Students... please... Go kill your iphones.

[quagmire]

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This thread just continues to show the decline of society. Kids think they can do whatever they want, etc.

Respect your professors and they will respect you back. People with the, " I paid money for this class so I can do whatever I want" entitlement need to wake up and smell reality. You may be paying big money for a college education, but it doesn't give you the right to be disrespectful to your professors who have a different education method then you do. If he doesn't allow laptops, he doesn't allow laptops. It sucks, but use pen/pencil and paper and move on.

And this just proves the typical I don't know how to read a post in it's entirety before making an ignorant comment. Did I say I can do whatever I please? Or did I justify my statement by saying that I could understand if it were making noise, or if I got up and walked in front of the teacher then it would be an issue. If I'm doing my own thing texting, the professor doesn't need to stop the lesson to say something about it. As it stands, I don't. If I want to get up and use the bathroom, the professor doesn't need to talk behind the students back about how rude they are after leaving the room.

The only reason you didn't run into these issues "back in the day" is because you didn't these devices. Please, quit playing hero.

Did I specifically call you out? No. I didnt name any names. Was just ranting there.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I think it's perfectly acceptable for a prof. to ask students to not use an iPhone, or an iPad, or whatever e-method they would rather use. It's their class, their classroom. If you don't like a prof's policies, take a different class with a different prof.

However, kids at my uni are smart, and I have only ever seen 2 people using trying to use an iPad for notes. 99% of the kids all use good 'ol pen and paper, or powerpoint printouts with additional notes jotted down.

Using pen and paper helps enhance your ability to recall the information later, because of the tactile sensory (proven), as well as is just plain easier to leaf through while studying (opinion).

 

[125037]

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Did I specifically call you out? No. I didnt name any names. Was just ranting there.

Ironic seeing as how I pulled the "I pay for this card" and that's what you mentioned. Furthermore, your post was relatively soon after mine. Anyway, I am jumping to defense because I am not that stereotypical smartass who thinks that they can do whatever they want I just feel that college is getting too "high schooled".

At my University if we miss more than 3 days in the entire term the professor has "no option" but to drop us from the course. 2 days in some cases (you can only miss one day more than you meet a week). It's very lame. No, you don't need to be skipping class all the time, but things come up, or you worked late. If I'm too tired to go to class but am also maintaining my grades, I feel that I shouldn't be punished.

My point is, the "cracking down" is just irritating.

I think it's perfectly acceptable for a prof. to ask students to not use an iPhone, or an iPad, or whatever e-method they would rather use. It's their class, their classroom. If you don't like a prof's policies, take a different class with a different prof.

I see your point but it's not about that. I completely respect my professors and talk behind there back (these forums) more than I would ever say anything to them. The thing is WHY. What is his/her reasoning. For me, technology helps me remember things easier because I'm doing something I enjoy (a hobby) while I'm taking notes on my iPad. I can also type much faster than writing the they are clicking that damn remote through those PowerPoint slides so fast.

It's not making noise, it's not disturbing others, it's not doing anything except enabling me to have "fun" taking notes while enhancing my productivity. Again, it's not about the respect portion, it's about WHAT their reasoning behind saying no is.

 

[nizz]

Attendance policy at the university level? really?
professors getting bent out of shape over texting?

No wonder why my current employer (and most of the companies I interviewed with) claim to love hiring graduates from my school. We weren't treated like teenagers.

 

[barkomatic]

I think our differences lie in where the responsibility should settle, and to whether a student is more of a customer or a child; you seem to support a professor centric system where the responsibility of teaching and learning (and dictation of classroom conditions) falls upon the professor, whereas I'm more of the opinion that it is the students responsibility to learn the material, and that the professor shouldn't restrict material based on what they want. If they goof off, play games, or do whatever, it's their fault; the onus of learning the material and meeting the course requirements is their problem. That is in essence, because they're the customer, and, as you said, the professor is just going to do his job. This is where the media usage comes in; as long as it's not disrupting others (which is key), it shouldn't be an issue; the student is the consumer, and in essence the professor is still the "cashier."

When you sign up for data service on your iPhone--you agree to certain terms. You can't just "do anything". You are officially not allowed to tether your iPhone, you cannot exceed your data limits without overage, you must pay a fee if you cancel your contract early, etc etc. The same is true for the relationship between a university and a student. If you agree to attend the school and pay tuition then you also agree to abide by the stated rules.

