Dear all,

I rarely comment on this listserv, but the pigeon analogy is very bad reasoning. Analogical inference is inherently weak. The fact that two or more things are alike in one regard is not reason to believe they are alike in another regard. And the pigeon-to-student analogy is insulting to the student. The student enrolled in and intentionally attended the class. The pigeons were on the ledge by happenstance or enticement.

Generally, faculty has a responsibility to take student complaints about grades seriously. If they are spurious, then show them to be so. But there may be a chance for us to learn from student complaints.

Best,

Michael Koch


On 2/19/13 9:18 AM, "Pence, Harry" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Dear Friends,
This little piece is worth it if you only read one sentence, an instructor who said:
"As I pointed out to the protesting student, two pigeons had regularly appeared on the window ledge for every class meeting; they did not, however, receive credit, and the student, whose contributions had matched theirs, would not either."  It fits well with some of our discussion from the last teaching breakfast.

The article is at http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2013/02/19/lessons-learned-case-lawsuit-over-c-essay

Harry

P.S. Sorry to overflow your mailboxes.  It has just been a very interesting morning.



Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta
________________________________
From: Pence, Harry
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 9:10 AM
To: Pence, Harry; Teaching Breakfast List
Subject: For those who use Google Docs

I know that at least a few of you use Google Docs, which I really love, but here is an interesting story about Oxford blocking Google Docs because of Phishhing attacks.

https://blogs.oucs.ox.ac.uk/oxcert/2013/02/18/google-blocks/

Cordially,
Harry


Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta