Class Guidelines
Here are the class guidelines we created together.
Links to an external site.
Christina took all of the sheets you filled out and collated them on one page. You can make comments on that page if there's anything you'd like to say/add.
Below is a copy of the contents of that page.
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Class Guidelines PHIL 102 (Spring 2019) This is a compilation of comments students gave to the questions below during discussion section meetings in January 2019.
* Items with one star were said a few times.
** Items with two stars were said by many students
The things said most often are in bold , below
What do other students do in classes that tends to help your learning?
Discuss things with your neighbours during class; participate in group discussion and group work **
Listening when other students are speaking **
Asking questions to clarify things **
Respect one another **
Attack the argument, not the person
Raise your hand, wait your turn
Sharing notes if someone is absent, sharing other resources, be willing to review material with others *
Be attentive and engaged during class *
Be open-minded to different ideas *
Be supportive
Participate in discussions on Canvas
What do other students do that tends to hinder your learning?
Things that are distracting Using laptops or other electronic devices do to irrelevant things during class, particularly when sitting in the front **
Making distracting noises or movements during class: **
Talking in class (when not participating in discussion); speaking when professor is talking **
noises from laptops, pen clicking *
leg jiggling (can shake other seats)
Trickling into class late, leaving early *
Other things that hinder learning Discouraging others' ideas, insulting others' opinions, not respecting others' contributions **
Speaking over one another, interrupting *
Students not being prepared for class
Dominating discussion
When people ask for the answers
Lack of participation and enthusiasm; not being focused during class
Going off topic during discussions; asking unrelated/personal questions
Interjecting politics into a discussion when it's not constructive to the discussion
Posting inappropriate comments on the discussion board
Group assignments where people put no effort in
What do professors do in classes that tends to help your learning?
Lectures Don't just state information but make it enjoyable and engaging: **
Make lectures interactive (e.g., by using engagement technologies like Mentimeter) **
If material is historical, state application to present day *
Be passionate, show that you care about the content *
Explain things clearly; clear lectures **
Have structured, organized lectures
Include good transitions in lectures
Going over key ideas/learning objectives, structure/outline; point out key ideas so they're easy to write down & remember **
Post notes so they can be reviewed after class **
Use visuals like slides; elaborate on slides **
Ask students questions to be sure they understand *
Pause to allow students to ask questions & take notes *
Break down big concepts into smaller ones; give analogies & examples *
Be concise (e.g., bullet points)
Speak slowly
Repeat questions, answer questions
Explain the text
Information for next class/what's due
Send reminder emails
All technology is collated into one program
Allow students to eat in class
Discussions Minimal structure: following the discussion itself; freedom to deviate from a topic and loop back *
Have discussion in small groups *
Having discussion in a circle
Questions that can easily be expanded upon, so it's easy for everyone to contribute; open-ended questions
Don't be afraid to have discussions with some conflict; disagreement should be welcomed
Informal and relaxed
It's good when prof's or TA's also are a part of the discussion
General Be kind and aware of students' needs; respect students
Being available outside class (e.g., office hours)
Would like to see professors incorporate their own opinions more
Use videos
What do professors do in classes that tends to hinder your learning?
Going too fast over material, speaking too fast **
Not setting clear standards for assignments or other expectations **
Getting off track, talking about irrelevant things **
Speaking in monotone, or speaking too quietly **
Staying on one question or topic too long *
Not being open after classes and lack of response on email; generally being unresponsive *
Not finishing within allotted class time *
Not engaging the class, just lecturing *
Not being prepared for class
Slides:
Lecture not aligned with class slides
Too much or too little text on slides *
Reading directly off the slides
Not releasing the slides *
Not being clear:
jumping around in topics *
not explaiing more technical/professional/advanced terms
Student questions:
Answering questions incorrectly
Picking on students to answer questions
Shutting student questions down
Recapping things already read as homework
Lack of authority
Saying "you should already know that"
How can electronic devices in class help or hinder learning? Suggested guidelines on using these?
Help learning Efficient note taking **
Access to other resources; can quickly google things to get an overview **
In-class participation with things like Menti, Kahoot, etc. **
Access to class readings that are electronic, during class *
Collaboration through things like google drive
Finding visual images that correlate with what the professor is saying
Helps less talkative people contribute to discussion (e.g., discussion boards)
Hinder learning Browsing irrelevant things online **
Distracting others by what they can see on your screen, or by sounds of typing, or other sounds (e.g., noises from phone notifications) **
Can be bad for your eyes
Typing notes may not be as good for memory retention as writing them out
Not having time to think about questions beforehand (I think in regard to the in-class engagement tech like mentimeter)
Suggested guidelines Use electronics to assist learning; don't be texting, on Facebook, etc. during class **
If not using electronics for class purposes, sit at the back