We've had discussion on negotiating the time between two classes and how to deal with colleagues (collegial and otherwise) - now I am wondering, what does one do with the time before classes, in the event that another professor isn't there to provide distraction?
This comes up because I am currently blogging from my classroom. Class starts in five minutes, I've been here for fifteen. In front of me are seven snowflakes. I attempted conversation with each one as they came in, and made a stab at getting them to talk to each other - but they prefer, it seems, to stare at their desks. (I prefer, it seems, to stare at the computer monitor and pretend that I'm writing e-mails.)
How do you handle these awkward waits?
I update my Facebook status on my own phone.
ReplyDeleteI put a friendly yet noncommittal expression on my face and look at them until they look away first. Sometimes I smile when I do that. Then I may get up and walk the hallway just to get out of there for a second. If possible, I begin returning graded assignments or distributing handouts. On occasion, I ask if anyone has any questions while we are waiting for class to begin--this isn't often the case, but somebody might surprise you.
ReplyDeleteI stop to get a coffee on the way so I don't get there early.
ReplyDeleteI usually only show up as early as is necessary to set up for class so I'm genuinely busy. However, as I've become a more experienced teacher, I've found small talk with students flows more easily. I try to find some small thing that differentiates each student from the hoards and, even if I can't remember a name, bringing up that small thing seems to work wonders.
ReplyDeleteIt's worth mentioning that I have an office, a real one that I share with no-one. Therefore, I've got somewhere to go before classes. When I was an adjunct (as you Americans call them), I did have this problem. Happily, I'd forgotten about it.
ReplyDeleteI usually don't have this problem, because I teach physics and astronomy, and so almost always have demos I use in the class. It takes time to set them up: there's never enough of it.
ReplyDeleteWhen this does happen, though, I remember that "Nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say." The students' silence may not be because they have dull minds, or because they hate you, or are unsociable. Some of them may simply be intimidated by your awesome power.
I also often play videos, often selected to go with the class. Space flight has provided oodles of great TV, so I make the best use of it I can, without intruding too much into the class time. Why not, since it's next to impossible for me to get everyone in a large class to show up on time.
You just reminded me of my undergrad adviser. He was super cute and totally oblivious and he had a nice rear-end. He would always set up the camera first and then the demo, and the demo would always need something adjusted so he'd squat down in front of the camera tweaking things not knowing his cute butt was on the tv.
ReplyDeleteTrue story: today I found a chair with wheels on it randomly up front in the lecture hall. I sat down and pushed myself around in it with my feet, zooming from side to side.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who finds this time awkward. I thought it was because I was lacking in social skills. When I have time to spare (which isn't always the case), I tend to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water. Actually, one of my main frustrations with the late-leaving room predecessor I had last semester was that he left me and my students in the hall, staring awkwardly at each other, when we could have been happily hiding behind screens in the classroom. On the other hand, sometimes one or two colleagues I like ended up out there, too, and we got to catch up. So I guess I'm not hopelessly antisocial; I know how to talk to them (and, although I think of at least one of them as much better with students than I, she was perfectly happy to talk to me instead. The only mild awkwardness arose from the fact that I have a much narrower range of topics I'm willing to discuss in front of students than she does).
ReplyDeleteSo, no solution, I'm afraid. But I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who isn't good at orchestrating pre-class cocktail party chatter.
I teach in the same building where my office is, and I generally leave my office 90 seconds before class starts, which gets me down the stairs and in the door bang on the buzzer.
ReplyDeleteI sing a quick verse of "Nobody knows the trouble I've (here I insert "caused" in place of "seen"...) in the deepest basso this chick can muster. Sometimes the 'flakes join in. It always breaks the ice and gets them talking (to each other)--they leave me alone, 'cause they con that I'm engaged, usually in getting the materials set for class or in last minute grading/recording...
ReplyDeleteI turn on the projector, set up my visuals, and if I still have time, I let them watch me catch up on the news via sciencedaily.com or similar. Sometimes there's a related story to chat about; sometimes I catch up on one of the news aggregaters. Fark, anyone?
ReplyDeleteI set up the techie stuff, go to the washroom, and by the time I get back usually the computer has finally booted up (old, slow PCs don't die, they become the basis for the teaching room audio-setups...). I often do chat to one or two students - the ones that sit at the front are usually amenable to at least a question like 'what do you make the time?' or 'did you have another class before this one?'. Or faff around moving my papers about. A lot.
ReplyDeleteWhen I teach "Modern History of Basketweaving" I often pop in a video about 5-10 minutes before class. Not a documentary, but either a "primary source" video or part of a movie that relates to that day's class. Then as soon as that second hand hits the 12 I'm off and talking. Some students watch the movie carefully, some keep texting.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I'll stand in the doorway and greet the students as they arrive.
Either beats sitting in the men's room reading the paper in the stall.
The chair ride! Yes, I have done this. Students look at me like I'm insane. I smile and swoop and spin, and at the top of the hour I get things going.
ReplyDeleteOh, we have a swivel chair in the classroom too. I use it for demonstrating conservation of angular momentum: when my arms are out, I spin slower, and when my arms are in, I spin faster. The part the students really like is when I get off and throw up.
ReplyDeleteI show up 5-10 minutes early so that I have time to run back to my office in case I forgot something. Also, I think showing up early sends a good message, certainly a better message than Prof. Ten-minutes-late Terri sends.
ReplyDeleteA good way to start up chit-chat with students is to ask how their job search is going, what they think of events on campus, or other topics in which they are likely to have a personal interest. I make a point of chatting to the students who have clearly demonstrated that they are uncomfortable joining in class discussion.
I have a few colleagues that play music through the classroom speakers before every class. When the music stops, class begins.