Challenging Students come in many forms. Disruptive, angy, class clown etc. Each student in these catagories must be dealt with individualy. To confront a challenging student in front of anyone else only make the problem worse.
You need to go to a neutral place and have a discussion. You must be interested and non judgemental. A lot of the time the behavior has nothing to do with you or the school. It is a carry over behevior from childhood.
Let the student tell you what the complaint is.
You won't hear all of it but if you listen you will find something to agree on with the student.
Get the student to commit to a better standard of behavior. If they can really see a benefit to them in the immediate future, the chances are good that the behavior will change. Not all at once but that is a good start.
I have found that sometimes, given a small leadership role, these students turn it around and become role models. It is always worth a try.
If these measures do no work, do not hestitate to talk to your resource people or manager and inlist help with the student. When you cannot reach them, it is quite possible someelse on staff can help.
Marie
Cara
I think it is a great idea! At times, students will tell each other things that they will not tell the instructors. Implement this idea to determine how effective it will be.
Patricia
Hi Cara,
We have peer tutors at my institution, and the students love this group of students. Sometimes a student can explain a concept to another student a different way other than the instructor's way, and the student's light bulb comes on. It is beautiful to see another student helping their classmate.
Patricia
I have a new idea. What do you think about having the students to elect a "class spokesperson?" This person would listen to other student's ideas and feedback and report to the instructor. This is not individual issues like grades and homework assignments, but rather issues that involve the class as a whole. Issues such as disruptive students that interfere with the learning process of the other students. The students at issue will know what their peers think about the behavior. Those kinds of issues.
That sounds like a fantastic idea! Not only will it reward the more knowledgeable students, it will foster team building. I think peer mentoring is a good strategy.
Mike,
Absolutely, you better let a student know what is expected of them on DAY 1. The expectations give the students a road map to follow so that they know where they are headed. Students want to know their direction.
Patricia
It is impotant to let the students know what is expcted of them up front and to get their buy-in. After that buy-in has been established student are often nmore effective learners.
Hello Glenda,
It is always best to find out what's going on with a student. Once you have discovered what the problem is, generally, as educators we can come up with a good plan, if you can not come up with a solution always utilize your resources. I have found at my school, we have plenty of personnel that we can utilize as resources.
Patricia
I have found that talking to students about the problems they are having and then coming up with a plan helps to work out problems they are having in class.
Glenda
Hi Laurie,
If the class is fast paced, students feel as though they MUST attend, otherwise they will be lost when they return. I have tried the team approach in four hour classes and funny how time flies when students are having fun. I've had students to say, "It's time to go already."
Patricia
I am in complete agreement, Hortencia. A fast paced classroom keeps everyone interested, alert and (it appears) more willing to get involved.
Students love friendly competition so breaking the four hour classes up into team "challenges" assists in this area. There is an immense amount of learning going on, the students are having fun and the time flies! They are almost disappointed when class is over.
The students with complaints are those who do not attend class and miss "participation" points. As I clearly review the syllabus on the first day of class and again at midterm, the complaints are few and the students assume responsibilty and "own" the grade that they have "earned." I, of course speak to students privately as soon as their grades start to slip or if they appear troubled.
Hi Karen,
I like your methodology! How clever it is to find out from students the areas they have problems with and the areas they are excited about learning. These findings can certainly allow you to tailor your lessons plans.
One of my favorite mottos, "A student doesn't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Adult learners love a caring attitude too.
Patricia
On the first day in my patterndrafting classes I have a short open discussion with the students and each student talks about what areas of drafting they are worried about or have had problems with in the past.Most students are a little intimidated when first joining technical classes. I also have them share what areas of drafting they are excited about learning. This info really helps me as an instructor becuse I can enhance my demos and lectures to address their needs and it also lets my students know that I care about whats important to then as adult learners in a diverse classroom environment
Hello Anne,
Your first day presence and presentation are extremely important. The first day, the instructor should demonstrate warmth, friendliness, caring, etc., and the instructor should also make it known in a very subtle, yet friendly manner that he or she will not tolerate any drama. In addition, the instructor should let the student know he or she will do everything to help them succeed. Always, end the day with a positive upbeat ending.
Patricia
One strategy is for the instructor to really have an air-tight plan for each class session so that if anything goes awry the instructor is not thrown off-course. Objectives for each class session should be clear, and the instructor must communicate a strong sense of caring and humanity within a structure. Handing back assignments in a timely fashion and with a rubric can clearly tell a student how he or she was evaluated, which can reduce complaints. In terms of challenges, an instructor must let the class know from the first day that he or she deeply respects everyone's efforts and the point at which he or she is starting. Letting them know also with a smile that 'bad drama will not be tolerated' may be an excellent preventive.
Hello Tammy,
You are right on point! At my educational institution my instructors must stay 30 minutes extra to take care of students at the end of class. You will be amazed what is shared with you at the end of class if you provide time for the students. Things that have been shared with me at the end of class, such as, needs tutoring, wants to talk about personal problems, wants to tell about an annoying student, wants to make me aware of cheating students, etc.
Patricia
An instructor needs to have time at the end of class for any problems that the students have with the material. Time should be offered to the class that indicates that any personal complaints can be addressed with the Instructor in private.
Hi Linda,
Tell me what tactics you picked up from this book. Do you used any of the practices from the book? How has the book made you an effective teacher?
Patricia
Linda,
An easy read on the subject is 'the Accelerated Learning Handbook' by Dave Meier. His web site is www.alcenter.com Enjoy.
Hi Becky,
I am pleased that you were able to get some great ideas from the course. I find it hard to believe your institution does not have policies in place regarding cell phones, late students, food and drinks, etc.
The policies at my institution are as follows:
*Cell Phones-Cell phones must be turned off; if the cell phone goes off, the student MUST leave the room, and it counts as an absence and any work due or done on that day will be graded a "0".
*Late students-students have a 10-minute grace peroid to get to class; if the student is late
the student will be marked tardy. A tardy consitutes as one hour of missed time; if the student has more than eight hours of missed time, the student will be withdrawn from the course.
*Food and drinks-violation of the conduct code; the student will be suspended, however, with the right to appeal.
You need to talk to the appropriate personnel to get some policies in place.
Patricia
