I wouldn't call it a bribe, exactly

And so it has come to this: in my final year of teaching, I am offering extra credit just to convince literature students that I'm not scary.

Apparently they think we're scary. Students, that is. An expert at one of our teaching workshops earlier this week said studies show that today's students are terrified of visiting faculty offices, something I really didn't need an expert to tell me. I can go weeks at a time without having a student in my office, except when I require them to schedule one-on-one conferences for writing feedback or for advising.

I have done everything I can to make my office hospitable: Comfy chairs! Toys! Interesting books! A Jane Austen action figure! (Though the only actions she can take are to hold the writing desk and pen, which makes her seem pretty poorly armed in the world of action figures until you realize that the pen is mightier than the sword. You go, Jane!)

So while my colleague across the hall enjoys a constant parade of students coming by to talk about their classes and projects and life goals, and while another colleague upstairs attracts an army of students by providing, outside his office door, a basket of free snacks (Rice Krispies Treats! Granola bars! Twinkies!), I sit here twiddling my thumbs. Not that I'm complaining--thumb-twiddling fuels a plethora of idle thoughts, some of which may actually lead to worthwhile results. But if experts insist and studies show that getting students to visit my office will make them more comfortable contributing to class discussions, then by golly I'll get them there.

So for the first time, I am offering five extra-credit points to any student who visits my office before February 6 and spends a mere ten minutes casually chatting about books and reading. How do they feel about books? What do they like to read? What don't they like to read? Why? I have promised a judgment-free zone and invited them to give Mr. Potato Head a makeover. Ideally, this will make them more comfortable opening their mouths in class while helping me to understand their complicated (maybe?) feelings about books and reading.

If it works, five points is a small price to pay. If it doesn't? Let them eat Twinkies. 

 

Welcome to my office!