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4 what it's like
TO LECTURE IN A LARGE CLASSROOM
"Terrifying," says Barbara Barnett, assistant professor of journalism. "There are more people in the room than in the town I grew up in, and you notice when students are not paying attention."
Student soak up knowledge in one of Wescoe's large auditoriums.
"I've often had cell phone conversations going on during class," Barnett says."I took a cell phone away from one girl and she seemed so surprised.That's always unpleasant."
Despite such uneasiness, Barnett, who teaches Media and Society in Budig 110,says there are perks to teaching such a big class. Because students often feel anonymous, they offer better feedback about what works, what doesn't
Barnett says teaching a large class gets better with time, though She first taught the class five years ago, and at that point, she says she hated it and thought, "It isn't teaching, it's herding." But after her first semester, she took workshops and learned how to better interact with students.
and what changes should be made to a class. But, because students feel anonymous, they also do things that are completely inappropriate in a classroom setting.
"When things go right, it's a great feeling," says Ray Pence, who teaches American Identities in one of Wescoe's large halls."But when they don't go so well, things are magnified, too."
- Elise Stawarz
wescoe wit
Girl 1: I think I might be done.
Girl 2: With class for the day?
Girl 1: No, with the mae species.
Girl 2: Yes, I too have turned asexual
Guy: I have to go by the store and get all the whipped cream for tonight.
**Girl 1:** My boyfriend's getting a dog.
**Girl 2:** Will it be okay this time?
**Girl 1:** Not sure. It's half-boxer, half-American bulldog and half-pit bull.
**Girl 2:** Really? Three halves?
**Girl 1:** Oh, wait. Thirds?
Guy (on phone): Well, nothing says goodnight like being molested.
Girl 1: Why did you tell mom and dad I like him?
Girl 2: I didn't!
Girl 1: Well, then why do they think something is going on there?
Girl 2: Well, they think I had sex with Pedro. But that's because they caught me.
Girl: So you're behind girls wearing tights but no pants?
Guy: Yes! Everything you see on people and in magazines is me.
Girl: Oh, really?
Guy: I'm the king behind every fashion trend in the last 20 years.
Guy: Yes. I thought, 'Hey, you know what? People have worn pants long enough. Let's spice it up a little.'
- Rebekah Scaperlanda
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04 05.01.2008 VOL. 5 ISS. 30 interesting fact: Andrew Jackson was the only president to be a prisoner of war. He was 13 when he joined the South Carolina militia to fight in the Revolutionary War. -www.ipl.org/div/potus contact the writer: estawarz@kansan.com. rscaperlanda@kansan.com