to the list: Do you have any examples of your own of outrageous importuning, in particular by e-mail, but also by other means? Send me something. Stephen - Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sbl...@ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ -- - --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto (e-mail) is sent by Baker University (BU) and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify Baker University by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you. --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
Re: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
Title: tag sbl...@ubishops.ca wrote: Do you have any examples of your own of outrageous importuning, in particular by e-mail, but also by other means? Send me something. Dear Colleagues, Hi All, I put together this list for the NITOP lunch a couple of years ago. I get these emails requests all of the time and save them in a folder. Please be aware that none of these (as far as I know) are students at my university. It appears they just stumbled across my email while surfing online. I sometimes write back suggesting books or other readings but you will see that this is not always appreciated. These are unedited and presented as written in their entirety. Enjoy! Linda Email 1: Could you please tell me what are the directional trends of gowth and development through out the normal lifespan and give an example of each. Email 2: Can you please send me info on life cycle. I am a sociology student and need info urgently about what it means to be elderly, young, middle aged etc. If you can help me then i would be extremely grateful. Email 3: I am a student at Louisiana State University at Eunice. The only class that I truly enjoy is my Developmental Psychology class. I have found your information not only helpful but extremely interesting. I have a project to do for my class and I haven't had much luck in finding what I need. If there is any way that you could possibly send me some information related to issues of human development in infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early, middle and late adulthood. If this is too much trouble then I do understand, but if not, I truly would appreciate it. Email 4: can you please send to me as soon as possible Eric Erickson'S theory on personality development - the eight stages of man? Email 5: how old must the student be to participate in this institution? Email 6: I need more info on Mary Ellen Richmond--pronto. Alas, I did not provide more information to the last emailer in a pronto fashion. I did recommend a few books and articles. The above did not like my suggestions and replied: You know, I thought you were nice. But, SCREW OFF... I know what a library is and I was just trying to get some information out of your useless head. But I guess theres nothing left in your brain. Email 7: what is ageism, racism, sexism, sizeism and disablism Email 8: i need to know more about human,growthdevelopement.where can i look or what are the websites? Email 9: i have visited your qwebsite and was wondering if you know the answer to the following question: "What is the average lifespan for humans in australia, romania and other countries?" If you know information about this question, please send me an email as i need info for my health assignment. Email 10: need a solution to question which reads "adolescence is a period of identity crisis , storm and stress . it is a period where allis not well , discuss Email 11: I am doing a paper on the Cambodian Genocide which is due in May. My paper needs to be a bibliographic essay on the historiography of the Cambodian Genocide. If possible, please send me a print bibliography listing books, films, movies, scholarly articles and all other materials available on the Cambodian Genocide. In your print bibliography, please include annotated descriptions of the different materials available. As an aside, this student used their university email address. I went to the university website, found the likely course, and emailed the professor who was also chair of the department. She knew the student and indicated that she would have a discussion with him about the appropriateness of such requests. Email 12: could u pls send any info of research that has been done of how old people perceive themselves,thanks social work student Email 13*: The following is a series of emails received over the course of less than an hour. Note that I didn't respond to these as I was out to dinner: 1. Would you check my essay? The question is: Why did so many hutus participate in the genocide? If you can cut something, please do so. Also, please give some attention to the conclusion section. It is a bit weak and I would appreciate it if you could make it stronger. 2. I have to give that essay on monday. please check it. thank you 3. I beg you. i really need you to check. thank you 4. Like i told you i need this essay by Monday i beg you 5. I really didn't expect you to act this way 6. I know why you do not want to check my eesay Because i am not your student I am not American i never thought that you would discriminate me it is the last time i am writing to you and asking you for help bye forever Email 14+ - The following is another series of emails received over the course of one hour: 1. i need to find ruby bridges pleez help email me 2. pleez answer me i need help for school please tell me where ruby bridges might be ok please e-mail me bye 3.
