We are now in the midst of our third semester teaching via Zoom. For many of us, it is easy stuff. For others, especially us Boomers, we can at times struggle–Today I struggled and was reminded of the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I was Ben Stein, asking his one classic question: Anyone, anyone, anyone? Then I literally begged someone to answer a simplest of question: someone eventually did. Interestingly, if you recall Stein's struggles, most of us laugh, but we also can relate. When looking for a clip after my class, the captions to the scene typically read: "the iconically boring teacher." Yet, perhaps I am a bit of the defensive clod looking for answers to my classic Socratic questions, but when I recall Stein's efforts in the film, he merely wanted to engage his students.
Yes, Stein, in his hilarious ad-lib, was a dry–maybe even boring–but I think he was really trying. Here he is:
How often do any of us feel that way during a Zoom session?
During my 9:00 a.m. Remedies Zoom session a few minutes ago, where most of my 40 students seemed barely awake, I was the Rican Stein–and just like this somewhat odd self-identification, no one got my jokes or questions. Like now, I pushed through. At the end of class, I nevertheless mentioned to my gang I expected more from them in future. I tried to use the carrot–which is not like me. But I could not help it, and I mentioned how I do not like to draft my final exams while questioning how hard my students worked. Let's see how they respond—it is FIU after all–I bet I will get a well-prepared and responsive group moving forward. Will a few beat me up during their student evaluations for pushing them in class? Unquestionably. But as Kermit would say: "it ain't easy being green."
I call it the Zoom void. Uggh. I try to maintain a conversational style since they are all sitting in their bedrooms or living rooms at home. But as Ringo said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anpjEN9KeJ0
You do not seem to think too highly of your own school's students. Frankly, I am surprised FIU does as well as it does on the bar exam given how lazy you write its students are in the classroom.
TMLP
You must be at one of those really, really excellent law schools. You know, those prestigious institutions where the students are always well prepared and responsive in class. Where Zoom is used flawlessly by professors who teach in such innovative and modern ways that their classes are unrecognizable to lesser beings.
Yes, I have seen these professors teach. It is all true, I tell you. True!
BTW, I think I've figured out why a lot of profs like Zoom, aside from the fact that they are exceedingly lazy, and it is easier to teach in your sweat pants than having to go to work, wait for it, TWO DAYS PER WEEK, FOR 28 WEEKS PER YEAR. Oh, the misery and "hard work" these noble souls endure. How can they do it with so few servants?
No, laziness is not the only or even the most important reason, it has occurred to me. It is that law profs are exceedingly authoritarian (hence, "progressive"). They relish the notion of absolute control, and certain aspects of Zoom give the host this power: especially the power to virtually move people around like pawns on a chessboard.
How rewarding to the control freak? To the underworked and hapless bureaucrat, who has nothing better to do than devise ways to push people around?
TMLP, who the f do you think you are? How dare you demean the students at FIU or anywhere else? Ediberto didn't do that. He was sharing his honest feelings about his class.
TMLP, you should retract that comment and apologize.
Anon, elitism aside, perhaps you are correct. Perhaps the students at FIU are not the problem. I can not say I have experienced the same recalcitrant students at my institution. Even if I had I would not be posting publicly about them. No apology is due for identifying the trashing of someone's own students on the web.
Dear Anon,
While we differ on many political issues, I always appreciate your honest and challenging comments. Thank you! As for the Mad Law Prof, I am sure if we met in person, he wouldn't be so mad, or tough-sounding, for that matter. I suspect I would make him smile, or maybe even shake just a little bit. He obviously has no sense of humor, tact, or even the courage to even write his own name. Love the TMLP reference Anon–you the man in my book!
Ediberto
I support your posts in the FL for a few reasons.
First, you appear to be willing to debate and examine your own policy and factual assertions. This is so rare these days, for sure, it is rare in legal academia, where most are always so sure — almost prideful about — some of their sometimes extreme views.
Second, like Prof. Brophy, you appear to be a true gentleman. PB wasn't willing, in some instances, to admit error or self reflect as much as I thought he should, but, always, he maintained a professional, polite and respectful tone. Frankly, he made someone like me want to do better. That is the hallmark of a great prof.
Third, you appear to be honest in your opinions. So often these days, folks are saying stuff just to get their "cred" score up. I find that intellectually dishonest and truly debilitating to the academic exercise.
Finally, I must say you are wrong, in my view, about "the courage" to post in one's own name. These days, as I think you know, there is a clear and present danger associated with expressing views contrary to the prevailing leftist dogma. One wrong word, one misinterpreted thought, and the consequences can be truly horrific.
I've been called a coward and worse in the FL. Those who leveled those rage filled accusations were, themselves, too cowardly, in my view, to address the merits of their own assertions.
TMLP
Perhaps your students, as I said above, are always well prepared, and respond enthusiastically to your every question, as they sit in rapt attention to you ever word in a 3 hour Zoom session. Every student has his or her camera on, of course, because you are so compelling that they want you to see the expressions on their faces, the enthralled way that they gaze at your little thumbnail, as you engage in your spell binding delivery of a doctrinal subject.
All the research on Zoom and attention and participation and all that: meaningless when it comes to you, TMLP. You are one of those superior beings who has no need to consider facts.
As for Ediberto's post, I couldn't read that post as being critical of the students. My read was that Ediberto was commenting on teh challenge of keeping students engaged on Zoom, especially in long classes.
Again, TMLP, you don't have any problems with Zoom, because, apparently, you are a figure of greatness, a giant in the classroom. Your students don't ever tune out, fail to respond when you tell a joke, or ask a question, etc.
Oh, the wonder of you.
Finally, one point of sort of agreement. If I were Ediberto, I would be concerned that my students might take it the wrong way, as you did. However, at the end of the post, he had some words of encouragement, and, he seems to be comfortable in being honest about HIS experiences, because, after all, as teachers, we too experience the classroom. I say an open dialogue is always preferable and the only way to get to consensus.