Today’s topic in the Chronicle is about student disengagement. Check out this article on the topic. The solution has two parts and it is simple.

Part 1: Professors Need to Slay!

Slay – If something or someone “slays” it means that they are doing a great job or that they are really cool. It is similar to “killed it”. According to: english tiktok slang words explained.

Another website says:

… If you say that someone is slaying, it usually means that they are doing a very good job and, if it is a competition, destroying their competitors by being so much better.

As professors that is exactly what we do when we interact with our students. We have to be that much better than Instagram, Tiktok, their friends, or even the comfort of their house. In 2022, we have to win against all of that and there is no in-between. I am sorry.

You got to be all the things you are as a professor at your best, 120% of the time. Some people its witty, for others its excitement. For me it is silliness and caring. You got to pull the students right out of their seats and really engage them. You can’t be passive. You must be assertive. You can’t hold back.

Story time: I had a student whose car broke down and she missed 20/30 minutes of a 50 minute class. Her dad told her to stay home, your gonna be late, you effectively missed class. She told me, “I had to come, you never know what you are going to do in class. You might throw your shoe again.” So, after learning a new interesting topic or solving a problem, I have been known to spike my shoe like it was a football and I scored a touchdown.

And even still students are going to wander back to their phones. Don’t fight it, turn into it. If you know the student well and they are okay with it, turn it into a joke. For example, “Apparently Ms. So-And-So is so excited about Newton’s third law she is texting her parents.”

• Don’t be afraid to take half a class and give a pep talk. (so seriously, I want to be a motivational speaker. I love doing this!)
• Don’t be afraid to laugh in class
• Don’t be afraid to tell everyone in the class how proud you are of them
• Don’t be afraid to tell the students what you need from them. But also listen to what they need of you.
• Don’t be afraid to talk about sensitive issues with students

Part 2: Be flexible

2019 be like (I’m Joking)

• “Professor I woke up throwing up blood and I have a fever of 105, can I make up the exam on another day.” hmmm, can please get me a doctor’s note before the test starts in 10 minutes?
• “Professor I broke my left arm this morning.” hmmm, that’s fine. You are right handed! You can go to the hospital after the test.
• “Professor a grandparent died and I have to go to the funeral”, hmmm, that’s why we have four of them. You can make this test today (skipping the funeral), and still go to a majority of your grandparent’s funerals. (<— That would be the worst one EVER!)

2022 be like

• “Professor I think I might have COVID.” Oh-no! feel better! let me know if you need anything! let’s schedule a time to take your test when you feel better. And go get tested.
• “Professor I didn’t hand in this week’s homework assignment because of my stress level.” Ok, make sure I get it by the final exam in two weeks. Do you want to chat about life?

A student’s education in college can last between 3 and 6 years. We have only been doing this pandemic thing for two years. There will plenty of time to hold students to deadlines in the future.

This semester we got to push our students a little bit harder than last year and the year before. That’s good. But we have to be careful not to push too hard all at once.