I find that that the 18 to 20 year old student is the most challenging student. they have yet to mature and experience life's lessons. The importance of the material being presented tends to have little or no effect on their status as responsible adults.....
To deal with capturing their attention, I have older students share their successes and failures in life... The older students explain what they plan to gain from the course and how it will have a positive effect in their daily life
Hi Allen,
I have a simple rule, during class time students are not to get on the computer to check their emails, Facebook, and/or a myriad of other things, otherwise they will be excused from the room and marked absent as well as all assignments for that day will be marked 0.
Patricia
Hi Shirley,
We have to be as creative as possible to keep our students alert, especially the evening students. They enter the classroom with great exhaustion.
Patricia
I teach at a college level and I throught the minute test idea was a good one. Some of my students come to class after working 8 hrs and often try to sleep through. This idea of asking them to "take a minute and answer a few questions on what we were just discussing" may keep them alert.
I teach a Intro to computers class and the tool, computer, is a distraction. The student needs to check their e-mail, Facebook, and/or a myriad of other things during class to pass the time. I merely explain that if they have the time to do those activities, it is fine. However, if they are ignoring classroom discussions their success in the class comes into direct question.
I then start a class discussion on a topic and focus on those who rarely contribute. I don't wait for volunteers to join in, I choose those who 'need' to get involved in classroom learning.
Before I forget, I teach at the college level.
Finger pointers are my most frustrating student as well. I was a student myself and would never have blamed anyone trying to educate me for my shortcomings. It is very dificult to understand when these students begin singing their blame song, do they feel that the problem takes care of it's self when there is someone at fault? I try to help them to see that no matter who has done the wrong thing, the work must still be done and they are still the one accountable for the work. Perhaps next time the work is so important they will not leave it to chance.
So many of my students are parents so i allow them to leave their phones on vibrate on their table but they must leave the room to text or talk! One chance and it's off. I am pretty active and i can really get excited so it is unbelievable to me that a students could even fall asleep. I feel it is just a way to tell me that i haven't captured that students.
These are great ideas! I do not have the problem with sleeping students, but cell phones are always an issue. The students are given a 10 minute break every 50minutes...my phrase to them is "get your fingers moving over break, because when class is in session, cell phones are off". It seems to be working!
Hi Kristy,
It is certainly challenging whenever a student really and truly have no interest in being in school and they are there because someone is making them. We have to do our best to encourage and motivate them as much as we can.
Patricia
Hi Maureen,
Instructors will vent to each other. Do not let the frustration by others lower your motivation. Be open minded and give it your best.
Patricia
I am new to teaching and will begin in a few weeks. A few of my colleagues were just discussing their frustrations with me today regarding these issues. I appreciate the information that was shared, and I hope that it will assist me when I begin teaching!
The most challenging student I have had is the one just this week that told me he is only in school because his mother made him! After many questions I found something he is interested in and I am trying to help him apply this to his project. I have asked him to share some of his findings with the class next week.
I am new to education in the academia setting and these are certainly suggestions for sleeping and cell phone use and texting that I can use if necessary in future courses. This is also one of the two situations whereas I can get up and walk around to the area in the class where I observe this inappropriate behavio in order to alleviate the behavior without disturbing the entire class.
-Beverly
One of my most challenging students falls into the "center stage" category. He has had a life full of experiences and always seems to have a comment or story to contribute. He brings a lot of energy to the classroom but I find that classroom discussions often get derailed because of him. As I've observed him it seems to me like he feels the need to prove that he is smart and well-versed. In that light, I take many oppurtunities to compliment him when I see him performing well. He flourishes under praise and is thereafter much more centered and seemingly secure making him less obtrusive in class.
The silent ones are the ones I watch and try to see if there is something they are looking at on the web that could spark a conversation. It seems once you do get their trust they may still be quiet yet they will engage in conversation when asked. As for those that share alot, there is a time to talk a time to let others talk. As an instructor I have to take control and make sure they do not monopolize the classes time. Peg
I also have had students that lie to me about why they didn't complete their homework. I had one that had a medical emergency almost everyday. He was finally kicked out of school for his behavior.Peg
I don't allow cell phones on during class. If the student does need to accept a phone call. I have them step outside to talk.Peg
I have a difficlut time dealing with those that fall asleep. They blatantly put their head down. I can see if they worked all day but most of the time they are not the ones with jobs. Usually I call them out on it. I don't embarrass them but go up to them and ask them what is going on.Hopefully I will find the reason they are so tired.
After teaching as long as I have it has become easy to determine the different personalities of my students. I can see who is the leader. That is the first person to win over. Also look forthe quiet one the one that gets lost in the suffle. Observation is truly an aid in teaching.
The two types I have difficulty with are the completely silent ones who sit in the back and don't want to be bothered (that was me in college and law school), and the ones who feel the need to constantly share their personal anecdotes.
Regarding the first ones, usually getting them involve in some sort of small group activity or getting them to share their own story works well.
With regard to over-sharing, usually a gentle reminder that we're on a schedule, or asking them to stay during a break and talk about their experience seems to work. Nobody wants to miss a break.