Re: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
I am using a cell phone use (even being seen outside of their backpack or purse constitutes use¹) = absent for attendance in all my classes this semester. We¹ll see how it goes. -- Paul Bernhardt Frostburg State University Frostburg, MD, USA On 8/19/09 12:01 PM, Beth Benoit beth.ben...@gmail.com wrote: When my students say they missed class, they usually follow it with, Did I miss anything? As per a great list of possible answers that I got from TIPS years ago, I reply, with a rather affected glint of humor in my eye, Why, no. When you didn't show up, we just canceled class. That usually makes them see the silliness of their question. I then add, seriously, that they're responsible for anything that happened in class and they might look for a good student and ask to borrow their notes. I'm also toying with the idea of changing an attendance grade from present to absent if they text during class, and saying in my syllabus that I will do this. My rationale is that if they're busy texting, they're not paying attention (and are even more disruptive - to me - than if they're absent) and are thus, essentially, absent. I like this idea better than Louis' four dozen doughnuts penalty. I don't need the calories and they can't use the I don't have the money excuse. Of course, I have to make sure that I don't have my own cell phone going off during class!! And this will only work if you routinely take attendance. (I do.) How do TIPSters feel about this? It's not going to kill them to keep their thumbs off their cellphones for an hour. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM, Marc Carter marc.car...@bakeru.edu wrote: Well, my perennial favorite (this is common to many of you, I'm sure) is, I'm sorry I missed class today. Did we do anything important? -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts Sciences Baker University -- -Original Message- From: sbl...@ubishops.ca [mailto:sbl...@ubishops.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:23 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing) A misguided friend of mine, retired not too long, decided to go back to teaching. He discovered something new this time: an elevation in the level of student chutzpah. For example, one of his students e-mailed him that he had received 73% for a B, and asked for a free 2% so his mark could be upgraded to a B+. My friend commented that this student seemed to think of university grades the way someone in a restaurant thinks of the bread basket: could I have more, please? Another of his students e-mailed him that he missed a good part of the course and the first test because he was on vacation and didn't realize that the course didn't wait for him to get back. He asked that his grade be based on the tests given after his return. Note that in both cases, the outrageous requests were made by e-mail. Coincidence? I think not. It seems to me that now that the twittering facebook generation has become comfortable with e-mailing their profs, we can expect much more of the same. What they wouldn't dare ask for over the phone or in person is worth a try by e-mail. Maybe I'll get lucky, they think. My friend asked me whether students at Bishop's behaved like this. Not then, I replied, but probably now. And in the spirit of the irrepressible Michael S. I throw the question out to the list: Do you have any examples of your own of outrageous importuning, in particular by e-mail, but also by other means? Send me something. Stephen - Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sbl...@ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ -- - --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto (e-mail) is sent by Baker University (BU) and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify Baker University by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and
Re: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
I tell them if they text during class or even if they have their cell phones on their desk they risk having it confiscated. I tell them that yes it's high schoolish, but that yes, they can survive not hearing the absolutely vital texts from their friends for an hour. David At 12:01 PM 8/19/2009, you wrote: When my students say they missed class, they usually follow it with, Did I miss anything? As per a great list of possible answers that I got from TIPS years ago, I reply, with a rather affected glint of humor in my eye, Why, no. When you didn't show up, we just canceled class. That usually makes them see the silliness of their question. I then add, seriously, that they're responsible for anything that happened in class and they might look for a good student and ask to borrow their notes. I'm also toying with the idea of changing an attendance grade from present to absent if they text during class, and saying in my syllabus that I will do this. My rationale is that if they're busy texting, they're not paying attention (and are even more disruptive - to me - than if they're absent) and are thus, essentially, absent. I like this idea better than Louis' four dozen doughnuts penalty. I don't need the calories and they can't use the I don't have the money excuse. Of course, I have to make sure that I don't have my own cell phone going off during class!! And this will only work if you routinely take attendance. (I do.) How do TIPSters feel about this? It's not going to kill them to keep their thumbs off their cellphones for an hour. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM, Marc Carter mailto:marc.car...@bakeru.edumarc.car...@bakeru.edu wrote: Well, my perennial favorite (this is common to many of you, I'm sure) is, I'm sorry I missed class today. Did we do anything important? -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts Sciences Baker University -- -Original Message- From: mailto:sbl...