Student Attitude & Success
I agree that an instructor is most successfull if he/she creates an environment where students feel safe to ask questions and positive discussion is facilitated by sking open ended questions. I have encountered some students who have very negative attitudes and often feel that it is difficult to stay on track and redirect when confronted with sarcasm and negativity. What other strategies can be used to manage the classroom, and guard against negativity, in addition to addressing concerns with students one on one?
Lately I find that the students have a sense of entitlement. They are paying for the class & they should get the good grades,without working for it.
Addressing students one-on-one is definitely a step in the right direction in curbing negativity on the parts of students.
One question you would want to address is whether students are coming to the class with the required prerequisites. Frustration and negative behavior sets in when students have a feeling the class is beyond their capabilities and the teacher is not doing enough to help them.
You would want to set it straight at the beginning of the session what students are to expect and how much commitment they would have to put into the course to succeed. Another strategy is for the instructor to avoid using negative words, and instead use replacement positive words, such as Should, Can, Could. Only my two cents.
Rebecca,
The field that I provide instruction for (Healthcare Information)is a field with a lot of opportunities but it requires a lot of technical skill and credentialing. I try to combat the negativity in my classroom by focusing on the credentialing step as the "eye on the prize" so to speak. I find that is also helps to showcase the various career opportunities in my field.
Deborah Balentine
Hi James!
I agree that students have made a commitment and investment, but part of that investment is in the instructor. Instructors have to role model expected behaviors and attitudes.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
It is their choice to be there and they should participate positivly.
I think that it does depend on what field and age group you are teaching. I do lecture them from day one that they did choose this path and being here is their choice and if they want to succeed, this is the way to be in class.
That is a great idea. I teach the 3 different BIOs that we have at various intervals. Keeping students interested in the subject matter is tough, especially when the material is very detailed. Any suggestion is a good one. Thanks, D.Persson
Nice article, Jane. Having worked with bosses who were screamers, micromanagers, or short cycle bipolar it's also easy to learn what doesn't work!
Hi Diane!
Fatigue is a big factor for early students and night students. I find that I can attribute that to fatugue as well as hunger. I can't do much about the fatigue but I will bring a morning snack. It not only gives them food to start their morning but a great venue for getting our discussions started.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
I too have found that morning students sometimes need something to get them started. I like to ask my students if they have anything interesting to share that relates to the class subject. I teach anatomy so this gives students an opportunity to share that they may have read an article or heard a news story about something that deals with health and this gives an opportunity to relate that to a topic that we may have previously covered. This way their interest is peaked about the interesting news they may have come across and then they get excited to learn what's next in class.
Hi Rebecca!
I found this on the internet - please take a look, I think you will find it informative.
http://www.howtodothings.com/education/how-to-earn-your-students-respect
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
The morning students are the ones that need something to make them smile prior to lecture. This seems to bring them back to open mind for new info. in lecture. I usually put a brain teaser on the board, that gets them perted up, and smiling from the answers I get.
