2008 Woodie Awards
Ringers and texting and eating, oh my!
Students' habits often prove to be distracting, annoying in class
By: Becky Tener
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Campus
Imagine a classroom filled only with the light sound of pen to paper. Then, like the opening movement of a symphony, a classmate begins to tap his pencil, another opens a bag of chips, and another whispers to his neighbor. And at the height of the crescendo a phone rings - leaving the class disrupted and annoyed.
Paying attention in class can be difficult, especially when students are distracted by the annoying habits of their classmates.
Like many students, sophomore Jessica Kremer said she is most distracted by students who talk during class.
"They have full-on conversations while the teacher is trying to teach, even after they're asked to be quiet," she said.
Junior Julie Bruggeman said she agrees that "talkers" are a distraction because they waste her time.
"I can't stand it when people talk and then ask questions that were just answered," she said.
Bruggeman also said students who are always answering questions bother her.
"Even if they don't know the answer they just keep talking," she said.
Kremer admits that she is one of the students who answers all the questions, and said her classmates find it annoying. But she said she doesn't care.
"If no one answers, then the professor is just going to stand there," Kremer said.
Freshman Leslie Mans said students who get up in the middle of class distract her because they disrupt their classmates and the instructor.
"Everyone is wondering why they left or where they're going," she said.
But the most common classroom distraction is the cell phone.
Junior Megan Zuern said that no matter whether students are talking or texting, cell phones make it hard for people around them to pay attention.
"I've seen people blatantly talk on their cell phones in class," she said.
Kremer said it's not just talking on cell phones that bothers her, but also those students who don't silence or shut off their phones.
"I can't stand it when people have their phone in their bag and they have to dig to get it while it's still going off," she said.
Paying attention in class can be difficult, especially when students are distracted by the annoying habits of their classmates.
Like many students, sophomore Jessica Kremer said she is most distracted by students who talk during class.
"They have full-on conversations while the teacher is trying to teach, even after they're asked to be quiet," she said.
Junior Julie Bruggeman said she agrees that "talkers" are a distraction because they waste her time.
"I can't stand it when people talk and then ask questions that were just answered," she said.
Bruggeman also said students who are always answering questions bother her.
"Even if they don't know the answer they just keep talking," she said.
Kremer admits that she is one of the students who answers all the questions, and said her classmates find it annoying. But she said she doesn't care.
"If no one answers, then the professor is just going to stand there," Kremer said.
Freshman Leslie Mans said students who get up in the middle of class distract her because they disrupt their classmates and the instructor.
"Everyone is wondering why they left or where they're going," she said.
But the most common classroom distraction is the cell phone.
Junior Megan Zuern said that no matter whether students are talking or texting, cell phones make it hard for people around them to pay attention.
"I've seen people blatantly talk on their cell phones in class," she said.
Kremer said it's not just talking on cell phones that bothers her, but also those students who don't silence or shut off their phones.
"I can't stand it when people have their phone in their bag and they have to dig to get it while it's still going off," she said.
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