It's true that I'm more likely to see this in my evening students. I'm certain that having the time available after class (both the students and me) contributes. But the evening classes have a couple other contributing factors, I think. One, since the classes are longer, we take a ten minute break in the middle, time for the students to interact with each other more informally. That may contribute to a greater sense of group cohesiveness. Second, students in the evening classes may have fewer opportunities to talk with non-classmates outside of class time. Because their classmates may be the only other students they have to interact with, they may become even closer to them. It's an interesting question... -- Sue Frantz Highline Community College Psychology Des Moines, WA 206.878.3710 x3404 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/ <https://hewa.highline.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/> -- APA Division 2: Society for the Teaching of Psychology http://teachpsych.org/ <https://hewa.highline.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://teachpsych.org/> Office of Teaching Resources in Psychology Associate Director Project Syllabus http://teachpsych.org/otrp/syllabi/syllabi.php <https://hewa.highline.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://teachpsych.org/otrp/syllabi/syllabi.php> ________________________________
From: FRICKLE, RUTH [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sat 8/16/2008 10:13 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: continuing discussions after class ________________________________ Miguel wrote: Sue, I am envious! This used to happen in my classes with some regularity, but in recent years it has become a rare occurrence for me as well as for many of my colleagues. I did have one class last semester and particularly one this summer where discussion continued after class with some frequency. Both of these classes were a real pleasure to teach and I think students had a terrific time in them. I think that the common thread between the two classes was the presence of a couple of nontraditional students who often raised very pertinent and incisive commentary that led others to react and engage in meaningful discussion. I wonder if others on the list have had similar situations. Miguel- I just had that experience this summer session and I would say it was definitely some of the older/non-traditional students who engendered that level of discussion and its continuation after class. However, both of my classes had similar composition and the other one, well, never rose to the same level of energy and interest. Two things contributed to this I think. First, the traditional students in the class inclined to post-class discussion were more willing to speak during class and if not during, were much less hesitant to approach me after class with questions. The other class had some good comments/insight from the older students, but the traditional students were more inclined to continue texting or more frequently just skip class. Second, the post-class discussion group were a class that probably was at the end of scheduled classes for the day for most of them, so people had time to stay after. I know that time of day is really important. Sue, You most often teach classes in those time slots...not at 8 or 9 a.m., what do you think about the class schedule contributing to this? Ruth Frickle Highline Community College Des Moines, WA [EMAIL PROTECTED] 206 878-3710 ext. 3111 --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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