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Monday, March 13, 2006
The 24-Hour College Student
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In an effort to cater to today’s college student, professors are holding online office hours and having their teaching assistants monitor late-night online forums. Libraries stay open 24/7 and papers get turned in via e-mail at dawn. An Emory University chemistry professor stays up until 4 a.m. answering student’s questions, according to Andrea Jones’ story.
Is the catering to college students getting to be a bit much? First it was apartment-style dorms so students could have private bathrooms rather than have to - gasp - share. Then, on-campus Starbucks, laptops for everybody and wi-fi. Now, it’s professors available to respond to e-mail questions at midnight. (The payoff is in getting a good online review from students, which can be important to a professor’s career.)
Is all this adapting to the needs - or whims - of college students a good thing? (Some call it progress…) Or should students be the ones adapting to college life?
Update: I as talking to my friend Amy about this last night, and she mentioned iPod U - Duke University - which gives every freshman the device as part of its Duke Digital Initiative…
