GENED 060 Spring 07 :

Listening and Speaking Norms

course: home

TO: Students in 0060-001
FROM: R. B. Taylor
DATE: 1/24/07
RE: Draft classroom guidelines

In class last Monday (1/22) we talked about how we want to listen to each other, and how we wanted to speak to one another while in this classroom. Those suggested guidelines appear below.  As of now I am presuming, since we discussed these in class, that you all are signing on to these guidelines, and agreeing to try and follow them. These are in draft form and we can revisit these if and as modification is needed later in the semester. The names of those contributing appear further below. These are intended to supplement the classroom "etiquette" guidelines that already appear in the syllabus.

Listening
Several groups stressed patience: "don't interrupt"; "wait your turn to speak"; "always let someone finish their thought"

Several groups stressed listening with an "open mind:" "listen to other people with an open mind"; "try to take an un-biased point of view"; "be open to new ideas"

A couple of groups talked about listening respectfully: "when someone is speaking give that person your undivided attention"; "pay attention without other personal distractions with someone is speaking"; "acknowledge others"

Speaking
A couple  groups indicated certain language was out of bounds: "no foul language"; "no name calling", including stereotyping.

Some groups suggested keeping the tone civil and respectful: "no yelling"; students should "voice their opinion in a respectful manner without shouting."

Listening and responding
Several groups talked about "respect[ing] the opinions of others," as it applied to both listening and speaking. You all seemed to be saying that when expressing and responding to the opinions of others it was fine to "agree to disagree," and we should "know that your opinion isn't the only opinion. If you disagree with someone's p.o.v. don't just tell them they're wrong, try to understand where they're coming from." We should not "put someone's views down because you feel differently" or "make [a] personal attack."

On a related point, one group pointed out, and you all seemed to agree in discussion, that it was perfectly acceptable to ask others to back up statements of fact ("statement should be backed up") with information. Yet if people say hey, that's just my opinion, we should just accept that. In short, in our discussions we want to try and distinguish between statements of fact vs. opinions.

Contributors