sleep in class, get posted on the internet

In the first year ESL textbook I use, students are expected to listen to a conversation and fill in the blanks.  It takes too much time for me so I made it homework for my students to fill in the blanks.  The answers are on the next page but upside-down.  Most students turn the book back a forth to read and remember a few words, fill them in, then flip the book again.  This student sped things up by carefully ripping the answers out and holding them right side up next to the conversation.  I approve.

No book, sleeping in the corner.  I disapprove.  No credit for attending this class.

Man! a whole class?

Sleepers

Sleep in class, get post online!

Is the blur tool useful for anonymity or just creepy?

A second year student.
A first year student.

Bits and pieces

I don't have a single strong topic to write about but here's a bit of a grab bag.

O-bama! As a Canadian I followed the election closely didn't feel I needed to probe too deeply into the issues - I can't vote for either one. Now that it's over; well, I was torn between the candidates for the weak reason that I am anti-bush (and therefore pro democrat) but McCain had showed a fun side on the Daily Show, so I liked him. Anyway, Sarah Palin was one of the factors that made me pro-Obama. Not the only one, but the final one.

Anyway, congrats to Obama and wow, McCain had a great defeat speech.


Elections are going on at my university and that means costumes -of course! There were several cows, a few crocodiles and a tiger. I borrowed a cow costume for a quick photo -at bottom left, you can see this group is supporting team 3 (names covered) for pres and VP. I'm not sure why I didn't choose the croc suit. Last year there were superheros (and a brave, outnumbered teacher/ninja).


Here is a sleeper from a third year class.
Gangneung is hosting a UCC - User created content - contest. I think it is for tourism and will give more details soon.

Giant author (both tall and famous) Michael Crichton passed away Tuesday. I have reviewed a few of his books here but not of my favourite pair; Jurassic Park and its sequel. They were fantastic with a remarkable blend of real science and adventure. (Reviews of Next and State of Fear.) I read many but not all of his books and will try to get to Andromeda Strain soon.

Sleep in class, join the gallery

Sleep or use your phone in class, join the gallery

Sleeping is one thing, but hiding under the desk to use your phone is a new one for me.

I asked him a question in class, his head popped up to answer -very briefly - then he disappeared. I actually stepped onto a desk, walked across a few rows and shot down at him.

Sleep in class, join the gallery

Sleep in class, join the gallery

Sleep in class, join the gallery

Here is the first sleeper I managed to shoot this semester. A previous class that day had a few sleepy students but they managed to jolt awake before I could hit the shutter.

Spiderman 3

Everyone has been posting about the first blockbuster of the year so I thought I'd join in.

Of course, after the Hominid's post, there's not much left!



The actors were mostly familiar although I was surprised at how big they were. Thomas Hayden Church was superhero sized without needing any 'demolecularizing'. Topher Grace also has filled in and looked plenty meaty.

Maguire didn't look any bigger but he perfectly fits the geeky Peter Parker role. There's only one that I think would do better. Here is a still from his screen test.


On a completely different subject, some coworkers and I were involved in a project for the Tourism department. Here's Paktheelcamino taking a power nap during a presentation.

Get a good sleep in class, still join the gallery

This guy fell asleep in class and I woke him. Then he fell asleep again. We continued about fifteen minutes of class and I finished class early, telling the students they could leave quietly. I went out and had a quick lunch and returned to the classroom and he was still there.

Sleep in class, join the gallery

sleep in class, get posted on the web!

A new one for me

Students have tried to sleep in class but never during an exam, before.
Sleep in class, get posted on the web.

Holding his pen, but definitely sleeping. 

Same student, one week later. Three other students woke up or were jostled by classmates before I could photograph them. 

I have resorted to shooting students that sleep.

Not interested in English?

This is not a proud day for me. I have finally resorted to bringing my camera in to class to take pictures of sleeping or phone-using students. I am now trying to shame students into wakefulness. What's next; making students write, "I will not sleep in class." or "I will not use my phone in class." 50 times?

None of my teachers or university professors would have called me a dedicated student. Still, I never slept in class. The phone thing is moot of course, no phones were even marginally portable in the 80's.

Last semester, I had about 9 students miss their midterm or final written exam, meeting me just after the exam and giving the excuse, ' I slept in'. What is wrong with these people?