Realistically, most students aren't "taking notes" on their iPhones -- they are texting throughout the entire session and then hoping to catch up by reading the textbook later. If half the students are doing this and get poor grades then it can make the professor look bad--hence a possible "no iPhone" rule. Therefore, many instructors are forced to become a parent to immature students and restrict the use of technology in the classroom.

If you want to stay home and play with your iPhone then do that. If you want to go to class and learn then do that--but expect to follow the rules the professor lays down.

 

[125037]

When you sign up for data service on your iPhone--you agree to certain terms. You can't just "do anything". You are officially not allowed to tether your iPhone, you cannot exceed your data limits without overage...

Yes, but those terms are under contract in fine print. This is different. Some professors allow it and some don't. Poor example, IMO.

 

[barkomatic]

Yes, but those terms are under contract in fine print. This is different. Some professors allow it and some don't. Poor example, IMO.

What is different? When you pay tuition, you don't automatically get a degree just by entering a classroom, breathing, and using your iPhone. You have to learn and demonstrate proficiency. The professor is the one who chooses the method by which he or she will accomplish that. If you are texting, then you can't participate in class discussions as effectively--if at all--and you're a drag on group projects.

There are instructors who don't care if you use technology in the classroom, those who will *encourage* the use of technology in the classroom and those who will not allow it all for various reasons.

 

[quagmire]

Attendance policy at the university level? really?
professors getting bent out of shape over texting?

No wonder why my current employer (and most of the companies I interviewed with) claim to love hiring graduates from my school. We weren't treated like teenagers.

My college requires attendance in some classes because it is a FAA monitored class. And other professors do it to teach you professionalism. If you don't attend class or you're late, it isn't very professional of you is it? Now if something comes up like ROTC, ill, or family emergency they will make an exception.

I understand why professors would get bent out of shape over texting or using laptops. If you're texting or surfing the web and not paying attention, not only are you wasting your own time when you should be learning, you're wasting the professors time trying to teach it to you.

 

[colourfastt]

Attendance policy at the university level? really?
professors getting bent out of shape over texting?

No wonder why my current employer (and most of the companies I interviewed with) claim to love hiring graduates from my school. We weren't treated like teenagers.

Yes; in fact my policy was to lock the classroom door at the start of the class. Also, I deducted one letter grade at the end of semester for each class missed. The concept is simple: if I'm required to be in the class, so are you!

 

[Dros]

Wow. I'm amazed at the idea that someone feels free to text in class. I am a professor, and I've enjoyed the different points of view here.

"I pay tuition so I can should be given leeway to take notes as I like"
I don't have a problem with someone taking notes as they find efficient. I do have a problem if they intersperse this with texting or checking out tmz.com. You haven't paid for a meal that you can then choose to consume or not. A class may require participation to maximize the educational experience for everyone. By distracting yourself instead of thinking of ways to contribute, you are cheating the class. Customers are consumers, but education is different from consumption. Why not ask a question that may help everyone understand the material rather than zone out or text a friend?

I've never had a student try the "I pay your salary" line on me, but I hope someone tries it someday. I get hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, and the University takes 50%. That money effectively subsidizes everyone's tuition, so I help pay for all my students to go to school!

 

[nizz]

Yes; in fact my policy was to lock the classroom door at the start of the class. Also, I deducted one letter grade at the end of semester for each class missed. The concept is simple: if I'm required to be in the class, so are you!

I understand the locking of the door because a student coming is a big distraction, but deducting letter grades for attendance? That just sounds absolutely ridiculous to me. Do your students have to ask permission to go use the restroom too?

I was a math major at my school and our grades were based solely on the midterm(max 2) and final. No extra credit or curves were given. We did not have someone hold our hand to make sure we passed. It was our responsibility to know the material. If a student fails your exams, then by all means, fail the student. But if a student misses your classes and still aces your exams, then you gotta ask yourself: What exactly am I teaching if these students are just reading the text and knowing the material? That would be so unfair to the student. If you were truly a good and effective professor, missing your class would be punishment enough on their grade.

 

[dukebound85]

Yes; in fact my policy was to lock the classroom door at the start of the class. Also, I deducted one letter grade at the end of semester for each class missed. The concept is simple: if I'm required to be in the class, so are you!

