One time when I had an appointment with a student on our Dumfries campus, the room was double booked. As it was a scorcher, we did the appointment lying on the grass in the sun...
At least about half the class stuck with you, John :)
Dickson.
-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Foster, Ed
Sent: 22 September 2012 11:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: wetakeyourclass - a cautionary tale!
I think Julia has introduced a new sport: 'extreme study support'
Can anyone top that - on a boat, up a mountain?
Ed
Ed Foster
Study Support Co-ordinator, Nottingham Trent University Library
0115 848 8203, [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Helen Heywood
Sent: 22 September 2012 10:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: wetakeyourclass - a cautionary tale!
Isn't that what we now call 'open classrooms'.....,?
Sent from my iPhone (Phillipa)
On 22 Sep 2012, at 09:49, "Julia Braham" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I'm glad other universities have Induction week blinders. I turned up on Wed for an introductory talk in a seminar room but unfortunately no one had told 'timetabling' that it was now a building site. Ever done a 'welcome to studying at university' with 50 students on a pavement?
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On 21 Sep 2012, at 22:37, "Helen Bowstead" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
> Made me smile too. It’s the way you tell ‘em.
>
>
> From: learning development in higher education network
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martin Hampton
> Sent: 21 September 2012 18:17
> To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: wetakeyourclass - a cautionary tale!
>
> how funny, John; made me laugh at the end of a very long week; pleased it turned out well!
>
> Martin H.
> ASK
> University of Portsmouth
>
>
>
>>>> John Hilsdon
>>>> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
>>>> 21/09/2012 16:28 >>>
> Dear all
>
> Well, I promised to report back about using the ‘wetakeyourclass’ site
> in my teaching …
>
> I turned up to teach an induction session at 5pm last Tuesday. It was billed as “Why studying at university is different” and was part of our programme of activities for Welcome Week. Appox 20 students were there so I kicked off by displaying webpages for our Learning Development service. I spent a little while explaining what we can offer in terms of tutorials, online resources, email and our drop-in centre. The students seemed quiet but fairly attentive. I asked if anyone had any questions or comments but they didn’t so I ploughed on. My plan was make the session pretty active so I explained the notion of ‘buzz groups’ and said I now intended to start throwing out ideas and questions and was hoping to get their responses. I thought I’d go for a slightly sensational start by showing the ‘wetakeyourclass’ site straight away and see what reactions I got. I showed the home page and read out some of the text including:
>
> “Life Is Too Short to Spend on Classes You Have No Interest In”
>
> “You are struggling with your online classes or homework and you want someone to do it for you. We can handle almost any subject and customer service is a priority. Our company culture revolves around making sure you feel safe and satisfied knowing that your work is being done by an expert within your specified deadline. We are here to serve you around the clock by email, live chat, and phone. For all of your academic needs, WeTakeYourClass wants to be the one you turn to time and time again.”
>
> I called for reactions – “What do you think this indicates about attitudes to education?” I asked.
> “Excuse me” responded one of the Chinese students, “we are living on a budget”.
>
> Thinking I understood what he was getting at, I declared something like, “Well, yes – we could start by thinking how much something like this would actually cost you if you decided to use it. Look at this” and I showed them the ‘Pissed Consumer’ site (http://we-take-your-class.pissedconsumer.com/917-300-9820-wetakeyourclass-com-scam-20120723334071.html) and read out the text:
>
> “… got scammed by a company called
> wetakeyourclass.com<http://wetakeyourclass.com>
>
> A) stole my 80$
>
> B) failed to take my exam
>
> C) caused me a -200 pt deduction in my class”
>
> “Any thoughts about that?” I asked. There was a rising tide of giggling and murmuring. The same Chinese student spoke up again: “Excuse me, teacher,” he said “we are now living on a budget.”
> I’m thinking … errrr WTF … then I realised that he was pointing to a sheet of paper … a little light began to dawn. I went over to him to look at the paper – it was the schedule of events for Welcome Week and the session timetabled for 5pm was – you’ve guessed it – “Living on a Budget”!
>
> By this time, all of the students were laughing. I explained that I had been booked to talk about “Why studying at university is different” and apologised that I was not really prepared to talk about living on a budget! A few chose to get up and leave but those who stayed engaged with me in a chat about what we mean by HE and what university is for. Points about education as a commodity versus education as becoming part of a community were raised, and the idea of putting a price on an assignment was discussed; as were the pros and cons of grants, loans and fees for students. A couple of idealists said education could help us work for peace in the world.
>
> In the end I was left with about eight or nine in the group – and it was fun. The statement I remember best from the session was from the same Chinese guy who had originally tried to draw my attention to the fact that I was teaching the wrong class. He was one of those who chose to stay for the full hour, and one of his concluding remarks included words to the effect that when we come together to learn about something it is a chance to be like a family – he said we may not know each other now but we are sure to find out if we work together and “everybody in the family has to help out with the chores”!
>
> I am still thinking about what that might mean for HE but I like it instinctively!
>
> Happy weekends, folks
>
> John
>
>
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