Thursday, June 19, 2008

Laptops Are NOT Allowed!!!

I do not allow students to use laptops (with wireless capability) in my classroom.

Laptops enable students to take their attention away from the lecture/group material. Usually, professors can see that a student is reading a newspaper/magazine, writing a note to a friend, or text messaging another student. However, with a laptop a student can remain incognito to a professor's glaring glance and the student can persist through class by seemingly "taking notes" (in most instances on facebook or myspace).


I graduated from graduate school last year and I am a member of the millennial generation, therefore I had a short attention span in class. During some class sessions, I could not pull myself away from grants.gov/other grants websites or from checking my e-mail.


As a result, in my fall and spring semesters, I do not allow laptops in my classroom. The only exception occurs when my classes are held in one particular building on campus that does not have wireless capabilities.


Do you allow laptops in YOUR classrooms?


MP

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Reason I Left Student Services...

In the past three years, I have heard numerous sources attest to the claim "student services personnel can be sued for negligence while attempting to perform their jobs". THIS CLAIM IS TRUE!

According to the June 13th edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education, "[A] state [Texas] appeals court has ruled that administrators can be sued as individuals, even through they were performing university duties and the doctrine of sovereign immunity protects the university from suits".


In my past life, I was a greek advisor and I spent many sleepless nights hoping that the students would not make the newspaper the next morning. In addition, I advised many other student organization and I took the student to various conferences across the state. During these functions, I dreaded the nightly activities, because I knew that I would be held personally responsible for any bad decision that my students had that night. As a professor, for the first time in my life, I have slept soundly EVERY WEEKEND for the past year! Thank God for academic affairs!


I will continually pray for the individuals in student affairs and that their students make sound decisions and become accountable for their own actions.


Until next time...


MP

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

She's Back!!!

The summer has finally begun! I am very excited about resting, catching up with my blogging obligations, and the synchronization of my research.

This morning, I read an interesting article about my favorite subject...undergraduate students. This article indicates that rising gas prices are keeping college students on campus (in the residence halls). This will be GREAT for residence life and student activities! Some campuses struggle with retaining students for development programming efforts, sports functions, etc.

Here is the article - http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5813235.html

Let me know what you think!

Millennial Professor




Friday, May 30, 2008

My Minimester Hiatus: More Great Classroom Ideas to Follow!!!

Readers,

I am nearing the END of my minimester and I have lots of interesting ideas that have emerged during the past few weeks. Please subscribe to my blog, because you will receive MANY millennial professor ideas in the next few weeks.

I am excited about having the summer off and I am going to focus on the blog and the scholarly research.

Via Con Dios! I will be back in a few days! Minimester awaits!

Sincerely,

MP