« Offseason Got You Down? | Main | Job Prospects: The Great Emptiness of 2003 »
January 31, 2003
Socrates v. Buddha: On Class Participation
For the uninitiated, the "Socratic method" is a teaching technique commonly used in law school. It goes something like this. The professor picks a student and starts asking questions. The student, regardless of how well prepared he is, will not give the perfect answer. The professor keeps asking, adjusting the questions, changing the wording, slowly guiding the student towards the answer she is seeking.
Traditionally, it is a somewhat hostile, antagonistic system -- more of an interrogation than a discussion. Done properly, though, it can be educational. Thankfully, none of my professors follows the Socratic method that closely. It's been toned down. The old skool intimidation and reminders of who's in charge aren't deemed as necessary. Most of my professors call on a student at random, ask a few questions, and try not to make it too painful. Most also look for volunteers at least some of the time.
I was randomly called on in three classes in two days this week. In two of those three, I had not completed all of the assigned reading. In the third, I had my mouth full of Baked Lays when I was called. In all three, I managed to do a solid job of answering. Though I could be called on again in those classes, it does take a little pressure off knowing that I probably made a good impression in what might be the only time the professor paying attention to me in particular.
The interesting thing is that in all three cases, I enjoyed it. I don't raise my hand in class. Ever. This is a departure from the Buddha of old. I participated a little at the beginning of last semester, but consciously stopped. And I participate in small classes. But not with the full section.
Why? Because of the gunners.
Gunners are the people who feel the need to raise their hand and listen to themselves talk at least once per class. Twice in Property. Some of them happen to be very intelligent. Not all of them. You groan when they get called on. You smirk when you hear their voices. When you first notice their hands shoot up, you send your friends instant messages that say "Gun, 12:00".
Let me give an example of how bad it is. On the first day of class, Prof. Property wanted to do a little "get to know the class" exercise. She wanted someone to name the best movie they saw in 2002 and give structured arguments (think like a lawyer!) to defend that choice. The volunteers would get a check by their name for participation, meaning they were free from being called on at random on a legitimate substantive question until the professor made it through the whole list, which might not even happen at all. The hands go up. All the usual suspects. Prof. Property calls on GoatGirl and asks for her name. Before she can finish saying her name, more than half of the 115-person class is laughing out loud. It is amusing that she is first. It is pathetic that she feels the need to take this offer of getting out of being called on randomly. Why? She participates twice per class, minimum. In classes that don't take much in the way of volunteering, she gets in at least once. She coughs or sneezes excessively to make sure we know she is there when she is not participating. She has been mocked by two professors so far this semester. She is nice outside of class, but in class, she is evil. This is why we laugh when she is first.
This is also why I no longer participate in class, depsite years of at least occasional hand-raising. At least once per class, I think of a question or comment that is interesting to me and which I believe could be a useful contribution. But when I think about raising my hand, I think of my distaste for the people who raise their hands too much, and I reconsider. I think it's probably not worth it. I can have my questions answered in office hours or at the break. I shudder at the thought of being considered one of them. It's ridiculous, I realize. Occasional intelligent comments do not a gunner make. Despite that, my reaction to them is so strong that I have conditioned myself against volunteering.
It may change in Civ Pro, since I've taken a surprising liking to both the material and the professor. It may change in Property because I need something to keep me engaged in that class. For now, though, I'll just sit there quietly and roll my eyes like the rest of my classmates do.
Posted by buddha at January 31, 2003 02:55 PM
Comments
Have you played Turkey Bingo? You fill bingo cards with the names of the gunners (or Turkeys, if you want to be technical). First one to a line across wins. Makes the stuff more interesting.
Posted by: Anonymous at January 31, 2003 10:42 PM
We're way beyond gunner bingo. Someone in the section set up a Gunner Fantasy League. You draft a team and get points based on how often they volunteer in class.
Posted by: buddha at January 31, 2003 10:52 PM
What if you constantly volunteer to participate (whenever the professor allows it) simply because you would rather be engaged yourself than listen to the other turkeys? Does that make me a gunner? I admit that I attended an undergraduate school where I was really the only one who volunteered (or even really participated when called upon) and that I guess I do like the sound of my own voice ... I am going to become a trial lawyer after all (one must not shy away from talking in that profession). So, analyze that please!
PS I wonder how often I have won someone a game of Turkey bingo!
PSS I also love volunteering a lot at the beginning of a semester so that the professor will never call on me later on when I haven't done the reading.
PSSS I learned that I may talk too much when a classmate kept giving me dirty looks in a small section class (and overall treating me like a pariah). Once I heard the reason for the student's vitriol, I apologized, but if you really get angry at someone, you should tell them or slip them an anonymous note in their box or something instead of stewing (if you really are upset).
Posted by: Possible Turkey at February 1, 2003 01:22 AM
I really enjoy your web presence! I have no real life out side of simply being handsome so I am intrigued by your activities.
Thanks for keeping a smile on my handsome face.
Posted by: egoboy at February 2, 2003 04:24 PM
Actually, it's funny -- my med school class is almost paralyzed because nobody wants to be one of 'the gunners'.
There are really only two people who still ask questions constantly. One is this hyper guy who sits in the front of the class (I also have small group with the guy - he's eager, naive and a bit clueless). He gets a little eye-rolling but the real vitrol is for this girl in the middle of the class. Mainly because her questions are limited to the 'is this on the test?', 'how would you test this?' kinds of questions. Especially during review sessions. If people want to learn, great, but nothing but bile for gunners of her quality.
As for me, I've always felt that if you really had a question about the subject, well, it's your own butt in the seat learning so you might as well ask. I know you're talking about people who just want to hear themselves but this gunner thing gives all people who speak up a bad name! I tend to sit towards the back with my friends and they'll actually give me questions to ask for them because they know I'll do it without hesitation.
I really liked your turkey post Dan. I can definitely relate and it made me grin. Thanks!
Posted by: DK at February 2, 2003 09:38 PM
PT: If you believe volunteering early saves you later, then it's a good strategy. It hasn't always been succesful in my limited observation. Dirty looks and vitriol are a bit excessive. I'm thinking more along the lines of exasperation. I don't hate them as people, just as classmates.
It's a fine line. I know that not everyone who raises their hand is doing so to listen to themselves talk, and many make valuable contributions. I guess it's just my own quirk. That small group of people bothers me enough in class that it sours me on participation.
We'll see what the next few weeks bring.
Posted by: buddha at February 3, 2003 11:49 AM
Notes from a former gunner:
I was in law school a long, long time ago ... like, 3 years. And I had a rep for being quite the gunner; so much so that I didn't know about the game "Gunner Bingo" for a year, because I was a space on the game and of course no one told me about it.
For the record, though, just to make it clear, my gunner-ing was totally and completely because I really enjoyed my classes, and really was engaged in them, and really had things to say. And I have no idea whether people just thought that I was trying to be noticed, or whether people thought that my comments were a waste of time -- but, I feel like I must speak up for gunners -- however annoying we may be, you may be misjudging our motives.
Posted by: Old Lawyer at September 19, 2003 06:55 PM