Sorry,
But this old out-to-pasture warhorse can't resist responding. (Would have done it sooner, but I was outa town.)
It was the semester I was given a huge auditorium and 60 students to lecture to, and also the same semester I FINALLY accepted the fact that out of any given class there would be 10% excellent students and 10% clinkers. (Aside: the last class I taught was a graduate seminar in my own home, and sure enough--out of just 11 students, there was one I looked forward to having there and one who caused me nothing but anxiety and frustration.)
Anyway, at the second or third meeting I announced I would make a seating chart to help me remember names. Had everyone stand up. Now let's see if I can still remember the order of my criteria.
First, how many of you will be attending 100% of the time. Show of hands. Those come forward. Then "how many will probably miss once or twice?" Come forward.
Out of those, I asked "how many will probably be asking questions or giving me input when they have some to give?" Show of hands. Those take the front row.
Now to put my problems into groups. All who like to read the newspaper at the start of class, sit in that back corner. Bother each other. All who regularly have to consume beverages and hamburgers, sit in the other back corner.
Those who are going to be here most of the time, but don't eat, drink or consume mass media during class can fill in the middle seats.
So, we spent awhile chatting about these behaviors. I let students air their gripes about people who carry on personal conversations next to them, about the stink of french fries or burritos, slurping of coffee, all the annoying things. And most reluctantly agreed that the participating regulars should be up front, late comers and paper readers should stay in the back. The ones who came as spectators were comfy in the middle chairs.
Next day I told them to sit in their "proper" section according to their own assessment of their own in-class behavior, I made the seating chart, and commenced teaching to the four front rows. And what was odd was how many gradually moved forward during the semester.