Althouse: So I downloaded Yik Yak, because I wanted to see what the students around here are talking about.

December 28, 2015

So I downloaded Yik Yak, because I wanted to see what the students around here are talking about.

The #1 thing seems to be that the professors haven't put their grades in yet.

9 comments:

Bob R said...: That would definitely do it. When did classes end?

I did the same thing a couple of months ago. It's an interesting window on what students are thinking. The day I did it, the biggest dining hall was having a thanksgiving meal. (They are known for good food here.) Lots of talk of lines, quality, gluttony.; 12/28/15, 10:10 AM
MadisonMan said...: Disgraceful! How can grades not be posted yet? Because Professors aren't interested in being conscientious. If you give a final on the 23rd, knowing that it will occur on that day months in advance, you don't schedule anything at all but grading on the 24th. That is why you draw a salary.; 12/28/15, 10:10 AM
Fritz said...: Does it make you feel like you're spying on the students?; 12/28/15, 10:12 AM
Ann Althouse said...: The other thing I'm seeing is that people are lonely. Yik Yak is used a lot by people who are just crying out I'm lonely.; 12/28/15, 10:15 AM
MAJMike said...: Blogger MadisonMan said...

Disgraceful! How can grades not be posted yet? Because Professors aren't interested in being conscientious. If you give a final on the 23rd, knowing that it will occur on that day months in advance, you don't schedule anything at all but grading on the 24th. That is why you draw a salary.

12/28/15, 10:10 AM

MadisonMan nailed it in one.

When I taught high school, I had over 160 students spread across three subjects. I graded material every day and posted grade every day. My grade book was observable on-line by parents, students, and administrators.

I can and should be done quickly. The Instructor owes that much to his/her students.; 12/28/15, 11:02 AM
David said...: There is also some pretty funny stuff. Irreverent. Gives me hope.; 12/28/15, 2:08 PM
Brian McKim and/or Traci Skene said...: I investigated YikYak a month or so ago. Round these parts, there isn't much of a college presence-- I'm ten miles from UNLV's campus-- so it was mostly teens jabbering away. But from what I've read, it serves an important purpose. (And, though you may have seen little but grousing about grades, I imagine the topics swing wildly over the course of a semester.)

As for loneliness: Have you forgotten what it's like to be away from home, tackling one of the most important tasks of your young life, alone? There are moments of loneliness, mixed with fear-- long- and short-term fear. I wish YikYak had been around in my first three years of college.; 12/28/15, 3:01 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "Does it make you feel like you're spying on the students?"

The whole nature of the app is that people (not just students) can share something with others in the area. It's not like I had to pretend to be a student to get the app or to get anywhere. I'm just where I am, using an app that's available to anyone.

I am interested in seeing what students might be witnessing and feeling hurt by, which is what the news articles have been about. There's an idea that a hostile environment is created on campus and the app should even be banned. I think, on the contrary, the app shows people that other people are pretty similar and are mostly just kind of sensitive. It's heartening, I believe.; 12/28/15, 3:10 PM
MAJMike said...: Less time on Yik-Yak and more time grading finals would be the responsible thing.; 12/28/15, 5:29 PM