Thursday, May 08, 2003

 
mmmm...I don't think it is a contractual issue at all. I don't think there should be...it's too slippery. "I didn't get it" or "But I SENT you my paper on time in e-mail" I don't buy it. I don't mind it for last-minute questions or concerns, but I don't trust technology enough to make it a contractual issue. We are required to be in class during class time, and to hold regular office hours, that is a student-teacher time contract. Everything else is extra as far as I am concerned. And I am perfectly willing to go there, but they can't use it against me. ie: an e-mail at 3a.m. from a student claiming to not be able to find the online article for the next day doesn't fall into the category of reasonable contact expectations.

Elizabeth~ Thanks for the peer-mentor plug, girl. I really appreciate it. However, I'm thinking now that it is not something I am interested in after all. We can chit-chat about it in detail if you want to, because I am still waffling after the interview.
posted by betsy 6:49 PM

Wednesday, May 07, 2003

 
I have to say that at first I didn't agree with y'all on this topic. It seems that these darling 110 students grew up in a time when e-mail (and IM) was really introduced as casual correspondence (something akin to our passing intricately folded notes in grade school) so it didn't really bother me. Actually I found it kind of refreshing. Then yesterday I received a barrage of horrible e-mails. One of them actually bitching at ME about the lack of fellow student participation in peer groups. She didn't even sign the e-mail. Another asking to be excused this friday to go to HIS GIRLFRIEND'S PROM, and then a few hours later telling me I "could" let him out of peer groups a half hour early for some reason or another. There were others...I won't bore you with more details. But, I didn't respond to any of them. And it felt damn good. And it was fine, because we discussed those issues today face-to-face. So, that relieves my paranoia about those evals, Elizabeth. So, perhaps that is the best way to deal? "Yes, I did get your e-mail, here is what we can do...etc...and by the way, I didn't appreciate your tone." Anyhow, thanks for this conversation, y'all. ;)
posted by betsy 11:32 PM

Monday, May 05, 2003

 
hi Elizabeth--like bill...I've realized this quarter that rude emails don't get responses, even though the student may be unaware of her/his tone. I think some students just feel way too comfortable with email. And I don't respond to questions about something they should know or can find on the syllabus or a worksheet. I've ignored many an email this quarter and no one has ever asked me about it in class...maybe they know they're being ridiculous. But silly questions don't come up as often since I put everything--syllabus, peer groups, assignments--on a website. in the last 2 quarters, i got more than one email with students telling me to do something--for instance, listing their phone number, telling me to call them asap...and even voice messages on my cell phone. those pissed me off so much that of course I ignored them and had to explain to them what an emergency is and that i will make an exception only when there is a frantic tone of trauma (not related to en110) in their voices.
posted by Kelly 4:41 PM