R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Aretha Franklin had it right... No human encounter is productive or effective without a level of respect. The classroom is no different. Every individual in the class (instructor included) should observe a level of respect for the environment. This includes people, material, and possessions. Without respect, students do not feel safe. This safety can be directly linked to student motivation. Specifically in classroom discussions, students need to be respected and respectful. This exchange will maximize participation and motivation during the class.

Scenario: Battle of the Balking
Our Intersession class was a Persuasion course geared towards marketing, politics, and branding. A large chunk of our time was spent on public speaking. This would have gone on without a hitch in a class of ten or fifteen students. But in a health room packed with thirty opinionated junior high students, all bets were off. Kim and I decided that part of being a good speaker was being a good listener. We made this very apparent the second day when students were required to sign a respect contract. Additionally, students were instructed that a great deal of their grade would depend on their ability to be a respectful, engaged audience member. This clear expectation helped to create an open environment for the speaker and the audience member during our eight day visit with Persuasion.