Ask-Dr-Kirk

Check Your Students' Water Bottles At The Door?

Just heard that some students are taking the label off their water bottles, writing answers on the inside of the label, and then glueing it back on to take to their exams.

You have to admit that's creative.  Now if we could just harness that creativity...

I Need A New Computer

I'm in the market for a new laptop.  I've been using a PC for the past 15 years ever since Drake University decided to move from Apple computers to PCs for all College of Business faculty.  I keep hearing how user-friendly the Apple computers are.  Any advice from others who have made this decision lately?  What should I get?

Read These Suggestions Before Reading Your Student Evaluations

As you get back your student evaluations from last semester, you might want to read this article from Western Kentucky University's Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching.  A number of professors give advice on how to deal with hurtful student comments.

FAQ’s: Letters To Dr. Kirk About Common Student Issues

I'm teaching a two day workshop at the University of Akron this week and one of the sessions is titled "Ask Dr. Kirk," where faculty can ask me questions on teaching and managing their classroom.  I thought I would share some frequently asked questions below:

• What if I don't know the answer to a student's question?

• How do I get quiet students to participate in class?

• How do I get my students to come to class on time?

• I look very young for my age and am having trouble getting the students to take me seriously.

• How do I handle sensitive issues in the classroom such as a student with strong body odor?

• How do I deal with students whining about doing their homework?

• How do I do a good job teaching and have a personal life too?

• My university is switching to doing evaluations online.  Will this affect my rating by the students?

• Can you give me some tips on making grading easier?

Des Moines Mom Sells Son's Car As Consequence For Bad Behavior

You probably have heard about helicopter parents.  Most professors and university administrators agree that hovering over your son or daughter in college is not teaching them how to be responsible for their own actions.

A woman in Iowa placed this ad in the Des Moines Register:

OLDS 1999 Intrigue.  Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car.  Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat.  $3700/offer.  Call meanest mom on the planet.

The son is a freshman business major at Briar Cliff University.  The mother, Jane Hambleton, says she got over 70 phone calls from people supporting her action.

More On Civility On College Campuses

We're all talking about the problem of a lack of civility on college campuses.  Yesterday, I posted a sample policy here.  Also yesterday, there was an article about the civility policy proposed at Bergen Community College in New Jersey.  A number of their professors are upset about the policy draft stating that:

"it would make it a punishable offense for a conservative student not to 'embrace and celebrate' the ideas of Michael Moore or for a liberal student not to do the same with Ann Coulter."

This Dean has a better approach to writing a policy:

My proposed code of civil conduct for higher ed, or speech code, if you prefer:

I will separate the speaker from the speech.

As he notes, this acknowledges the student's right to disagree with someone else's speech or writing without making it a personal attack.

He goes on to say,

"If you think they’re wrong, explain why, and be prepared to have to explain back. Just don’t move from “you’re wrong” to “you’re bad.” The former is the risk of any new idea; the latter simply ends discussion."

How To Word A Class Policy on Incivility

Dr. Carriann Richey (Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences) attended the three day workshop at St Petersburg College that I taught last week and shared her school's policy on incivility in the classroom:

RESPECTFUL INTERACTIONS: Respect is demonstrated by being considerate, courteous and professional, and by maintaining confidentiality of patient information. While participating in any university-related activities (e.g., coursework, rotations, volunteer work, etc.), it is expected that all persons affiliated with COPHS will act in a manner that is guided by a respect for other students, staff, faculty, patients and health care practitioners who may have differences that include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Religious beliefs and practices
• Socioeconomic status
• Ethnicity/Language
• Racial background
• Nontraditional medical beliefs and practices
• Sexual orientation
• Physical/emotional disabilities
• Intellectual capabilities

COPHS will not tolerate incivility by any member of the College community.  Examples of incivility include rude, sarcastic, obscene, disruptive or disrespectful behavior, threats, or damage to property.  Students exhibiting uncivil behavior will be reported to the Academic and Professional Affairs Committee for possible disciplinary action. 

You might tweak this to use in your own syllabi or to share with your colleagues.

