Noise control
Many of my students can get over motivated. I can start talking about a medical assisting subject and to engage the class I may ask if anyone has ever had a similar experience, then everyone wants to talk about their experience or their child's experience, etc. and before you know it every one is talking and it is chaos. Any ideas to keep quiet directed engagement?
Glenda,
Good question. I would try it out and see if it will work with your current students. I have found in many situations that adult learners are just taller children. My students work very hard to earn a piece of candy or win a smiley face sticker. The key is setting the class up to where the students get caught up in the climate of the class and enjoy the rewards offered while being very serious about their learning.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I've used the quiet hand signal from Kagan strategies at the high school level, but am wondering as I transition to teaching college students, if this will be seen as elementary?
Loren,
Good way to integrate each student into the class so that they will soon realize that everyone is a part of the class not just the talkers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I will generally hold up my hand and bring it back under control, recognizing one student at a time and putting those on a back burner that always reply. Engagement helps. I don't work from behind the podium, I work back and forth, left and right, directing my address to the quiet ones, the one who is slipping into a nod, and those who are talking.....waiting for them to come to awareness and continuing with my comments or questions.
That was very helpful. I will try the group concept. There are always some students in a class that don't like someone else in the class. I think placing them in a group will force them to get along. After all, that the way it is in the 'real' world...
Maida,
I put my students into learning groups of 3-4 and when we have a discussion such as you have mentioned I call on a group and one person from that group responds. This way with 24 students I have in reality 6 groups. This reduces the talkers because I will only recognize one person from a group at a time. Then I let the spokesperson for the group give only one example or response. This format enables me to manage the class in a efficient manner without having to talk over the many side bar conversations or outbursts.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
