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University Classroom Etiquette

But my point was more along the lines that a professor isn't gonna hear some student's opinion on something and think, "My God, that's brilliant! I've never thought of it like that before!"
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John Searle does this, using his seminars as sounding boards.
Grad students routinely do this before Profs, and my best undergrads operate at a grad-student level.

The pompous in academia miss out key sources of creativity.
 
After reading all the advanced replies, my first reaction to the OP seems oversimplified. After I read the first post, I was thinking, "benzos".

Then I read everyone else's thoughts and felt like my idea was still a good one. I have been a grad student. I have been a teacher. I never liked someone who would never shut up, in ANY arena. Those kind of people would make ME want to reach for the benzos myself, just to deal with them.
 
So, yeah, with a room full of exceptional students discussing a fairly open topic, things can happen.
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This sounds like....*drum roll*...instruction in a university classroom! ;)
Seriously, one needn't be a superstar to attend his seminars.

ebola
 
just show up late everyday and interupt class when u walk in, teachers love this

also make sure you do all your texting and/or phone conversations whilst you're in class, i mean is there really a better time to find out what your friends did last night then when u are paying for an education?, i think not.

also make sure you show up to everyclass noticably high, i mean the works, red eyes, very umkempt, and nodding off during the lecture, teachers truly appreciate knowing there are atleast a couple partiers in the audience

also dont be afraid to raise your hand and let the teacher know u think he/she is wrong, this shows that you're thinkin and arent afraid to question authroity


but on a serious note i once had a teacher pull me aside as i walked out of class at the end of class to ask me if i was 'ok' because i kept nodding off suring the lecture, i told her i was just tired and she replied "im worried about you". yea that doesnt always leave the best impression with the teachers, she ended up offering me help with my addiction cuz i was noddin in just about every class but i blew her off n never took her up on her offer even though she was prob one of the nicest professors i have ever had. got an A in the class tho
 
ebola? said:
This sounds like....*drum roll*...instruction in a university classroom! ;)
Seriously, one needn't be a superstar to attend his seminars.

ebola
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in fact he probably teaches intro class. Lots of prestigious philosophers teach intro courses because..........................they.....................

like to be exposed to untutored intuitions


(for precisely the reason ebola said)
 
Cyc said:
First of all, I think it's great that you're so passionate about higher education. I am too, and I feel a great kinship with my fellow lifelong learners.

Second, shut the fuck up in class. You are "that person" and it really is offputting. I don't know what to tell you, except maybe sit in the back of the class and absorb. This will put you out of the line of fire, and hopefully act as a constant reminder to keep yourself in check.
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Instructors might appreciate this but to other students, it really gets annoying after a while. Even if you're just asking questions it gets in the way of the intended lecture. The professor often loses his train of thought. Yes, you need to remind yourself to be quiet because it is perceived to be disruptive even though it's not your intention.
 
Binge_Artist said:
But my point was more along the lines that a professor isn't gonna hear some student's opinion on something and think, "My God, that's brilliant! I've never thought of it like that before!"
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Well, while that rarely happens, that isn't the only reason teachers are interested in their students opinions. Teaching is satisfying when you can teach new ideas and have students take them on and use them, apply them, critique them, or whatever. It shows they're learning and it makes teaching satisfying and fun. It means you can have intelligent discussions about ideas and facilitate other people's learning. This is particularly cool when the ideas you're teaching have made a big impact on your own life, and you think they are important personally and socially.

Teachers want students to talk in class, and they are genuinely interested in what they say, as long as the comments reflect a decent engagement with the course material. But they don't want students who constantly dominate discussion and fuck up the class, particularly if those students haven't done the set reading, because that messes up the learning of everyone else (and makes it less fun for the teacher).
 
^Sure, if you can engage the "talkative" student in a conversation that leads to his (and the rest of the class, hopefully) understanding of a key concept, then that's great.

But if you've got a guy blabbing on for the entire period about, "We should have free health care, because it's not fair that the rich should get better treatment than the poor just because they have more money!"...it's not like the professor's gonna blurt, "Holy shit, man, this is FUCKING GOLDEN...lemme get my tape recorder!"

Actually...knowing me, I probably would do that...and if he didn't realize I was being sarcastic, I'd probably politely ask him to get the fuck out of my class.

Unless...UNLESS...the loudmouth student were an attractive female. Then I'd probably invite her to my office to discuss her theories over mixed drinks and a dab of Nembutal.
 
Binge_Artist said:
^Sure, if you can engage the "talkative" student in a conversation that leads to his (and the rest of the class, hopefully) understanding of a key concept, then that's great.

But if you've got a guy blabbing on for the entire period about, "We should have free health care, because it's not fair that the rich should get better treatment than the poor just because they have more money!"...it's not like the professor's gonna blurt, "Holy shit, man, this is FUCKING GOLDEN...lemme get my tape recorder!"
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Well in that case I would steer the discussion away from that guy and his pet peeve. But I'd rather that guy ranting than a bunch of students staring at me and saying nothing because they haven't done the reading and don't have a clue what's going on. Which is an experience I have had.
 
PP is right on! I'm late to almost every class. "Fashionably late" applies to university, yeah? I also sit in the front row and bring my laptop for "notes" or under the guise of "not printing the documents". But most of the time I'm on message boards or googling some random thing. From time to time I put on some headphones and watch youtube videos and what-not

errm, I mean -

The issue I described in OP isn't pervasive anymore. It was the beginning of the semester, a lot of things contributed to the talking out. I've internalized quality over quantity, and I'm pretty happy about that.

However, I just received a low blow. Was on www.ratemyprofessors.com, saw a student post on 10/7/10, the day I did a presentation. Student said- "(teacher x) is kind when students screw up their presentations." What a burn, man, what a burn.
 
FTR I miss having male professors, specifically those who DO incite .. for me.. an academically flirtatious atmosphere. Talk about being on point.. that's what does it for me. Say what you will. I'm an adrenaline junkie.. whatever it takes yeah?

Most of my high grades have come from teachers who I've felt "compelled" by. I'll use the "it's 3am" excuse as a preface to the following gloat -- I de-virginized a new prof of philosophy a few years back. I could elaborate, but I'll drop it like that. Whee. Go get 'em.

Disclaimer- He taught at an adjacent university.
 
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I don't teach at a university, but I do instruct high level military courses, personally, I like it when people question and discuss. I don't know everything. Maybe they'll give me a new idea.

2. who cares what the class make up is? How do you think I looked walked into a liberal downtown campus in a combat uniform for a lecture. I could feel the glare, but I just flipped em the bird and studied.
 
rangrz said:
2. who cares what the class make up is? How do you think I looked walked into a liberal downtown campus in a combat uniform for a lecture. I could feel the glare, but I just flipped em the bird and studied.
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lol. Thanks for that.

It's just that I'd like to see a wider range of ethnically diverse Americans represented in my interests (education/research).

But you're right - That's no reason to be dissatisfied with the folks in my class.
 
Again, as an instructor, my tasking is to ensure my candidates understand the material. I actually get offended if someone does not ask questions, then fails the test or practical skill demonstration. Because they just made ME fail my tasking and not execute my ops order to perfection. Hence I tell everyone to fucking say "sir! please explain <x> again, I don't really get it"

I will tear a strip off them if they fail the test or skill verification and did not ask me or another staff member for help with the material. Every teacher/proff/instructor is different I suppose?
 
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