For some students, the most effective learning can only happen in a class where they are allowed to interact directly with the professor and other students.
Rather than the anonymity of a 400-person lecture hall where every student is just one of many, these students prefer the chance to make themselves heard. Students want to engage in discussions that engage their affinity for academic conversation.
Luckily for those students, Puget Sound only has around 2,500 undergraduates, a student-faculty ratio of 11:1 and many classes that are capped at 35 students or less.
In classrooms that are small, where the professor knows each student by name, expects their attendance and attention and grades based off of participation, success is a group effort. Each student contributes something by their presence alone.
The downside to small classes is that if one student is not paying attention, it becomes a lot more difficult for others to stay on track.
Everyone has had that moment of feeling deeply absorbed by an interesting lecture, only to be interrupted by someone five seats away who is not quite so interested.
There is no feeling more frustrating than being distracted in a class where you really cannot afford to be distracted.
“Compare it to a cell phone in a movie theater,” freshman Alden Walsh said.
“The people who talk a lot, the time that they spent talking would add up to missing entire lectures.”
At a university where academic success is so highly valued, missing out on lectures benefits no one.
Classes are so small that one whispered conversation can be heard throughout the room.
“It’s taking away from the rest of the students’ learning, their own experience in the class, as well as the patience the professor will hold for his students which, in the end, is detrimental to all of us,” junior Austin Caras said.
In addition, some students may suffer from learning disorders such as attention deficit disorder, which makes it difficult for them to concentrate if the lecture is interrupted by other noises.
Assistance from Disability Services can only go so far. It should be up to us as fellow students to assist those who struggle with learning disabilities by being attentive during class.
Plus, common politeness dictates that one should stay quiet so that they do not interfere with the learning of others.
“I have attention deficit disorder, and little noises when people whisper are really distracting, so I can’t get as much out of class,” freshman Sophie Prendergast said.
“It’s frustrating when I can’t focus on things that might be on the test; I don’t want to miss anything.”
According to the Puget Sound website, almost all of the University’s professors have earned the highest degree possible in their field.
Professors here have published dissertations, articles and books. They have made the pursuit of learning their lifelong work, and should always receive the respect they deserve from students.
“Professors have done a lot of work to be where they are now. Listening and paying attention is just common courtesy,” Prendergast said.
“It’s not all that hard to put life on hold during class.”
Students go to college by choice. This is not a high school where a mishmash of kids who may or may not care about their education are all put in one room in hopes that something gets done.
This is a university, where adults who have put their time and effort into gaining acceptance here congregate into classrooms where real learning happens.
You may not be as passionate about a subject as the person sitting next to you, but basic respect for fellow students dictates that they get to be in class in peace.