Classroom & Email Protocol

Classroom Protocol

Respect your fellow students and I: Arrive on time (excessive tardiness will effect your participation grade) and do not partake in disruptive behavior. We will all be respectful of each other in both our face-to-face and online communications. If you are late, wait for an appropriate moment to enter so you do not disturb the class. If you need to leave class for any reason, please do so at a moment when there is no conversation (and please don’t get up and walk right in front of me or anyone while we’re speaking — it’s very disrespectful). Turn off cell phones or put them on silent mode during the class period. You are welcome to use your laptop with the caveat that it is used to enhance our discussions.

Community Rules: During discussion, wait for 3 other people to speak before you speak again. This will ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute to our open discussions.

Email Protocol, Office Hours & Online Contact

Office Hours: T/Th 1:30-2:30pm, FO 220

Email is the best possible way to contact me (9am-5pm, M-F) and has the added bonus of recording our conversations. When emailing me, consider it a formal communication. See below for a brief example or check out the Writing Center’s handout (Links to an external site.) (pdf):

Dear Professor Harris,

[my question]

Thanks,

[sign your name here with your course]

Know that long conversations over email are not fruitful merely because of the limitations of technology. If you have an extended question or dilemma that cannot be answered by our online materials, please visit me during office hours or schedule an online chat/video chat. You might also be able to get my attention on Twitter for a very brief query. Plan to check your Canvas account on a daily basis.

Google+ Hangout ID: dr.katherine.harris

Skype ID: katherinedharris

Twitter ID: @triproftri (Links to an external site.)

Email: katherine.harris@sjsu.edu

See this extremely helpful article about emailing your professor and why there's such an insistence on formality: "Re: Your Recent Email to your Professor. (Links to an external site.)" Inside Higher Ed.