@ubishops.casbl...@ubishops.ca [mailto:sbl...@ubishops.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:23 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing) A misguided friend of mine, retired not too long, decided to go back to teaching. He discovered something new this time: an elevation in the level of student chutzpah. For example, one of his students e-mailed him that he had received 73% for a B, and asked for a free 2% so his mark could be upgraded to a B+. My friend commented that this student seemed to think of university grades the way someone in a restaurant thinks of the bread basket: could I have more, please? Another of his students e-mailed him that he missed a good part of the course and the first test because he was on vacation and didn't realize that the course didn't wait for him to get back. He asked that his grade be based on the tests given after his return. Note that in both cases, the outrageous requests were made by e-mail. Coincidence? I think not. It seems to me that now that the twittering facebook generation has become comfortable with e-mailing their profs, we can expect much more of the same. What they wouldn't dare ask for over the phone or in person is worth a try by e-mail. Maybe I'll get lucky, they think. My friend asked me whether students at Bishop's behaved like this. Not then, I replied, but probably now. And in the spirit of the irrepressible Michael S. I throw the question out to the list: Do you have any examples of your own of outrageous importuning, in particular by e-mail, but also by other means? Send me something. Stephen - Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: mailto:sbl...@ubishops.casbl...@ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ -- - --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (mailto:bsouthe...@frostburg.edubsouthe...@frostburg.edu) The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto (e-mail) is sent by Baker University (BU) and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately
RE: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
Marc wrote: Well, my perennial favorite (this is common to many of you, I'm sure) is, 'I'm sorry I missed class today. Did we do anything important?' Mark- My usual response is to laugh and say, Important. In my class? Are you kidding? By then they usually get it and rephrase the question. As to the cell phones. I've started a new policy (last term). I simply state that talking while someone else is talking or interrupting while someone is texting is inconsiderate. Thus, if they are going to read texts or text I will stop talking and wait till they are finished. So far it has worked well. Usually another student will immediately poke them and tell them to stop it. I do make it clear in the policy that I try to cover everything that will be on the test. But that they are responsible for all assigned topics. Thus if distractions cut the amount of material we cover they'll be tested on it anyway. As I teach neuropsychology and psychopharmacology courses, among others, they want as much explanation and discussion as possible so they are pretty good at self policing. One of my colleagues has a box she takes to class. If someone texts she takes the phone and puts it into the box and they can have it at the end of class. Repeat offenders must surrender their phones on the way into class/lab. It works for her. Tim ___ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Professor and Chair Department of Psychology The College of Idaho Caldwell, ID 83605 email: tshea...@collegeofidaho.edu teaching: intro to neuropsychology; psychopharmacology; general; history and systems You can't teach an old dogma new tricks. Dorothy Parker From: Marc Carter [marc.car...@bakeru.edu] Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 9:50 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: RE: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
Re: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
Beth, I totally agree with your idea of changing present to absent if they do text, especially if you inform them of this policy in the syllabus. However, when would you inform a particular student that such has occurred--during or after the class? This dependency on constantly connecting with others which necessitates ignoring and missing out on what's going on around them (i.e., not being in the moment) would make for a very interesting discussion topic. BTW, I have had my cell phone ring during class a couple of times and it the few times this has occurred, the class has erupted with laughter as they know how we instructors really don't like cell phones. Joan jwarm...@oakton.edu When my students say they missed class, they usually follow it with, Did I miss anything? As per a great list of possible answers that I got from TIPS years ago, I reply, with a rather affected glint of humor in my eye, Why, no. When you didn't show up, we just canceled class. That usually makes them see the silliness of their question. I then add, seriously, that they're responsible for anything that happened in class and they might look for a good student and ask to borrow their notes. I'm also toying with the idea of changing an attendance grade from present to absent if they text during class, and saying in my syllabus that I will do this. My rationale is that if they're busy texting, they're not paying attention (and are even more disruptive - to me - than if they're absent) and are thus, essentially, absent. I like this idea better than Louis' four dozen doughnuts penalty. I don't need the calories and they can't use the I don't have the money excuse. Of course, I have to make sure that I don't have my own cell phone going off during class!! And this will only work if you routinely take attendance. (I do.) How do TIPSters feel about this? It's not going to kill them to keep their thumbs off their cellphones for an hour. