Nope, I have been a student/teacher...I love participating along with the others...You learn from others and they may learn a different way of doing things from you...short cuts...All the teachers limit the amt of bodies in class so everyone gets attention when needed and I just feel someone taking up space and not participating when another might have been bumped due to class being full isn't fair. I've never went to a class w/anyone just taking notes...But I guess it should be up to the teacher but I don't think it should be stressful, relax and enjoy and try...You can always go home and do over. At this point in our lives, quilting and learning should be fun not stressful...