Today I witnessed why I don't think high school students could handle Chatzy, because we couldn't. Maybe it would be useful if strict ground rules were laid out, but for me it has only been distracting. First of all, it is distracting to witness students typing away while in class and to wonder what they are laughing about. Second of all, it is distracting because I am tempted to join or to know what everyone is talking about.
Not only do I think it is disrespectful to be chatting away while a professor is speaking, I also think that the way that people are using it right now is upsetting. Additionally, I think it punishes the students who are trying to pay attention, because they are not part of the in-crowd who is on Chatzy.
This for me is difficult to write, because I am sure that some people will not be too happy about these comments, because they see Chatzy as a relief from paying attention or a way to connect. However, right now, I feel pretty cheated that the conversation in the class is being hindered by people's lack of attention. Furthermore, I just keep thinking about when I am in the classroom, and how I am sure that sometimes students won't think that poetry is the most interesting thing, but I at least hope that they will give me more respect than this.
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8 comments:
Hi Autumn,
I am glad that you wrote about this. I, too, felt very uncomfortable about the laughing and disjointed day we had in both classes due to a certain extent I think, on the chatting going on. I missed hearing what those people would have possibly contributed to our discussions. Plus, I felt bad for the teachers, because they seemed flustered and unsure as to what people were responding to with their laughter. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
Laura
Autumn,
I really appreciate you sharing this. I too felt very distracted during both classes yesterday because of the chatting going on during class. I guess I was disappointed by the lack of respect given to the instructors and other students in the classes. I know that this type of behavior would definitely be disconcerting for me as a teacher. I know there are constructive ways to use this tool (Chatzy) but I am not sure this was one of those ways. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Cristi
Hi Autumn, it's nice meeting you! I was in the MAC class of 2007 and I'm currently working in various near-teaching capacities as I keep job hunting.
If it helps, we couldn't handle our chat program either. It does seriously impede discussion, because as much as we might try to pay attention to both conversations, it's impossible to fully participate in the classroom discussion when you're distracted by another conversation.
I think tools like Chatzy or the program we used (the name of which has slipped my mind) can be very useful when put to particular purposes, but open season is probably not one of them.
I just wanted to say thank you for writing this. I would rather know that my behavior on chatzy is disruptive to you than to continue to make you feel uncomfortable.
It is disrespectful and I think there is value lost when those of us zone out of classroom conversation in favor of chatzy.
I just want to apologize for my actions and that I understand the pros and cons of chatzy and I will make an effort to not do it again.
Hi Autumn,
I think that it was brave of you to post this, and that a lot of us (even those who have been participating in Chatzy) have been thinking about the same things you brought up. Sometimes when folks in Chatzy are complaining about how bored they are in class I think that it might be because so many of us aren't engaged in the non-virtual discussion, and that class might be much more interesting if we were all participating in the real life part. I also feel bad for our professors when they seem unable to do anything about this problem - it definitely has been embarrassing and disrespectful at times.
At the same time, I have enjoyed aspects of Chatzy and find it useful at times when I am confused about what a professor is saying, or when my thoughts begin to drift completely out of the classroom - sometimes it has the reverse effect of keeping me focused :)! I would be interested to know whether you think Chatzy has a place in our classrooms (at the University - not at the high school level), and if you think a specific agreement about how to use it might help, or if it would be better if it weren't used at all. I can see the merits of both arguments - what do you think?
Thanks again for your post - I think this issue needs to be discussed!
P.S. Your dog is adorable - is there a time this week that's good for a walk? Later in the week is best for me!
I couldn't agree with a lot of your comments more... and yet I feel the lure of chatzy constantly, haha. It's hard to see lots of people enjoying themselves while you are desperately trying to figure out if this activity qualifies as 'exemplifying factual knowledge' or 'analyzing metacognitive knowledge.' I know a lot of times people see it as a release - which I think we all need after 4 hours of class - but it's not really all that inconspicuous; everyone knows what's going on.
But, I also know that a lot of people who do use chatzy do still participate in the discussions in class - but maybe it was different in your room than it was in ours. And I can't fault people for doing it, because I know that I get tired and frustrated during class and would like an easy laugh. The reason why I haven't 'chatzied' thus far (and I think this is where our opinions differ) is that I'm also a little uncomfortable writing things that are so easily monitored - and while the discussion is often funny - often it's not about something I would feel comfortable having my professors able to look at. But, I confess, I'm probably a little more guarded with my feelings/opinions than others.
I think that it was cool that you wrote this, just so that people could see that there was another perspective. You shared your feelings and people can do with it what they will. And although I don't agree with everything you said, I'm glad you said it.
hello!
Thanks for your comments. I just wanted to say that I can see some benefits to Chatzy... for example in the technology class, when Jeff was monitoring it, it seemed to go much better, and was a way for students to comment on what was going on the class, so that more voices could be heard. Anyway, I am still not sure how I feel about it... I am also curious to know how if it has been used in high schools before and how it worked!
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