What to do about the student who always wants to go off topic?
I have a student currently that when ever I ask for questions will always want to talk about something completely off topic. Almost every time. He's not being mischievous, just the way his mind works. I often enough say "lets stay on the topic at hand", or "stay after class and we can discuss it". When i do answer his questions i end up 2 miles down the road in the wrong direction. The rest of the class groans every time he asks one of these and I need to move along. How do other people deal with these types of students?
I've had this happen also. I realized that my statement of calling for questions was too broad. I started requesting for questions in smaller bits and more specific like- 'are there any questions about what we just discussed?' This has helped keep students on the same path of the content being discussed.
If someone had a question that was off topic, I would ask them to write it down and we can discuss at a more appropriate time- maybe at the end of class or if it ties into an area we are getting to in the course.
Sometimes that student will re-act to peer pressure better. But I generally try to say let us talk after class, do you have any questions on this material?
When dealing with one student, the approach that you are using seems to work. Its when you have two or more students that are asking off topic questions, that is a larger issue. I normally ask those students to stay after and try and figure out what the issue is. Once I figure that out, normally everything smooths out from there.
Ask for questions specifically on "what we just covered" to create a zone, if needed. Sometimes life just throws you a better challenge, seems like you have the right approach.
I pretty much do the same thing as you. I ask do you have any questions about the topic, or we can talk about it after class.