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM, Marc Carter marc.car...@bakeru.eduwrote: Well, my perennial favorite (this is common to many of you, I'm sure) is, I'm sorry I missed class today. Did we do anything important? -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts Sciences Baker University -- -Original Message- From: sbl...@ubishops.ca [mailto:sbl...@ubishops.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:23 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing) A misguided friend of mine, retired not too long, decided to go back to teaching. He discovered something new this time: an elevation in the level of student chutzpah. For example, one of his students e-mailed him that he had received 73% for a B, and asked for a free 2% so his mark could be upgraded to a B+. My friend commented that this student seemed to think of university grades the way someone in a restaurant thinks of the bread basket: could I have more, please? Another of his students e-mailed him that he missed a good part of the course and the first test because he was on vacation and didn't realize that the course didn't wait for him to get back. He asked that his grade be based on the tests given after his return. Note that in both cases, the outrageous requests were made by e-mail. Coincidence? I think not. It seems to me that now that the twittering facebook generation has become comfortable with e-mailing their profs, we can expect much more of the same. What they wouldn't dare ask for over the phone or in person is worth a try by e-mail. Maybe I'll get lucky, they think. My friend asked me whether students at Bishop's behaved like this. Not then, I replied, but probably now. And in the spirit of the irrepressible Michael S. I throw the question out to the list: Do you have any examples of your own of outrageous importuning, in particular by e-mail, but also by other means? Send me something. Stephen - Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sbl...@ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ -- - --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu) The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto (e-mail) is sent by Baker University (BU) and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal
Re: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
Well, since I haven't instituted the texting-results-in-a-mark-of-absence yet, I haven't worked that out. I'd guess that when I see someone texting, I can pause and when I have their attention, say, I sure, having read the syllabus, you're aware of the policy on texting. Then get out my pen and mark them absent. I'm glad you brought it up, Joan, because it gave me the chance to think of my response in advance. Beth Benoit On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 1:46 PM, Joan Warmbold jwarm...@oakton.edu wrote: Beth, I totally agree with your idea of changing present to absent if they do text, especially if you inform them of this policy in the syllabus. However, when would you inform a particular student that such has occurred--during or after the class? This dependency on constantly connecting with others which necessitates ignoring and missing out on what's going on around them (i.e., not being in the moment) would make for a very interesting discussion topic. BTW, I have had my cell phone ring during class a couple of times and it the few times this has occurred, the class has erupted with laughter as they know how we instructors really don't like cell phones. Joan jwarm...@oakton.edu When my students say they missed class, they usually follow it with, Did I miss anything? As per a great list of possible answers that I got from TIPS years ago, I reply, with a rather affected glint of humor in my eye, Why, no. When you didn't show up, we just canceled class. That usually makes them see the silliness of their question. I then add, seriously, that they're responsible for anything that happened in class and they might look for a good student and ask to borrow their notes. I'm also toying with the idea of changing an attendance grade from present to absent if they text during class, and saying in my syllabus that I will do this. My rationale is that if they're busy texting, they're not paying attention (and are even more disruptive - to me - than if they're absent) and are thus, essentially, absent. I like this idea better than Louis' four dozen doughnuts penalty. I don't need the calories and they can't use the I don't have the money excuse. Of course, I have to make sure that I don't have my own cell phone going off during class!! And this will only work if you routinely take attendance. (I do.) How do TIPSters feel about this? It's not going to kill them to keep their thumbs off their cellphones for an hour. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM, Marc Carter marc.car...@bakeru.eduwrote: Well, my perennial favorite (this is common to many of you, I'm sure) is, I'm sorry I missed class today. Did we do anything important? -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts Sciences Baker University -- -Original Message- From: sbl...@ubishops.ca [mailto:sbl...@ubishops.