University Classroom Etiquette

[ebola?]

lol, no, except you had me expecting the worst, as you posted about how high you were when you went to class.

ebola

 

[muvolution]

I went to school and grad school then I taught for a year which overlapped with a year of teaching low-level classes in grad school.

-Sit in the front of the classroom.
-Show up on time, but don't go in early, instead sit/ stand outside discussing homework/ lectures, etc with other students or professors.
-Ask lots of questions, be willing to stay after to ask even more.
-If you are going to say something, make it concise, with a thesis or question.
-NEVER use a computer or electronic device in class. Print everything out and read it.
-If you didn't do an assignment, don't make up a bullshit excuse. Look your prof in the eye, tell them you didn't have time to do it, and ask them when you can turn it in-even in no late work is accepted.

Sometimes I would hold optional night seminars for students who were interested - usually It was just to see who would show up and then I would see if anyone had questions, if not, I would have a movie planned with a lecture to go along with it. (TRON, Blade Runner, Neuromancer, The Matrix, etc...) I taught Digital Media for architects. Usually i brought drinks for students (I taught a very alcohol-liberal university)
If students weren't prepped in lab days or hadn't worked on the assignment, i'd let em do whatever the fuck they wanted. I would just mentally note who was or wasn't on top of stuff.

Don't kiss ass but if there is a question lingering and no one is saying anything, speak up.
When you are writing papers, don't plagiarize (obviously) and try to think of some original ideas - tie in your references to extra-curricular readings you have done.

 

[Smacktastic]

You mention you are paranoid, just bare this in mind. When you are questioning yourself and what others think of you just sit back and think, could i be being paranoid, am i making a bigger deal out of this than neccessary. You're probably pretty irritating and i should know i have exactly the same problem, but pretty irritating isnt the end of the world and your class mates need to learn to deal with irritation because god knows we are confronted with a lot of it in our lives.

Maybe right shh on top of your notes as a constant reminder to keep your comments short and sweet...and concise.

 

[Nibblez]

I usually find it helpful to have a notepad or something similar out and jot down my thoughts while in the process of formulating an observation that I wish to discuss.

Also, if you think ISU is bad, stay far FAR away from UIUC. While we may tout having a diverse campus population, the reality of the situation is pretty sad. Basically, the Asian international students keep to themselves and the Latino/Latina and African American population is fairly sparse. So you end up talking and interacting with predominantly affluent white kids from some suburb of Chicago.

Plus most of the professors are assholes. Every once in a while you run into one that is nice, but most of the time these people just don't give a shit and make the class a blow-off, which is nice for your GPA but terrible for your learning experience. Many a time I've had classes that were fun and enjoyable, only to realize at the end of the semester that I had learned jack shit because I never studied or read anything due to the professor making the exams ridiculously easy and giving out way too many free points for attendance.

 

[deckmunki]

I have had students like you in my classroom. I'll tell you a secret: teachers like you. They like your enthusiasm, they like how focused on the topic you are and your passion for discussion. Now that said: we also like all of our students to get a chance to participate in discussion and if you are monopolizing the discussion then I would eventually pull you aside and give you the above information and the following suggestion.

During class try to have more of an inner monologue going. Come up with responses and counter-arguments to the points being raised. There is no need to always voice your ideas out loud. Look at yourself as a custodian of the classroom...if the class needs help on a discussion and you have an idea that will illuminate some critical point: then by all means VOICE IT. If your ideas are already being spoken by others then take that moment to quiet your external voice and sharpen your internal voice.

You, sir or madam, truly have something of the wordsmith, and a little of the psychiatrist in you; very cleverly-worded advice.

If only I had had the benefit of your wisdom 20 years ago when I was making a nuisance of myself in a fair few classrooms in London primary schools...

;o)

 

[KamMoye]

snip

 

[Nibblez]

u should follow ur own advice imo

I think he did bro, that's why he only wrote 4 short lines of text.

 

[KamMoye]

ya im priy sure he was. umad?

 

[AmorRoark]

From time to time I put on some headphones and watch youtube videos and what-not

You CANNOT be serious?

 

[panic in paradise]

each classroom is veeery different from the other...

IMHO:
its a good idea to take a look into the different professors of each class you're taking, more so then the time schedule...
in the long run.

 

[bunt]

If it's a smaller class then good discussion is the way to go, but if you're in a lecture with 300 other students don't waste everyones time by asking questions all the time. There used to be this one girl who would ask at least one question EVERY lecture and it used to drive everyone crazy. She would usually be thinking 1 or 2 steps ahead of the lecturer and if she just kept her mouth shut her questions would usually be answered in time.

Several years later I was telling one of my work collegues about how much this girl drove me mental. Eventually one day my boss asked me to train and orientate a new research assistant. Guess who it turned out to be.

It was a very cruel turn of events, the following 1.5 years were brutal.