For those that are teachers/instructors/TAs

[HamburgerBoy]

When your student creates a doodle on a piece of graded work pleasurable enough to elicit a smile, and in a location not detrimental to the work itself, is it appropriate to comment positively on said doodle, or would it violate professional teacher/student ethics? I graded a lab report today that had a cute coy fish sketch, and it was large enough that I felt I could not ignore it, especially since the lab report itself was well performed (earned an A) and could not be construed as a bribe. After much deliberation I decided to put a little smiley face next to it, but after doing so I immediately began to regret it. Would you consider that to be potentially flirtatious? If so, is there an option that doesn't involve using white-out to hide the smiley face, maybe writing "Nice" before the emoticon to indicate that my pleasure was entirely derived from the doodle itself?

Thank you for reading.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Was it at least a girl?

I've seen professors hook up with TAs, TAs with students, and some professors with students (this one got them relieved though).

 

[HamburgerBoy]

What does "at least" mean in this context? As in, it could be potentially inappropriate if it is a girl, but completely benign if the doodler is a boy?

 

[jaedaliu]

You're too worried about the ethics thing. A smiley face next to a picture is a smiley face next to the picture. If you want to make it 1000% clear that the student had a nice drawing that you liked, then write "nice drawing" on the paper.

If you want to flirt with said student, ask them out at the end of the term.

If you want to get out of the situation, make an announcement in section that you appreciate the effort, but they don't belong on turned in lab papers, and all subsequent papers will receive a 5% mark down for doodles.

 

[kranky]

A smiley face is pretty benign. I probably would not have done it but I don't see anything wrong about it.

Once had a programming class that required each program to have a "title" - it had no actual meaning but it needed to be there. I turned one in with a title that was a play on words related to a popular song. My program came back with the title circled and a comment "Very clever!"

I was a little surprised the instructor even bothered to READ the program titles, let alone comment on them.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

How about ignoring it if it isn't violent? Seems like the safe bet.

 

[nace186]

Aren't you the same person that asked about if the professor cross the line when he chat with a female student a while ago?

And the answer to your current question is no.

 

[surfsatwerk]

no

 

[Midwayman]

I'd ignore it. It isn't really a behavior that you want to encourage. However I'm at college level so I'm expecting my students to be learning how to be a professional in addition to completing the work.

 

[brianmanahan]

if people added a funny comment in code assignments i graded, i would always add at least an lol

you should write a +1 next to it, and see if the rest of the class starts spamming drawings

 

[brianmanahan]

I'd ignore it. It isn't really a behavior that you want to encourage. However I'm at college level so I'm expecting my students to be learning how to be a professional in addition to completing the work.

my my arent we stuffy

 

[DrPizza]

Some place around here, I have a folder of photocopies of pictures students drew after completing tests, while waiting for the rest of the class to complete the tests. I also have a few electronic copies of things students drew on the Promethean board. And, on a few occasions, I've even given 1 point of extra credit for very well designs - things that made me smile while grading a stack of tests (an activity that I've been putting off, but which is going to occupy about 8 hours of my time tonight)

 

[mrjminer]

Depends on the drawing.

When I taught kids would draw dicks on the board before I even got to class. When I showed up, I'd always be like "who drew these rocket ships up here, this isn't science!" Worked well until they started drawing pubes, then I just had to tell them to knock it off

I would have drawn a smiley face, then crossed it out and drawn a frowny face. The kids in my classes would have seen it as a joke coming from me, but it depends on how you acclimate them

 

[alkemyst]

add a penis to the doodle next time. Profit!

 

[Midwayman]

my my arent we stuffy

I joke around with my students too. Just a time and a place for that stuff.