Last Tuesday night while I was teaching, a student put his earbuds in at the half way point and was clearly listening to his iPod while something very amusing was on his computer screen. It threw me off. Do I say something? Do I let it go? It's distracting.
That time I decided to let it go, and when he gets a poor score on his exam next Tuesday, I'll be able to point to specific behavior and tell him that maybe if he engaged with the material, took notes and paid more attention in class he would have more success.
But it's hard not to let it get to me, a little.
Trev got excellent grades for last semester. So proud of him!
You're a better person than me. I would have totally called attention to it (assuming he wasn't listening or engaged) and embarrassed him in front of the class. I have zero tolerance for people assuming I have not got eyes. If he does it to you, he probably does it to other instructors as well, and probably ought to be made aware of how offensive he's being. It's possible (not altogether likely, but possible) that he is genuinely oblivious to the offensiveness of it.
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