Class rules/expectations
If you decide to be so strict at the beginning of your class, in order to scare your students out of screwing up, will there be more class participation in the long run, or less, than if you were playing "the nice guy"?
Hi Carole,
Scaring adult students about rules is ineffective, but if you enforce the rules and reprimand the students accordingly, I gaurantee you most students will be less likely to break the rules.
Patricia Scales
Hi Sandra,
I agree, you cannot scare 'adult learners' into following the rules i.e. "no cell phone usage in class". I am surprised how many students want to challenge this rule! I feel students will obey if they have respect for the instructor, if they are kept busy, and if they know they will immediately be given a written warning when they break the rules. Immediate disciple will also prevent other students from breaking this rule.
Carole Ray
It is really important to let them know starting class what the class's rules are and course expectation, because it is helpful when we need apply some classroom management strategies
It is important to let students know the course expectations, grading criteria, course calendar, and when assignments are due. This is an essential part of day one of any class meeting.
In my experience teaching nursing students it has been crucial to go over the sylabus, grading criteria, attendance and participation criteria, classroom rules, clinical criteria, rules and expectations, and to reinforce these in writing via the syllabus, student handbook, and handouts for specific information that pertains to that clinical site. This sets the students up for success.
Hi Sandra,
I agree! Firmness, yet being nice is a perfect combination.
Patricia
I don't think it's a matter of being too strict or having to scare your students. They have to be told what the class rules and expectations are on the first day and what the consequences will be for breaking those rules. You can do it in a firm but yet nice way. The students need to know that you are serious.
