Dealing with Challenging Students
In this module we talk about the challenging student and I try to work with the students that want to be the center of attention. This can be challenging because it is difficult to sometimes get the student to understand that they are taking from the class time and this then is frustrating their fellow students. Can anyone give me some ideas of what worked for you?
I had a student have a similar reaction after taking and exam. She stated that the information was not in the lecture or the PowerPoint slides. I explained to her that I had never stated that all of the information was in the lecture or PowerPoint’s and that as a student they are responsible for all of the information in the chapters that we cover.
I find it a challenge with students who get mad if certain questions on exams were not on their study guides. I am constantly explaining that I am not going to give them all their questions ahead of time
Hi Tom,
What a great way to keep challenging students in check. If it is working continue to use it.
Patricia
I would go over the lesson plan for the day and asked the student if he or she could present the same material in their own words and that seems to keep eveyone in focus and gives the students another way of interpreting the lesson plan! So far so good!
Hi Michael,
How do you plan on using a challenging student as an icebreaker?
Patricia
If you know you have a student like this and you have made the conversation with them to let other student have and oppertunity to speak can you use them as and ice breaker? or someone who if you know they have the information correct to be able answer the question to get other students on the right track.
Hi Deborah,
I hear you loud and clear. Students need to realize they are in college, and any material covered in class is fair game on a test.
Patricia
Patricia
I agree with you totally. The students who feel they have this much control then run to the Department Chair and Dean with complaints. I guess it depends on how the upper management handles the complaints. Sometime for what ever reason this make the student feel they have more control in the classroom then they should.
I have also had the students who state that I paid a lot of money for the class and you should teach me what I need to know. They want to know what exactly will be on the test. I tell them that the they are responsible for the chapters we convered and anyother material I gave during the lecture. Then after the exam the students will state you told us to know ______ and you did not even test on it. My reply then is then you were prepared for the exam.
Debbie
Hi Deborah,
The student does not run the class. The instructor does. This particular student that believes he/she has the right to influence how the lecture and instruction should be delivered, should be listened to because he or she may have some good ideas, but the instructor has to make it known to the student that they control things.
Patricia
Patricia
I have tried that with students. Sometimes this backfires because the other students razz them that they are the teachers pet. Sometimes it is hard to find the balance of a leadership role and the student feeling that they have more control of the class and its content. I have had a student feeling they have the right to influence how the lecture and instruction should be delivered.
Debbie
Hi Deborah,
Have a private conversation with the student. Make it known that you want to hear what they have to say, but they must give others an opportunity as well. I also like to give these type of students leadership positions.
Patricia
