I think it comes down to the individual student. Is he/she challenging because they don't understand? Is he/she challenging because they don't feel challenged in the course material. I found that one on one interaction works well alot of the time.
Great communication between students and instructors is the key to success. The students must be aware of the how and why we test and grade the way we do. Keeping the students aware of the class goals/expectations, material deadlines, schedules, activities, progress and any other relavent items is a good start to developing a good raport with your class. Let's not forget to include the personal aspect. A simple "how are you today?" is a geat way to gauge a students initial emotional state whether they answer or not. Once i have established a good raport I find that most situations are not really all that challenging especially if the student believes that you care about their success.
I agree, that sometimes the students will bark back, but normally, when I do it "publicly" the students either have their computers on, while no one else does, or has their phone in their hands, or my favorite, the phone rings.
I think that privately it sometimes loses the effect that they did something wrong. They just nod their heads and leave.
Hi Karen,
I try to make it a pratice to speak with students privately. I try to avoid giving students a reason to bark back. Sometimes when you confront students in front of the entire class, the students want to bark back.
Patricia
Listening to the students works. Normally once they are told in front of the other students that they need to be respectful to both the professor and the class, they stop.
Hi Mark,
It is imperative to make known the objectives and expectations on Day 1. I like the way you gauge the students input, what a clever idea! Adults like to know that their input matters.
Patricia
I find that a complete lay out of the objectives and expectations on the first day will end this 99% of the time. This sets the mood and direction of the course. I also like to find out what input and questions they have about the course on the first day, then ask them for their input midway through the course and then at the end of course. This keeps them continually thinking on the objectives, possible improvements and lets them know that they can actually help change things by their input. I feel that by involving the students totally in the class curriculum and offering ways to help this does help those problem children (Adults)on the right track and also gives them a way to voice their opions without punnishment.
Wow! With all the technological devices, we as educators have to become even more creative with our techniques for monitoring cheating.
Patricia
Dealing with cheating students; we have caught students asking to go to the restroom and discovered they were texting "old buddy" for answers. then he would go out and send them the answer. Now we have students put the phones in a box at the front of the room on test days
Hello Richard,
Students like to be listened to. Exactly what do you mean when you say the students never should have been there? We as educators must be open minded and give everyone a chance.
Patricia
Like everyone else, I try to listen to them. There are a few I've flunked because they never should have been here. Others I've taken aside and asked what I can do to help, and in a couple of cases they were so glad somebody listened to their problems that they stuck with school. The angry ones--I've written about them elsewhere--are a challenge and maybe the best you can do is hope they don't blow up in your face. Don't expect the class to help if they do.
Curran,
Whenever students know that you care about them, they look at things from a more graceful perspective, and they will try to do whatever is necessary to please you. Once a student trusts you, you fully gain the student in all areas.
Patricia
Within the boundaries of being appropriate you need to reach the student the need to know that you care about them and that they can trust you, this way you and they are dealing with the stiuation not you dealing with them
Hello Cynthia,
Great way to address policies/procedures! There is nothing like knowing right off the bat! Students appreciate it whenever things are made known to them up front.
Patricia
I address policies and procedures right up front and explain their purpose. I find that this eliminates students complaints about the policies in class.
I also encourgae communication with my students by reminding them regularly that if they have any question, to let me know and how to reach me. I think that this lets the students now that I open to hear their thoughts about the class, no matter what they are.
Hi Jennifer,
What an awesome activity, "Share Your Thoughts" it is kind of like a suggestion box. Students love it when their opionions, ideas, suggestions, recommendations, etc. are taken into consideration. We can learn a lot from our students, just as our students can learn from us.
Patricia
I have implemented a class activity called "Share Your Thoughts", I have a folder that is labled in the class and they dropped their thoughts into the folder. Every Friday I instruct the students to share their thoughts, I allow them to go to the computer lab and type them so they can put them in the folder. I prefer them not to put their names on them that is strictly optional. This activity helps minimize disruption especially when their is tention in the air. This activity also helps me tailor my teaching skills by recieving positive and negative feedback from the students. They respond better knowing that I care about their thoughts and my way may not always be the best way because I do take their advice sometimes to better the class.
Hello Douglas,
I absolutely love class discussion, simply because class discussion brings your introvert students out of their shell. Sometimes students just want to be listened to, and class discussion is a good teaching method to use to listen to your students.
Patricia
I agree, class discussions tend to loosen up the class, and lets the students know that you are willing to listen to them. Trust is what a good class is built on.
Hi Marie,
You hit the nail on the head, challenging students do come in all forms, but you always confront the student privately, otherwise things may get real ugly.
Our students typically have a lot of issues that they bring to school with them, therefore you never know what is causing a student to behave the way he or she does. Talk to the student to find out what's going on.
It is important for students to realize the importance of professional behavior. Every opportunity I get to talk about appropriate behavior, I take advantage of it.
Challenging students love to be paid attention to, and if you give them a leadership role they tend to have very positive behavior.
If a particular instructor has a good rapport with a student, and you are unable to reach the student, have the instructor who has a good rapport with the student, talk to the student.
Patricia
