Electronic Music @ De Anza College :

Monday, March 10, 2008

Clarification of My Policy on Cell Phones in Class
Under normal circumstances one cell phone policy applies in my classes: Cell phones are to be turned off and put away during class. (Setting your phone on "silent" or "vibrate" is not turning it off - turn it off.) Having your phone on during class is a distraction to you and others in the classroom. Besides, you really can live without your phone for the duration of a class. Try it. You'll see. :-)

There is one exception to the rule: If you have a real emergency (e.g. sick child, serious illness in your family, etc.) and you must be on standby so that you can immediately deal with this emergency situation the following applies:

You must inform me of the emergency at the start of the period.
I'll ask you to sit where you can make a quick and quiet exit to answer the call outside the classroom.
Your phone must be on the silent setting.
When a call comes in you must leave the room before answering.

Bottom line: Unless you clear your legitimate emergency with me ahead of class you may not have your phone on during class and you may not answer calls or text during class.

Posted by Dan Mitchell on 3/10/08; 1:55:37 PM. | Discuss

Final Stretch for Winter Quarter - Work Time for Final Projects
We are now in the second-to-last week before finals week. (Finals are from Tuesday, March 25 through Friday, March 28.) For this reason, virtually all of the remaining available class time in both the Intro and Intermediate classes will be allocated to final project work.

But there are a few exceptions:

In the Intro classes we'll use all a good portion of the final regular class meetings (March 21 for the Friday class and March 24 for the MW class) for test #2, and I still have a few remaining projects to hear in class this week.

In the Intermediate classes, I will present little or no additional new material. However, you will begin doing your class presentation during the next two weeks - and this will use up a significant amount of class time.

Bottom line for both classes: If you want to have plenty of time to do your project, and especially if you want to complete a really great project, you'll want to a) start early, b) come to class/lab every time, and c) use the available open lab times.

Posted by Dan Mitchell on 3/10/08; 1:18:07 PM. | Discuss

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