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:23 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing) A misguided friend of mine, retired not too long, decided to go back to teaching. He discovered something new this time: an elevation in the level of student chutzpah. For example, one of his students e-mailed him that he had received 73% for a B, and asked for a free 2% so his mark could be upgraded to a B+. My friend commented that this student seemed to think of university grades the way someone in a restaurant thinks of the bread basket: could I have more, please? Another of his students e-mailed him that he missed a good part of the course and the first test because he was on vacation and didn't realize that the course didn't wait for him to get back. He asked that his grade be based on the tests given after his return. Note that in both cases, the outrageous requests were made by e-mail. Coincidence? I think not. It seems to me that now that the twittering facebook generation has become comfortable with e-mailing their profs, we can expect much more of the same. What they wouldn't dare ask for over the phone or in person is worth a try by e-mail. Maybe I'll get lucky, they think. My friend asked me whether students at Bishop's behaved like this. Not then, I replied, but probably now. And in the spirit of the irrepressible Michael S. I throw the question out to the list: Do you have any examples of your own of outrageous importuning, in particular by e-mail, but also by other means? Send me something. Stephen - Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sbl...@ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada
Re: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing)
What I was planning on doing is having in the online (Blackboard) gradebook a line item for Cell Use Absences for each student to see that they've been noticed. I also am planning to put on the board every week or so the total class accumulated absences due to cell use. But, this is my first semester with the policy, we'll see how it goes. Paul Bernhardt FSU Department of Psychology 301-687-4410 On 8/19/09 1:46 PM, Joan Warmbold jwarm...@oakton.edu wrote: Beth, I totally agree with your idea of changing present to absent if they do text, especially if you inform them of this policy in the syllabus. However, when would you inform a particular student that such has occurred--during or after the class? This dependency on constantly connecting with others which necessitates ignoring and missing out on what's going on around them (i.e., not being in the moment) would make for a very interesting discussion topic. BTW, I have had my cell phone ring during class a couple of times and it the few times this has occurred, the class has erupted with laughter as they know how we instructors really don't like cell phones. Joan jwarm...@oakton.edu When my students say they missed class, they usually follow it with, Did I miss anything? As per a great list of possible answers that I got from TIPS years ago, I reply, with a rather affected glint of humor in my eye, Why, no. When you didn't show up, we just canceled class. That usually makes them see the silliness of their question. I then add, seriously, that they're responsible for anything that happened in class and they might look for a good student and ask to borrow their notes. I'm also toying with the idea of changing an attendance grade from present to absent if they text during class, and saying in my syllabus that I will do this. My rationale is that if they're busy texting, they're not paying attention (and are even more disruptive - to me - than if they're absent) and are thus, essentially, absent. I like this idea better than Louis' four dozen doughnuts penalty. I don't need the calories and they can't use the I don't have the money excuse. Of course, I have to make sure that I don't have my own cell phone going off during class!! And this will only work if you routinely take attendance. (I do.) How do TIPSters feel about this? It's not going to kill them to keep their thumbs off their cellphones for an hour. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 11:50 AM, Marc Carter marc.car...@bakeru.eduwrote: Well, my perennial favorite (this is common to many of you, I'm sure) is, I'm sorry I missed class today. Did we do anything important? -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts Sciences Baker University -- -Original Message- From: sbl...@ubishops.ca [mailto:sbl...@ubishops.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:23 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Outrageous (im)portune(ing) A misguided friend of mine, retired not too long, decided to go back to teaching. He discovered something new this time: an elevation in the level of student chutzpah. For example, one of his students e-mailed him that he had received 73% for a B, and asked for a free 2% so his mark could be upgraded to a B+. My friend commented that this student seemed to think of university grades the way someone in a restaurant thinks of the bread basket: could I have more, please? Another of his students e-mailed him that he missed a good part of the course and the first test because he was on vacation and didn't realize that the course didn't wait for him to get back. He asked that his grade be based on the tests given after his return. Note that in both cases, the outrageous requests were made by e-mail. Coincidence? I think not. It seems to me that now that the twittering facebook generation has become comfortable with e-mailing their profs, we can expect much more of the same. What they wouldn't dare ask for over the phone or in person is worth a try by e-mail. Maybe I'll get lucky, they think. My friend asked me whether students at Bishop's behaved like this. Not then, I replied, but probably now. And in the spirit of the irrepressible Michael S. I throw the question out to the list: Do you have any examples of your own of outrageous importuning, in particular by e-mail, but also by other means? Send me something. Stephen - Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: sbl...@ubishops.ca 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/
