Know It All Students
Has anyone ever had a student or students who were "experts" and felt the need add to the lecture all the time? what did you do?
Hi Sara,
Wow, such arrogance. If he knew it all he wouldn't have been there. I like how you responded.
Patricia Scales
I once had a student tell me that he would "try to bring himself down to the level of the class." !!! I told him I knew how difficult that would be for him but that I would appreciate his effort!
How I handle an “expert†student depends on the personality of the student.
One method to avoid the expert is to call on specific students to answer the question. If the expert interrupts I will point out that the question was directed at student X.
Another method is to take the student aside during a break or before the next class begins and state your admiration for his/her knowledge, but you would appreciate his/her allowing other students to attempt an answer to my questions and if I receive no answer, I will always call on him/her for help. This must be presented to the student carefully.
Once I shot an expert student who continuously offered his expertise – with an orange squirt gun – it was a water safety class.
