Classroom etiquette is a term people typically know, but why does it matter? What does it mean at Geneva? How does it benefit students and professors?

We polled professors across academic departments at Geneva on the importance of classroom etiquette. Here’s what they share:

The Negative Consequences of Poor Classroom Etiquette

Poor classroom etiquette distracts others and is both dehumanizing and inconsiderate. A student who enrolls in college classes should learn in the set environment. At college, it is expected that students and professors are polite and encourage one another.

Attentive Listening

With the rise of technology, professors prefer phones put away and to take notes on paper rather than laptops. It shows them that students are attentively listening. Professors also notice when students are making excuses for being absent which can discourage the professor but also harm the student’s habit of learning.

Engage with the Course Material

Being attentive in class is only one angle of classroom etiquette. Professors have expressed that using and reading the materials shows interest and etiquette to the class as a whole. It also communicates honor to the text even if students don’t agree or enjoy it.

Classroom etiquette also includes smaller acts unto these:

• Sitting towards the front or middle of the classroom

• Keeping your hands to yourself

• Listening to whomever is speaking

• Staying quiet so everyone can listen to the lecture

• Raising your hand before speaking

• Keeping eyes on your own paper

• Cleaning up before leaving

• Asking the professor questions to challenge your learning.

So why don’t we study alone to avoid distractions and distracting others?

Professors say that learning and growth can only happen in community. Together, students learn to the best of their abilities surrounded by professors who find joy seeing their students’ success. In a community, professors and students can rejoice together in times of celebration and encourage each other when things are difficult. There is only so much an individual can do alone, especially regarding knowledge. But we are also created as social beings and need relationships with fellow humans. But to learn in a community, there needs to be a certain level of respect.

Respect should come from students but also professors. Professors say that it is earned, and by respecting their students, students in return respect them and practice good classroom etiquette. However, respecting each other does not only reap classroom etiquette, but communicates a higher calling of loving one another. God calls us to love Him most of all, and one way to love God is to love those made in His image.