Grow up and act like an adult!
A key point that resonates with me after reading these articles is the concept of colleges and universities changing policy and creating rules to govern the behavior of adults who are paying money for their education. At what point do we stop babysitting people? It seems very simple to me. If an adult over the age of 18 chooses to browse social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Woof during a lecture, and they in turn perform poorly on a test; that is there problem. Why do we need “big brother” to force us to help ourselves? At some point the people will figure out that they need to pay attention in order to be successful in an academic environment. It just makes me want to say DUHHHHHH! It might even be an economic advantage for colleges and universities to let students fail. The revenue created from students who are forced to retake classes could go to worthwhile ventures such as increasing school bandwidth. :-)
Okay, let me take my feet off this old box that used to store cleaning products. Maybe I need to look at this from a different point of view. Are there benefits to babysitting adults and making them help themselves? Is it our responsibility to help them succeed? This reminds me of the seatbelt laws in the United States. The only reason we have seatbelt laws is because it saves the insurance companies money if we get hurt less, and it gives them a reason NOT to pay for injuries if seat belts are not worn. Making rules about use of technology in college and university classes may benefit those classes like seatbelt laws have benefited insurance companies. We all know that we learn from each other, and students drive the discussions in most quality higher education classes. If it takes technology rules to foster more student discussion than it is in the professor/institutions best interest to impose rules about technology use. Also, I’m not sure that I want a surgeon who had to retake anatomy and physiology four times giving me the old slice and dice.
I’m not sure where I really stand on this debate that I just had with myself. Honestly, I think my original point makes more sense. People need to wake up and do what’s best for themselves. If they don’t, they will fail. Boo hoo!
I enjoyed your personal debate and feel it comes down to personal motivation. If I want something bad enough, I know what I have to do. I also know that I can multi-task two things at a time and function. I don't know if that is a good thing, but I am being honest. I think there needs to be laws because we need to cover our butts. I have learned that if I'm teaching anything that may seem questionable, such as literature. I always have a folder with articles that support my motives for having taught it in the first place. I think that may be the reason why there are policies set in place, we need to have assurance.
ReplyDeleteAs I read the article, I too wondered about where you draw the line...adults make choices and they can choose to waste their money and fail - does society really want to start governing that too? Then again, if a professor bans technology, students have the choice of whether or not to take the class from him/her or someone else. Interesting and not I think I'm debating with myself about it too so I'm going to say goodnight!
ReplyDelete