PHY198S

Physics at the Cutting Edge (2020-21) -- PHY198S

Code of conduct

Courtesy, respect, and inclusiveness

In a First Year Foundations course, students are expected to talk during class. This might seem like a strange idea, but I assure you: it is an absolutely great learning opportunity and you should go for it!

As the instructor, I work to ensure that everyone gets to make valuable contributions to the intellectual life of our seminar class -- regardless of their communication style or their academic background.

A few basic ground rules help to ensure courtesy, respect, and inclusiveness. I will obey them too, of course.

  1. Only one person may speak at a time. This is for (a) general politeness and (b) making class discussions easier to follow for people with hearing impairments.
  2. Extroverts are welcome in my classroom. If you are an extrovert, sometimes you will need to hold back on asking a question or offering a comment because it is someone else's turn to speak or because you have used up your fair share of airtime already.
  3. Introverts are welcome in my classroom. If you are an introvert, sometimes you will need to push yourself a wee bit outside your comfort zone to make sure your voice gets heard. This gets a lot easier with gradual practice. (Ask me how: I am an introvert!)
  4. Nobody may disrespect, mock, or ridicule any other person in the classroom, especially when they are speaking. Remarks or actions that are racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, ageist, or otherwise bigoted will not be tolerated.
  5. There is no such thing as a stupid question in my classroom. I will not give you a hard time for giving a wrong answer. I want everyone to feel safe enough in my classroom to take intellectual risks, make mistakes, and learn from them without fear of negative judgment.

I work to enforce my classroom code of conduct fairly and even-handedly. The vast majority of the time I do not have to do anything at all. But if a disruption does occur, I deal with it quickly and appropriately, and I do my best to save face for all parties. If a student has a concern about my fairness, I listen, and respond appropriately.

Oral presentations

The above Code of Conduct for classroom discussions is extended by one further rule during student oral presentations:-

  1. Noone may interrupt a student while they are presenting, not even the instructor. No hands up. No questions. No noisy candy wrappers. No food smells. No cellphone rings. Just silence and a level playing field for everybody. In other words, once a presenter has the floor, only they have the right to speak. But we are allowed to smile and laugh appropriately at any jokes they make. :-)