You raise your hand silently, waiting to make your contribution to your discussion section. Maybe you feel passionately about the topic or perhaps you just want your participation points. Your eyes meet your teaching assistant's, but he or she says nothing. You realize he or she has absolutely no idea who you are.
But this year, teaching assistants have no excuse because student pictures are all posted online -- a new feature most students don't know is located on the faculty instructional toolkit.
Second-year Engineering student Chee Sang Neo said he had no idea his picture was posted on toolkit, but he didn't mind.
"I think if they really have to look at my picture to know who I am, that's fine," Neo said.
Fourth-year College student Jody Westbrook said she felt similarly.
"I think it will be good because in big classes it could help T.A.s put names with faces," Westbrook said. "I mean, I don't think there's any T.A.s stalking me."
Fourth-year College student Eboné Liggins was one of few students who said she knew the pictures were available.
"I'm in Hereford, so my picture can be looked up by anyone," Liggins said. "It's no big deal."
Anyone with access to the Internet is able to use the Hereford resident directory, which includes residents' phone numbers, email addresses and dorm addresses in addition to their pictures.
Liggins said she was unconcerned with this possibility.
Other students were similarly unconcerned with T.A.s' access to their pictures.
Second-year Engineering student Ben McGinnis said he saw no reason that the University should need permission from students to post their pictures.
McGinnis said he thought students automatically granted that right to the University by attending.
Second-year College student Kim Corum said that although she is in favor of having pictures on toolkit, she think the University should inform students that their pictures are available.
"It makes sense to me as long as it's used for educational purposes," Corum said. "It's a more welcoming environment if a teacher can greet you by name. It's more intimate than a lecture."
Additionally, Corum said she thinks having a picture posted should be optional.
Fourth-year College student Tom Furman said he didn't think it was an invasion of privacy because there is already so much other information available online.
However, Furman said he didn't think the online pictures would have any effect on his classes.
Second-year College student Ciara Sibley disagreed.
"I had no idea my picture is online," Ciara said. "I think that's cool because you can foster at least some kind of relationship with your professor."
Second-year College student Jamie Shanks said he doubted any T.A.s actually used the access to student pictures.
Third-year College student Alexis Keyser said she knew about the pictures because one of her T.A.s told her, adding that her T.A. seemed surprised that the students didn't know.
She said she thought students should be informed, but she was generally skeptical about the impact of the pictures.
"I don't really see the reasoning," Keyser said. "You get to know your students in class anyway."
Furman agreed. "A University photo gallery for all the students, what would be the point of that?" Furman said.
However, many T.A.s said they found the new addition to toolkit helpful.
Head Econ 201 T.A. Sarah Simmons said she has used the new addition to toolkit and thinks many of her peers use it, too.
"I think it's useful," Simmons said. "I actually try to quiz myself between classes."
Sociology T.A .Bob McConnell agreed and said he has used the new service occasionally.
"It's a good idea because names are more easy to remember with faces," McConnell said.
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