For a thread talking about respect towards professors, this post reflects the lack of respect professors have towards students.

No wonder students don't have respect for some professors who pull this sort of stunt.

What sort of punishment do you give yourself if you have a conference to attend or get a flat tire that causes you to be late/miss class?......or is that somehow different?

 

[Xavier]

I take notes on my iPod Touch, my buddy does on his iPad. Professors don't care.

After all, they are getting paid to teach and you are paying to learn. It's your own damn fault if you fail.

 

[samiwas]

Holy wow. Never, in my entire time in college (mid 90's), did I ever hear students carrying on about how they were paying "customers". If you acted like a douchebag, you got treated like one.

As others have said, reading some of the comments on this thread really shows the change in the attitudes of the younger generation these days. The "I can do whatever the hell I want and you can't stop me" attitude. And kids like zioxide thinking they are so badass saying things like "who gives a **** what anyone thinks...I'll do whatever the **** I want. I tell them to **** off." Right. Keep up with that attitude...see how far that gets you. You are not badass, and no one cares what you think.

I remember back when students respected teachers. I had the professor or two who thought they owned the city, but did I go and tell them to **** themselves. No, because I'm not a self-important jackass who thinks *I* own the city...I know what respect is and how to deal with my problems with people in a more "professional" manner. I don't immediately jump off the handle at someone who gets in my way...I discuss. I'm going to guess that most teachers who treat students poorly are probably just sick of listening to the students themselves whine about how important they think they are.

Really, there are people saying that they SHOULD be allowed to text and play games in class if they so desire because they paid for class? Wow.

I worked with some kids like this recently (we're talking 20-year-olds here). One demanded an hourly 15-minute smoke break at work, or he wouldn't continue working until he got one. That ended quickly. Another refused to do repair work, stating that he was hired to do a different job (not at all true). Sorry buddy, this job is an "everyone does everything kind of place, like it or not." He was also dealt with (fired).

All of this "I can do whatever I want" crap these days really gets on my nerves.

 

[iJohnHenry]

Sami, it's the backlash from the permissive society, that the social engineers in positions of authority have saddled us with.

The chickens have come home to roost.

 

[nizz]

Holy wow. Never, in my entire time in college (mid 90's), did I ever hear students carrying on about how they were paying "customers". If you acted like a douchebag, you got treated like one.

As others have said, reading some of the comments on this thread really shows the change in the attitudes of the younger generation these days. The "I can do whatever the hell I want and you can't stop me" attitude. And kids like zioxide thinking they are so badass saying things like "who gives a **** what anyone thinks...I'll do whatever the **** I want. I tell them to **** off." Right. Keep up with that attitude...see how far that gets you. You are not badass, and no one cares what you think.

I remember back when students respected teachers. I had the professor or two who thought they owned the city, but did I go and tell them to **** themselves. No, because I'm not a self-important jackass who thinks *I* own the city...I know what respect is and how to deal with my problems with people in a more "professional" manner. I don't immediately jump off the handle at someone who gets in my way...I discuss. I'm going to guess that most teachers who treat students poorly are probably just sick of listening to the students themselves whine about how important they think they are.

Really, there are people saying that they SHOULD be allowed to text and play games in class if they so desire because they paid for class? Wow.

I worked with some kids like this recently (we're talking 20-year-olds here). One demanded an hourly 15-minute smoke break at work, or he wouldn't continue working until he got one. That ended quickly. Another refused to do repair work, stating that he was hired to do a different job (not at all true). Sorry buddy, this job is an "everyone does everything kind of place, like it or not." He was also dealt with (fired).

All of this "I can do whatever I want" crap these days really gets on my nerves.

I agree with you that people shouldn't be telling their professors to ****** off. But times are different man.

In the 90's, you knew how things worked at your college and maybe a few others through friends and family. We are living in 2010. The internet changed a lot of things in that students know exactly what is going on at hundreds of other universities. No one should be subject to the type of classroom environment that colourfastt set and they know there are other options out there.

As for texting, I'm in the corporate world right now and my chief financial officer, chief actuary, and director all constantly check their blackberries when they get a chance in meetings. It is a delicate skill nowadays to learn to check your phones without offending the speaker and without missing out on anything important.

