Guidelines for how to be "present" online
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LEE TORDA Acting Dean, Undergraduate Studies & Associate Professor of English 200 Clement C. Maxwell Library 508.531.1790 Teaching Website: www.leetorda.com [email protected] [email protected] www.leetorda.com |
Open Hours for students (office hours):
By Appointment. Email me at [email protected] with times/days you'd like to meet, and I will respond within 24 hours. HOW TO ATTEND ZOOM CLASS: Click here to attend. Zoom room opens at 4:30. “Let’s save pessimism for better times” --Eduardo Galeano (Who is Eduardo Galeano? ) |
General Guidelines for how to be “present” in our Zoom Classroom
Our semester together will be spent online. While you might be super comfortable learning that way, I’m still figuring out how best to manage it. So we’ve got to work together to make it so this class is a great one.
First off, know that I love teaching no matter where and how I am doing it, and I promise to bring as much energy as I can to our meetings, virtual though they may be.
Here’s what I need you to do:
In general, let’s be patient with each other, and, by all means, let's be nice to each other. It’s hard enough out there without a mean English class.
Our semester together will be spent online. While you might be super comfortable learning that way, I’m still figuring out how best to manage it. So we’ve got to work together to make it so this class is a great one.
First off, know that I love teaching no matter where and how I am doing it, and I promise to bring as much energy as I can to our meetings, virtual though they may be.
Here’s what I need you to do:
- Come to class. Not every teacher insists on attending class, but a lot happens in our class, and, if you miss it, you’ll miss a lot. And one thing I won’t do is re-teach a class you’ve missed, and I’m not going to record every class. I know there will be times when you have to miss, and I’ve made and will continue to make allowances for that. However, it is my expectation that you will zoom in to our class, on time, regularly, when the syllabus says too.
- When possible I would value and appreciate you having your camera on. I know that it is not always possible for you to have the camera on, and I know that some students have clear and unavoidable reasons to be off camera. I will, always, respect that. I only hope that we, together, create an online atmosphere that encourages people to feel comfortable enough to be on screen when possible.
- Sound on--yes, you read right, sound ON. Here is something I learned about myself last semester: I loathe the wall of silence I am greeted by in Zoom university. My IRL classes are loud, people. We are talking, groups are working, stuff is happening. I miss that a lot. I know it will not always be convenient or possible to have your mic on, but I seriously don't care about extraneous noise--your roommates comings and goings, your baby sister asking for a snack, your mother pretending not to be listening and still asking questions about who that nut on the other side of the camera is. Whatever. Let's be fully present with each other in our weird Zoom space.
- If you need tech help, let me know ASAP. If you don’t have a camera or your internet is awful, I can put you in touch with people on campus that can get you what you need. If you don’t understand how to use something—like zoom, or google.docs, or whatever it is we are working in, tell me that too. If I can’t help you I can put you in touch with those folks who can. I’m no tech master, trust me. I know what it feels like to not know how to work something.
- Things I don’t care about: Some teachers are going to care if you are in class and also in your bed. I am not one of those people. And I don’t care if you are still in your pajamas when we meet. Clothed is some capacity is all I care about. But I’m pretty relaxed about all that other stuff. T
I also don’t care if you are actually eating while we are in class. I never cared when we met face-to-face; I don’t care now. And you don’t need to ask permission to get up and get food or coffee or whatever.
I also don’t care if your dog joins us for class (accidentally on purpose), your kid sister comes in to say hi, or your parents want to walk over and casually see who is running this madhouse. It’s online learning and living, and we can’t entirely control how this is gonna work.
In general, let’s be patient with each other, and, by all means, let's be nice to each other. It’s hard enough out there without a mean English class.