Opening a beer at the start of a Consumer Behavior course is guaranteed to get students' attention. But how many were wondering when I'd take my first sip/swig, rather than listening to what I or others in the class were saying?
In fact I just thought "Is it normal in the United States that a professor opens a beer and drinks it during the class? Does she have the right to do it??" And as nobody have reacted to it I thought "Wahou when I will tell that to my french friends they will never believe me!".
As regards the fact of "getting students'attention" I think that "greedy" people thought more about the color/flavor of candies that they will choose rather than about the beer: "how many candies am I allowed to take? If I take 4 whereas everyone took 2 what others students think about me?", "If I take just red candies maybe there will be no other for the last person?", "I love the blue one but I have never tasted the yellow so maybe it is time?", "Is it a test or something like that??" So, the simple choice of taking a candy is a kind of dilemma and even if all these questions go fast in our brain it is time during which students don't listen what you or others in the class were saying! That is why I didn't take candy! aha ! And because as a real Libra it is really difficult for me to make a choice quickly too.
+ Maybe U.S. professor drink in class???? Oh, how funny! I think there would be many more professors in America if that were the case! + Never thought of the greed angle or extended problem-solving with respect to jelly beans.
I think Lucie has a great point bringing up all of the tiny concerns or questions that went through all of our minds when faced with a decision as small as taking some free jelly beans. That made me consider the impact that making decisions in a public setting has on our preferences. If we wanted jelly beans at home, we would truly take the amount and type that we want. But when others were around, even though some are complete strangers, our decisions changed. That also brings up the differences in consumer preferences now that shopping online is so convenient. In regards to whether or not I was distracted by the beer, I was surprised by how quickly I forgot about it. That reminded me of a fact you presented in intro to marketing; that we need to see an ad seven times before we remember it. Even something as unusual as a beer in class was still fleeting from my memory. Also, most of my teachers prior to college had the rule that you can't bring food or drink unless you had enough to share, so I was curious whether or not you used that rule too.
I agree with Lucie’s comments and the notion definitely grabbed my attention at the start of class. You opened it casually and transitioned right into the course topic so I was wondering when you were going to take a sip in the beginning. Once the jelly beans were passed around, that was another distraction as well as thinking of the item that I consume the most. I was interested in others responses to the question so there were only a few times that I drifted back and was curious about the beer on your desk.
I think in some ways, the questions that arose by the attention of the beer are similar to those we ask when studying consumer behavior. For instance, why the beer became a distraction: Because of the classroom setting? Because it was the first day of class? Or the time of day? These questions then lead me to think about how company’s determine advertising and “grabbing” the consumer’s attention. It made me wonder if the commercials I consider to be “odd” or out of place (similar to the class situation with the beer) upon the first time seeing them actually stick with me longer than those that seem ordinary.
As I mentioned in class, this act really made me feel comfortable and look forward to what would come. I do have to agree that is also had some other effects on me. Instead of full attention on the class I began to think of questions, such as the legality of an open container in the room, or why did she bring a Miller Light when there are so many better beers? These questions in the end did not deter from the points I took away from the class because the process of distraction and my behavior as a student (consume of knowledge) really drove home a point. Everything I do, wear, say, show, act, or anything for that matter will fuel a train of questions and judgments from everyone I come into contact with. With this in mind, everything seems more important now.
In fact I just thought "Is it normal in the United States that a professor opens a beer and drinks it during the class? Does she have the right to do it??" And as nobody have reacted to it I thought "Wahou when I will tell that to my french friends they will never believe me!".
ReplyDeleteAs regards the fact of "getting students'attention" I think that "greedy" people thought more about the color/flavor of candies that they will choose rather than about the beer: "how many candies am I allowed to take? If I take 4 whereas everyone took 2 what others students think about me?", "If I take just red candies maybe there will be no other for the last person?", "I love the blue one but I have never tasted the yellow so maybe it is time?", "Is it a test or something like that??" So, the simple choice of taking a candy is a kind of dilemma and even if all these questions go fast in our brain it is time during which students don't listen what you or others in the class were saying! That is why I didn't take candy! aha ! And because as a real Libra it is really difficult for me to make a choice quickly too.
Lucie Lavrard
!!!!
Delete
Delete+ Maybe U.S. professor drink in class???? Oh, how funny! I think there would be many more professors in America if that were the case!
+ Never thought of the greed angle or extended problem-solving with respect to jelly beans.
I think Lucie has a great point bringing up all of the tiny concerns or questions that went through all of our minds when faced with a decision as small as taking some free jelly beans. That made me consider the impact that making decisions in a public setting has on our preferences. If we wanted jelly beans at home, we would truly take the amount and type that we want. But when others were around, even though some are complete strangers, our decisions changed. That also brings up the differences in consumer preferences now that shopping online is so convenient.
DeleteIn regards to whether or not I was distracted by the beer, I was surprised by how quickly I forgot about it. That reminded me of a fact you presented in intro to marketing; that we need to see an ad seven times before we remember it. Even something as unusual as a beer in class was still fleeting from my memory. Also, most of my teachers prior to college had the rule that you can't bring food or drink unless you had enough to share, so I was curious whether or not you used that rule too.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lucie’s comments and the notion definitely grabbed my attention at the start of class. You opened it casually and transitioned right into the course topic so I was wondering when you were going to take a sip in the beginning. Once the jelly beans were passed around, that was another distraction as well as thinking of the item that I consume the most. I was interested in others responses to the question so there were only a few times that I drifted back and was curious about the beer on your desk.
ReplyDeleteI think in some ways, the questions that arose by the attention of the beer are similar to those we ask when studying consumer behavior. For instance, why the beer became a distraction: Because of the classroom setting? Because it was the first day of class? Or the time of day? These questions then lead me to think about how company’s determine advertising and “grabbing” the consumer’s attention. It made me wonder if the commercials I consider to be “odd” or out of place (similar to the class situation with the beer) upon the first time seeing them actually stick with me longer than those that seem ordinary.
!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat to note that situational characteristics affect the whether, how and what we process!
DeleteAs I mentioned in class, this act really made me feel comfortable and look forward to what would come. I do have to agree that is also had some other effects on me. Instead of full attention on the class I began to think of questions, such as the legality of an open container in the room, or why did she bring a Miller Light when there are so many better beers? These questions in the end did not deter from the points I took away from the class because the process of distraction and my behavior as a student (consume of knowledge) really drove home a point. Everything I do, wear, say, show, act, or anything for that matter will fuel a train of questions and judgments from everyone I come into contact with. With this in mind, everything seems more important now.
ReplyDelete