lazy student
what do you do if you have non serious student, who takes everything for granted,doesn't complete his task to the end
Jeff,
Like your last sentence because it reflects on what the students need to understand as they move through their programs. In the end it really is up to them because it is their future that is being planned and prepared for. They need to find a good career match and then pursue it full speed. This is what will get them hired and moving upward in their careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As a teacher who also works in Career Services at my school, I see the importance of trying to motivate students but simultaneously seeing that not every student will be fit for a career in the field. These students, I feel, need to be talked with to gauge their feelings. They need to know that anything less than their best effort won't be good enough. Getting through school is the beginning, not the end. The real world will only be far more difficult. Lapses in skill can be corrected and helped; lapses in effort cannot.
Robert,
Thank you for these good comments. I am like you in that it is hard for me to lose a student but the reality is that it is in the end up to each student to decide his or her future in the class. I continue to support and work with a student that displaying an attitude of disinterest so that I can say within myself that I have done all I can do to help the student to be successful. They have chosen to fail and I will award them the earned grade of F as a result. Hopefully they will come around some day and create a future for themselves.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I concur with many of the ideas and thought that have been expressed. I have some good ideas learned here that I will put to use in the future.
The Point I wish to make is that in the long run, if a student just refuses to turn around, we have to be willing to give them an "F" and let it go. I know, I am the worst one about taking these cases home...I do not want to lose anyone. But one has to learn to let it go if they do not care enough to do what is needed to progress...we must let them fail. Maybe it is just not their time to put it together...........easier to say that to do, right? But this much I have learned, if we take it home with us it hurts us far more than it helps someone that just do not care.
If the rest of the class is roling their eyes when this student is making an attempt to participate and ask a question, it sounds like the class needs to be addressed as well. There may even be issues from prevoius classes where the other student have taken the "wind" from this students "sails". I never encourage eye rollers.
I try to remind the student of his long term goals and why he signed up for the course to begin with. I also ask leading questions to reaffirm his decision to attend class and go back to school. I find that a lot of times students that seem apathetic are usually the ones that need the extra attention. Try a little extra encouragement and see how it works for you both. :o)
Michelle,
I hope this visit for the student works. If he/she continues with this attitude and effort he/she will not have any career success. We know it but this students either doesn't know it or won't believe it. Be interesting to see how this turns out.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have a similiar issue. This particular student pushes the limit on attendance, performs averge in academics but missing the bigger picture. This student is going to be in the medical profession and trying to get this student to understand you can't cut corners. I see the class rolling their eyes if this particular student asks a question. It's hard as an instructor to keep the class on task and me to stay motivated on the subject. I have counseled this student individually the first time. The second time is was a meeting with my student and the prgoram director. I made an appointment with someone who actually works in the field the student is about to go into and had them sit and listen about expectations. Now I'll wait and see if this motivates the student from being lazy when it comes to studying and putting in 100% effort.
James,
Good strategy for dealing with challenging students like this. Thanks for giving us ideas about how to work with such students in our own classes.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have often had success with this kind of student by making him/her the leader of a project in which the student has shown some small interest. I assign two or three other students to the project who are active in the class. The directions to the non-serious project leader is that he/she must determine the real-time objective of the project, outline the steps needed to complete the project, determine the assessment points, and assign responsibilities to the other team members. I make sure that the student realizes that the evaluation grade for the entire team is dependent upon his/her performance as project leader.
In other words, making the non-serious student responsible for a particular aspect of the learning objectives that involves peer pressure from other classmates may often generate new or renewed interest by the student.
Laura,
Good strategy that will benefit other instructors. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I agree that a conversation is in order. Why is the student in school? Does the student understand that the skills learned in the classroom are vital to his/her success out in the industry? Discuss what a sense of urgency is and its importance. Ask this student if they understand all the material and what is expected of them (which is the same as the rest of the class) and go from there.
Fayez,
Have a conversation with such a student to see if they are in the right course. Many times such students have been placed in a course or major that is of no interest to them. They need to talk with the Career Office to get some ideas about other majors that would fit them better.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
