A "better" way to keep connected with students...
I find it infringing on instructors' privacy to hand out personal phone numbers to students for many reasons. I would suggest using a service such as Viber and Whatsap to call and text students back and forth without giving out personal information. In today's world, students may not like the instructor for whatever reason and this can cause some issues with harassment and or badgering of the instructor in the future. Viber and Whatsap on the other hand do not give out personal information but yet can still be useful tools to keep in contact with students at all times.
Although I agree with what you said, I tend to take a much different approach. I am the OLC on my campus. It is my only job. So I have to be availabe to students at all times, including weekends. My rules are that they have to text me with questions. That way I can continue with what I am doing and still help the student. They are not allowed to call me unless I cannot help them through text. My biggest rule is no voice mail. I hate voice mail. It interferes with everything in my life, so a voice mail will not get a response for me.
Martin,
that is very interesting & encouraging to hear. My belief is the students are the same & really they don't want to talk to us...I mean they really don't want to be "buds" with old people:)
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Beth ,
I have not been in the classroom as long as you but I have a similar experience & have had very few students call or text me & it has truly only been in "emergency" situations.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Zack,
again this is definitely a personal choice for each instructor & in alignment with your institution's policy.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I listened to a very interesting interview on NPR with a lifelong doctor. He said he had freely given out his number - his HOME number to every patient he had visited - but, he had only been called at home ONCE. He found that people just wanted the knowledge that they COULD call him at any time day or night, but once they had the ability to do this - they had the respect not to.
I agree. I am reluctant to give my personal cell phone number to students. They all have access to email and can use that as a tool 24 hours if they want. As long as I am available by email at regular hours and times, I do not feel that texting me 24 hours a day is necessary.
I have given out my cell phone for over 10 years. I tell students day one to use it responsibly and to use their common sense regarding appropriate times. I've rarely had a student call. They do sometimes text me, but usually for a quick question. In short, I've never had a problem with it and will continue to give it out to my students.