Does Anyone Use Jigsaw Assignments In Class?

A professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison contacted me yesterday wanting to know if I had ever used "jigsaw" assignments.  I haven't but did find this great explanation of the technique posted by Barbara Tewksbury (Hamilton College).  Does anyone else out there have experience with these at the college level?

Getting Students To Participate

Last October I received an email from a professor asking me how to engage students who will not speak, ask questions or participate in any way.  I responded with suggestions here.

I recently heard back from her:

Happy New Year...I used all your suggestions and......they talked! The small group approach worked especially well. I guess "safety in numbers!"...Thanks Again...

Putting students into small teams and assigning them something to discuss helps create a comfort zone as well as emphasizes that you expect participation.

Is My Paper Graded Yet?

Here's another tip for responding to students who keep asking when their papers will be graded. This teacher sets a deadline for getting papers back that she communicates to her students and then she tells them she'll give them "one extra credit point for each day the papers are late.   As she notes, "They never want me to give them back, and I have so many points in the quarter that it doesn't really do a lot for their grades."

What Do Your Students Really Need To Know?

Dr. Scott McLeod (Iowa State University) discusses how various portable devices that connect to the Internet have made it possible to get instant answers to many questions.  He then asks:

• In light of this new information technology/access landscape, what do students still need to memorize?
• What are we now asking students to memorize that they don’t really need to?
• How can we better use precious school time?

As he notes, there will still be core knowledge that students need to know.  But perhaps we need to rethink what that core is for the subjects we teach...I'm thinking about the prof in my graduate program who made us memorize all the formulas for his statistics class.

Tips For Getting Ready For The First Day Of The Semester

In the workshop on classroom management that I will be teaching this week at St Petersburg College, we will talk about setting expectations and building credibility on the first day of class. Some of the tips are:

• Think about the first impression your students are receiving.  Dress to show your respect for them (you would dress professionally for a job interview, wouldn't you?)   Students should not think that you are just another student when you walk in; your clothing and demeanor should project leadership.
• Give some thought as to how you will introduce yourself.  Using a title (Professor or Dr. or even Mr. or Mrs.) will establish that you are in charge.  It is easier to be a little more formal and strict at the beginning of the semester and then loosen up than it is to be casual at first and then decide to be strict.
• Check out the classroom layout before class and make sure you know how to work the equipment in the room.  Don't fuss with your papers, the projector, or computer when you get there.  The students need to think you are organized.
• Tell your students why you went into teaching and show your enthusiasm for your course content.  If you're not excited about the subject, your students won't be either.
• Share your credentials and work experiences with the students.  Don't assume that just because the university hired you that the students will automatically respect you or think they can learn from you.
• Do something interesting to illustrate what it is you want them to be doing throughout the semester...if you plan to use cases, do a short one the first day.  If you want them to work in teams, put them into groups and give them something to work on in class. 
• Keep your students the entire first class to show that the class time is important and that they will be getting their money's worth.
• Give an assignment the first day that is due the second day of class.  It could be a reading, homework problems, something to research on the internet.  Build in some sort of accountability by giving a quiz or taking up the assignment to show the students you think it important for them to do the work.

Keep in mind that your students are trying to figure out what kind of teacher you are...what are your class expectations, do you have a sense of humor, do you care about their learning?   By spending some time thinking about the message you want to communicate, you’re well on the way to managing your classroom!

Excuses For Missing Class

Professor Mike Adams (Eastern Connecticut State University) has written a paper titled, "The Dead Grandmother/Exam Syndrome and the Potential Downfall Of American Society."  As he notes, "A student's grandmother is far more likely to die suddenly just before the student takes an exam, than at any other time of year...Overall, a student who is failing a class and has a final coming up is more than 50 times more likely to lose a family member than an A student not facing any exams."

There seems to be a trend toward asking for "proof" from students who claim a death in the family.  I'm curious as to whether other professors require this.  I give my students two "personal days" during the semester to use as they wish so that I don't have to judge the validity of their excuse for missing class.