$8\mathrm{.}1$ Case Study: A Tale of Two Classes

Ebony Ellis has two communication classes back$-$to$-$back in the same room, but they couldn't be more

different.

The first, a class on interpersonal communication, is taught by Steve Gardner, an older professor who has

taught at the university for $20$ years. The first day of class he verbally explained the rules for class conduct,

which were also distributed in a printed handout $-$ cell phones off, no texting, and, unless a student needs

to use one for taking notes, laptops closed. Class starts on time and ends on time, and students should try

not to leave early.

Ebony's second class, an organizational communication course taught by Marissa Morgan, a younger

professor in her $40s,$ has different rules. There aren't any. This professor doesn't care if the students use

their laptops during class. Texting and talking are unrestrained. Professor Morgan announced on the first

day that all students are responsible for their own learning in the class, and she trusts them to know how

they learn best. When students walk in late or leave early, she always says hello or goodbye to them.

Ebony likes her interpersonal communication class a lot. Professor Gardner's manner has succeeded in

getting the class of $75$ students to engage with him and listen to one another. Personal disclosures by

students and the professor alike are frequent, and there is often much humor and laughter. Even though it is

a large class, most people know each other's names, as does Professor Gardner. Many of the students do

things with each other outside of class. In his course, students write a reflection paper every other week, and

they have a midterm and final exams.

The atmosphere in the organizational communication class is strikingly different to Ebony. It is

spontaneous and uncontrolled. Sometimes professor Morgan lectures, but most of the time she just comes

to class and invites students to discuss whatever they want to talk about. Students do not know each other's

names and seldom connect with each other outside of class. Professor Morgan also assigns papers, but they

are short, personal observation papers that aren't given grades but are marked as turned in or not. Students'

final grades for the class are dependent on a presentation each student must give on an interpersonal

communication topic of his or her choice.

Ebony thinks the two differing styles of the professors would make a great topic for her organizational

communication class presentation. To get more information, she interviews both instructors to learn why

their classroom management styles are so different.

Professor Gardner describes his teaching philosophy this way: "I want students to think that this class is

unique and the subject is important and has value. I know all students by name, and I allow them to call me

by my first name or my title. I really want them to be on board with the direction the train is going from

the start. I try to build a community by getting the students to listen to one another. The fun and spirit of

the class comes from the camaraderie they establish. In order to listen to one another, however, they have to

be fully present. To be fully present, they have to be paying full artention. Texting and open laptops suggest

to me that the students are disassociated and disconnected from the group. The attention is on self, rather

than the community."

Professor Morgan says her goal is to be sure to cover the required course content and still enjoy the teaching

experience. "I give the students just enough freedom in class that they will either sink or swim. This

freedom allows me to present my ideas, and then they are free to discuss them as they wish. I think today's

students are so multifaceted that they can find their own way to learn, even if it involves texting or using

their laptops during class. Many times a student will bring up something valuable that he or she has found

while surfing the Internet during class that really adds to our discussions. As I see it$,$ my role as a professor is

to present the material to be learned, while the students are responsible for how much of it they can

absorb$."$

Ebony also interviewed two students, like herself, who are enrolled in both classes. Ian said he is very

pleased with Professor Gardner's class because he knows what is expected of him and what the norms for

class behavior are, noting "He's the only prof at the U who knows my name." Professor Gardner's grading

structure is similar to that of most other classes Ian has had, and he likes that there are several graded

assignments that allow him to know how he is doing through the course of the semester. What actions has each professor taken to establish cohesiveness in his or her class B$)$ What standards of excellence has each professor established for his or her course? c$)$Which atmospehre will you do best in$?$ and why?