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Working 2 Jobs - STRESSFUL

Working a full-time job in the IT field and teaching part-time at a career school is about all I can handle. It is tough to do both but being a provider is in my blood. Exercising seems to keep my sanity and healthy balance.

Addressing students

Students should be addressed by there names. No one likes to be called by 'you'. I worked with a MD who didnt addressed employees by names until it was brought to his attention. Faculty should address these adults by name.

Cheating students

I do emphasize the importance of trust and respect in all classes. Students are reminded that honesty and respect are interrelated and one does not demand respct, one commands respect, and if trust is not there, then there is no respect.

Challenging student(s)

Students who instructors find challenging present themselves in different ways. I find having a talk at times changes the behavior, because this student may just have a personal problem and just need a listening ear.

Professionalism

Dressing the role of the instructor means that you lead by example.

Cheaters!

I do not believe in cheaters, therefore, i give each student a different exam. Example student 1 gets exam A, student 2 gets exam B, student 3 gets Exam C, student 4 gets exam A and so on. This has eliminated the potential of those who possess the wandering eye! :-)

Capture

I have found by being overly interactive and showing animation in the classroom is the best way to grasp a students attention. This also shows your passion of the material you are delivering to the student.

Students in Class that don't truly want to be there.

The biggest issue I deal with are two similar groups of students: 1. Students whose parents are forcing them to be in school. 2. Students who are only in school because they get benefits or government grants while attending. They don't really plan on going into the profession. So in an earlier post I mentioned that I am all four management styles. I start out as a Controller and then eventually Apathete to the students above and I'm Buddy and Guide to everyone else. What are some suggestions for ways to stop being so controlling or apathetic? It seems so hard to draw in students who sometimes verbally say "I don't really want to be here, I'm just here to get my money" or "I'm only here because my parents will kick me out otherwise".

Addressing Student Plagiarism

I'm wondering about the perspective and experience of others here re: how they've addressed situations of student plagiarism? (It seems like a relevant and critical issue to discuss in this particular forum). One of my first experiences with this was on a Human Behavior Term Paper. As I was reading through a student's paper there was a statement made about the effectiveness of a particular program which contradicted my own understanding of said program's efficacy. Thinking there might be some "new" or differing research on the matter (after all, the one thing I "know"-as both a Teacher/Instructor and as a person--is that I don't know everything!), I simply cut and pasted the student's work (sic) into a search engine and wouldn't you know it, the VERY FIRST result showed the exact words as written in some other online article/publication! The validity of the statement re: the program's efficacy notwithstanding, the net result is that the student had cut and pasted the entire paragraph from (the) site! I crossed-out the paragraph in her paper and made a note in the margin stating, "These aren't YOUR OWN words! Please see me if you disagree." Academic penalties and University procedures aside, it's probably needless to say the student did not elect to see me about her paper's grade or my comments. An approach I have since taken when possible in subsequent situations is to take the initiative and either attempt to contact the student or approach them using discretion ("I would like to see you after class") to express my concern and discuss the matter with the student. What are your experiences with this issue? I realize there may likely be many different scenarios and extenuating circumstances depending on the particular student/situation.

Students cheating

I can always tell when a student is cheating. I likew to just simply let them finish than at the end of class have them stay and let them knowq theat i am aware of it.

Keeping it Real

I tell my students (because the classes I teach are the intro to the school type of classes) that I and the rest f the staff will not be Facebook friends with them until they graduate. We will also not go out drinking with them. We are professionals in a professional setting to learn a trade to get a job, and the learning environment must be as close to the work environment so they will know what to expect when they graduate.

silent students

I seem to always get one a or 2 a year. They keep quite, and I come to them and ask them questions about the assignments, and they usually tell me that they are behind or doing the work at home and don't have it with them. I tell them to email it to me that day when they get home but I never get an email. talk to them again in class about the assignments and they think up another excuse. It's hard to get through to them. I talk to my supervisor about the situation, and they have a talk with the student too.

Talkative students may be a good thing

I've had a few in my classes in the past 10 years of teaching and if the subject that day is a bit of a downer that talkative student actually brings something to the subject to liven it up.

Real World Experience

I mention situations that happen to me when I'm dealing with clients for my Web Design business, when referring to similar situations in class so the students know these are problems that really happen, need to be aware of, and how to go about taking care of the situation.

Silent students

Sometimes the silent students have the most to say.

Angry students

I have had angry students. Listening is tougher than it sounds. I find it works best to pull them out of class and have a one on one discussion about the issue before it escalates.

Managing expectations

Having a vision of the class as a whole before it begins will certainly help.

Dress code

I find that our dress code helps set the standard and our expectations for professionalism at all times.

handling late or missed assignments

I add more to the assignment every day that it is late and keep the student engaged in the topic that is due and keep supporting them till the end of class , in which case the non assignment will effect their grade or they finally finish it and start to have a feeling of accomplishment.That things are starting to get done. Robert Castagna

Classroom Management

Correct management of your classroom is imperiative to a successful learning enviornment. If you allow your students to behave in an unprofessional manner,this behavior impacts the other students learning experience as well as their own.Since I deal mainly with adult learners, I open my rules explanation with,"since we are adults, I do not feel we will experience any unprofessional behavior". If someone starts talking during a lesson, I will say, "We have a limited amount of time to share this important information and I, as well as your classmates, need your full attention. If this is not successful, I will have the student remain after class and will address the matter as needed.