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LOL..microeconomics was so hard for me, not only did I find it super boring but the instructor was horrible. But microbiology was a breeze, go figure. I also had an insane teacher that would yell at students if they asked a question because they didnt understand. By the middle of the semester, students were afraid to ask questions. I think it was time for that professor to retire
Ergh, my math professor is like that. Over half the class dropped the course because the guy is just a horrible teacher.
Also, the people who never show up to class and get good grades drive me insane! My college has an attendance policy but a lot of the teachers have become pretty lax about it and either don't take attendance or just let it slide. Other teachers count attendance towards your participation grade, which I don't mind since I show up to class all the time.
Also, cell phones annoy the crap out of me. Why does everyone feel the need to have the loudest, most obnoxious ring tones ever? It's a very annoying disruption, it's rude, and it's even worse during a test. I've always kept my phone on vibrate or silent and I've never had the embarrassment of my phone disrupting a class.
If I was a teacher, I'd much rather a student sleep quietly or doodle during my class instead of phones going off. (Key word is quietly, because I've had classes where people fell asleep and snored! )
College classes are paid for. If they choose to waste their money... . But since they are making the grade by tests alone, they must be learning the material some way.
Maybe it's osmosis or something. What would be worse, skipping class altogether, or going and sleeping, hoping SOMETHING will soak in during the nap.
These symptoms mirror our public school system. Boredom and apathy to prepare students for their lives as productive workers. Enjoy. For reasons why our system functions the way it does, read John Gatto, John Holt, James Herndon, James Loewellen's Lies My Teacher Told Me.
I think that class participation should be part of the grade. If it isn't and and they are coming to class and passing, then really what can be done? You can't force someone to have an interest. Maybe the teacher needs to evaluate their teaching methods.
rejoice he is only continuing with his k12 loser behavior. rejoice, his slumber ensures your 4.0 gpa on the curve. he will continue to fall sleep until he tries to get a job or falls asleep in prison or on a park bench at night then the wake up will occur. he is aquiring no VE job skills at all he is treading water. jr colleges are full of such people.
I teach a college course. Attendance and participation are part of the students' final grade. After a certain amount of absences, the student will automatically fail (it's the department's policy). As far as participation, some people are just quiet. One of my students writes such insightful things, yet does not speak up in class very much. Even though she does not speak up, she is always paying attention. Participation doesn't only mean talking IMO.
I teach a required non-majors biology course at a local community college. My own personal feeling is that if a student can legitimately pass my tests, i don't care how he spends class time if he's not interfering with other students.
This somewhat remind me of believe of Jim Thorpe. I read he used to go to practice and do nothing. I believe he used to go to sleep. However, anytime he was out there in the field, he excelled. Do you think the coach minded? Apparently not because the guy delivered. If I was the instructor and I saw a student sleeping and it was such a distraction to me when teaching, I would just tell the student to leave the class after he checked in. I would also tell him that he would not get any breaks if he fails the test. If I had not suspicion of cheating, I have not problem with it. However, I would still enourage them to listen and participate in the class.
What I also do is some serious introspection. Am not no a skilled enough instructor to keep students awake and interested?
You have great day.
El Amigo
I think it's worthwhile to sit down and have a conversation with the student, beginning, "I notice that you've been falling asleep a lot in my class, Mr. Smith. Is there something going on that I should be aware of?"
Maybe Mr. Smith has been working three jobs just to make tuition and rent and it's the first time in eight hours he's been off his feet. Maybe he's an idiotic freshman who doesn't know his beer tolerance and came to class right from waking up with his head on the bathroom tile from the night before. Who knows? At the very least, you're expressing concern -- and that goes a long way toward conveying the idea that his sleeping in class matters to you. It may be disrespectful, sure -- but it may not be, at the same time. It's worth giving the student the benefit of the doubt in this conversation and seeing what you get.
Now, perhaps he says, "It's just because your class is so f***ing boring." In that case, I would advise him when the drop date is and inform him that you regret he finds it so. If you find it a sufficient enough distraction, do you have the power to dismiss him from class when he sleeps? I find it disrespectful, but I see others on here would not be bothered by it.
If the instructor does not have classroom discussion / activity as part of his grading and has said so in the syllabus there is nothing he should be doing about it.
I agree. You can't fault someone for already knowing the material. What if he learned it in high school?
The longer lectures are brutal. Anything more than 50 min and I couldn't take it. I used to play computer chess with a class mate during my advisor's lecture lol. Even now in industry, I'll find a few folk passed out here and there in various meetings if they go on too long. It happens.
And how about short courses? 8 hours a day for 2-3 days. They should include sleeping matts in the rooms.
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Other teachers count attendance towards your participation grade, which I don't mind since I show up to class all the time.
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