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)
