While the noisiest students are disruptive, there’s a not-so-hidden value to it
The article discusses the social dynamics of students in a large sociology class at the University of Toronto. It highlights how students often prioritize making friends over the academic content of the lectures. Despite a decline in opportunities to form friendships at work, many still find meaningful connections through their jobs.
- ▪Students in a large sociology class often engage in conversations during lectures, prioritizing social interaction over learning.
- ▪Research indicates that opportunities to make friends at work have significantly decreased over the past 50 years.
- ▪Despite fewer chances to form friendships at work, many workers still report establishing close friendships through their jobs.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
ShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountScott Schieman is a professor in the department of sociology at the University of Toronto and author of the forthcoming book I Want M.O.R.E. - Why Your Job Still Matters.I teach a large introductory-level sociology course of about 600 first-year undergraduate students held in Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto. It’s a massive coliseum-like structure with three levels. And it can get very noisy.Every session, a surprising number of students converse with each other throughout much of my two-hour lecture. As the volume rises, I pause. The students go silent. I continue until the chatter escalates again. I pause. They go silent. We do this ongoing dance, which at first puzzled me.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Globe and Mail.
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