Promoting Integrity at the Classroom Level:
Food in the Classroom
There is a joke that you need to serve food to insure faculty participation. And the better the food, the better the participation.
While discussing the poor quality the candy at a non-Schoolcraft College sponsored professional development activity, I began to speculate what it would be like to have a basket of candy in my classroom. That fall, I took a basket of candy to class with me. The results have been positive.
Simply having the basket in the classroom promotes interaction between students because "Hey will you toss me a tootsie roll?" acts as a conversation starter. And because students do not expect their professor to be a source of food, the candy basket helps establish the collegial atmosphere I like to have in my classroom.
Food Ideas
Candy is not the only way that food can be positively incorporated into the classroom.
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First Day of Class
I generally take food to the first day of class. Because this simple act is often so outside the student's conception of how a college class is supposed to run, they are more willing to assume I am serious when I indicate I want academic integrity and mutual respect between scholars will guide the classroom community. - School Daze
For two days during fall semester, the Student Activities Office sponsors School Daze where cheap hot dogs are sold. Taking students to School Daze promotes integrity because it allows them to learn about ways that they can develop a connection to the college. Buying students a hot dog while attending the event is a great way to build a relationship for not much financial investment. - Surprise Treat
In elementary school, we would have treats for special occasions like Valentine's Day, Halloween, birthdays, and so forth. What worked in elementary school also works in college (and with faculty colleagues as well). - Class Pot Luck
A former colleague was known for her pot luck finals. Even though the food comes the last day of class, the finals are well known and were part of my colleague's reputation as a student friendly instructor. I will sometimes have a pot luck after students complete a major project. We reflect on the project while enjoying good food.
