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Show lessons, fail 2001 page 7 Students and Instructors Both Make the Grade ¦ 1 BY MARIANNE MOSS PHOTOS BY LONNY DANLER xcuse me. Sorry." These were my first words uttered in a class at the University of Utah while [desperately climbing over other students in order to get to my seat. As a freshman at the University of Utah some five years ago, I was not the most outgoing or boisterous student. Large classes with an attendance of a whopping 300 students didn't help either. I am the first to admit that I despised every moment of my large, 7:30 a.m. psychology class. Needless to say, if the grade had depended on my attitude, I would have failed with flair. Most students agree that a quality college education stems from his or her attitude regarding ------------------ school. A positive outlook always reaps more benefits than one of negativity. Students achieve better grades and more acknowledgment of their efforts when they are diligent and dedicated to the tasks that college demands. General education courses are part of the graduation requirement at the University of Utah and this inevitably includes a large class or two. One student remarked that large classes are like the rite of passage to get to the small classes. As a freshman, I thought that large-scale ____________ classes were the University's way of getting a good laugh for all the money I was paying. Large-scale classes are actually a way to introduce the myriad areas of study the University of Utah offers. The University also holds each student responsible for completing a certain amount of these introductory courses before they can move into smaller, more comprehensive classes within their majors. With notes on the Internet, no roll call and late-night study sessions, students can easily heed the temptation to skip class. "I hardly ever went because the notes were on the Internet. This semester I attend because of pop quizzes," says Andrea Gardner, a junior majoring in public relations. I, on the other hand, was always in physical attendance for my psychology class, but I should have written a paper on the meaning of daydreams because I had more of those than notes on a page. I pass it off now as a Freudian study. Many students share the same sentiment. They feel that they are not missed in a large class because the professor does not notice. "I attended class regularly until the last month or two. It was a 7:30 a.m. class and I started sleeping in. I also made friends and got the notes from them," admitted Dawn Mangum, a senior. With experience and the visible light of graduation at the end of the tunnel, students take on a more conscientious attitude. Students claim that maturity and responsibility help them do better in their final years of college. "It is easy to slack off in a large class. Generally seniors are more mature and can handle the increased responsibility," says Aric Hansen, a senior in mass communication. Rich Greene, a pre-med student with a major in behavioral science and health, said his attitude toward his classes has changed over time. He believes it is the student's responsibility to attend class. "It does not matter if the professor takes roll or not. If you are not going to go to class, then why are you spending thousands of dollars on college?" Greene asks. "For the most part, I like all of my classes, big or small, but I feel like I pay more attention to and get more out of the ones that are specific to my major. If it is something that I want to learn...then I put forth the effort. But I always attend my classes." Attitude seems to be the key. Camille Nelson, a senior in mass communication said, "I attended regularly because I General education courses are part of the graduation requirement at the University of Utah and this inevitably includes a large class or two. |