 

[wbe858]

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I have one class which I have to really take notes in or I'm done. I started out just using my phone but then the lectures kept getting more and more complicated till I brought in my Bluetooth keyboardto type faster. Now I just sit there and type away on my keyboard like everyone with their laptops but all I have is my keyboard in my bag and my phone. (Sometimes I steal my girlfriends iPad)

 

[125037]

Yes; in fact my policy was to lock the classroom door at the start of the class. Also, I deducted one letter grade at the end of semester for each class missed. The concept is simple: if I'm required to be in the class, so are you!

And you wonder why some students don't have more respect toward their professors!? Good lord.

For a thread talking about respect towards professors, this post reflects the lack of respect professors have towards students.

No wonder students don't have respect for some professors who pull this sort of stunt.

What sort of punishment do you give yourself if you have a conference to attend or get a flat tire that causes you to be late/miss class?......or is that somehow different?

Didn't even see this... EXACTLY. Sometimes I get called in at night to work a 12 hour shift in the ER from 7pm to 7am -- and my classes usually start at or around 9 - I am not going to NOT that day. But go ahead and lower my score by a LETTER-GRADE because that is completely rational.

 

[iJohnHenry]

And you wonder why some students don't have more respect toward their professors!? Good lord.

Tenure is good, and ugly, at the same time. Just like Unions.

 

[Counterfit]

Yes; in fact my policy was to lock the classroom door at the start of the class. Also, I deducted one letter grade at the end of semester for each class missed. The concept is simple: if I'm required to be in the class, so are you!

It's a good thing my mother doesn't operate her classes like you.

 

[iJohnHenry]

Yes; in fact my policy was to lock the classroom door at the start of the class.

It's a good thing my mother doesn't operate her classes like you.

So, she doesn't teach Sex Ed, like colourfast??

 

[samiwas]

In the 90's, you knew how things worked at your college and maybe a few others through friends and family. We are living in 2010. The internet changed a lot of things in that students know exactly what is going on at hundreds of other universities. No one should be subject to the type of classroom environment that colourfastt set and they know there are other options out there.

Colourfast might be a little extreme, but don't try to gloss over the people saying things like "I'll tell my teacher to f off if they ever try to tell me to not use my phone in class." That is not acceptable, even if it is 2010...and the internet doesn't give you that right.

As for texting, I'm in the corporate world right now and my chief financial officer, chief actuary, and director all constantly check their blackberries when they get a chance in meetings. It is a delicate skill nowadays to learn to check your phones without offending the speaker and without missing out on anything important.

OK, still...if it is against the teacher's rules, then you can drop that class and take another.

I would also say that it's a bit different when you're trying to run a company, than when you're trying to find out which frat house is having the keg of Natty Light on Friday.

 

[iJohnHenry]

OK, still...if it is against the teacher's rules, then you can drop that class and take another.

OMG , market forces??? Some Profs might have a stroke.

 

[125037]

Tenure is good, and ugly, at the same time. Just like Unions.

You can't possibly think this is logical? So you're telling me that if you or your child was in this class, and missed 2 days the entire semester, did good on all testing material, and the HIGHEST possible grade they could come out with would be a "C"... you would be okay with that?

That's absurd.

 

[JackHobbs]

Some of the things that teachers (and by extension here I'm also talking about professors) can seem a little petty. In my experience however, if you act like a doormat, students walk all over you. Some of my students have a very poor attitude to punctuality. Constant interruptions as you begin a lesson are very disruptive, both to me and the other, punctual, students in the class. When I teach A level and students have chosen to do my course, I basically have the rule that if I have started teaching, they are not allowed in. This tends to mean that Students are not late. Conversely some of my colleagues are not as draconian and they spend a lot of time moaning about late students.

I agree with the grade thing though. In the end, the grade you achieve should be the grade you get. However I have a great deal of sympathy with the professor who docks a grade for each absence. It is very irritating if someone is constantly missing lessons. It can lead to borrowed/lost notes or being asked questions about things in previous lessons when the rest of us have moved on.

As for the what does it say about your teaching if someone passes a course just reading the notes and not listening to the teaching comment: Some students are very clever and could probably do it all by themselves. Unfortunately for them they have signed up to a class where the vast majority of students do need the teaching. They should either change course or put up with it. Putting up with it means being respectful to the professor and not impeding the learning of others.