As an instructor I set the quideline and make sure they are clear. When I have challenges and complaints, I give out a sheet of paper and allow each student to anonymously express what they feel could be done different. I ask the students to give an example of how they would make changes. After I have read the informaton, I make adjustments. I feel that being clear and letting the students know that they matter and that you take their concern seriously goes a long way.
Hi Nancy,
Addressing complaints is key! Do not let things fester in the classroom. Deal with students swiftly and quickly.
Patricia Scales
Having a clear syllabus and reviewing this with the students at the beginning of the course will help to reduce complaints and challenges. If you have in writing and have explained to them verbally the requirements and expectations of the class, they will have less of an arguement and complaining will not have the rewards they expect.
Offer to address complaints individually. Not allow complaints to be brought up during class since often times that upsets other students that are not complaining and uses up lecture time. Address issues, taking into consideration student suggestions, and getting back with the student/class. If the student has challenges with the class, I encourage them to come to a tutoring session with me.
Making the student to write a complaint will clarify if the complaint is valid or not. In many cases making students to write down their concerns often causes the dismissal of the complaint. If the students purse and submit a written complaint, meet with the student and make a plan to resolve the issue.
Strategies that the instructor can use to reduce student complaints and challenges would first be to listen to the student. If the problem can not than be resolved, have the student to submit the complaint in writing with a dead line. This will allow the student to further think about the complaint to realize if it is worth validating. The instructor should always document of actions that where taken and outcomes.
Hi Rachel,
I like how you have students sign a contract so that they feel more accountable.
Patricia Scales
I think it is important on the very first day of class to define what you expect from students and then continue to reinforce what is expected verbally and by modeling appropriate behavior.
I think the very best way to do this is to have a clear, detailed and thorough syllabus prepared for the students. Then the first day, go over the syllabus in detail with the students and then have the students sign a contract stating that they have both read and understand the syllabus.
Now it is all up to me, I have to conduct myself as I have said I would in the syllabus and continue to reinforce mine and the school's expectations.
Hi Kevin,
Sometimes by putting things in writting, it calms students down.
Patricia Scales
Give time for them to think the process over. Have the give a written page as to why they think it is a problem.
Hi Yolanda,
It is crucial to lay all ground rules, policies, and procedures on Day 1. Let your students know that you are not playing with them.
Patricia Scales
Among the strategies would be a clear, well-written syllabus. We also find that if throughout our program we are consistent there are fewer gray areas; not so much pitting one instructor against another.
To reduce any complaint by students, it would be a good idea to go over the syllabus, explaining course procedures, what are your expectations. Grading policies and protocol. This will avoid any misunderstanding in the future. I alway have a check list for homework. I count how many I collect, announce how many are missing. During the class, I call student, whom did not turn in their homework. This accomplish, two things, students know I am aware of who is not completing their assignment and they can't say, I turn it in, you lost it. However, if they have documentation for not completing an assignment, this will be evaluated, to determine how this student will make-up his or her assignment. I believe I am a fair instructor.
First I make sure that the students are knowledgable of all the policies of the school. I then will go though my classroom expectations and make sure that they understand these expectations and there consequences. Also I will go through the syballus and course outline and make sure that they are clear on all the objectives.
I have been accused of being to strict, I expect professionalism, iniative, and to improve daily in their classes. I have a very low tolerance for students who do not try.
Communication seems to work best for me. Usually the complaints in my classroom comes from a misunderstanding
I've found the best way to address/reduce a student's complaint is to ask how they came to the understanding they did about the issue that upsets them, i.e. complaints about the school/program offerings. If it's not clear in their complaint, then I ask how does the issue affect them directly. I also ask how would they solve this issue. Then in order to reduce the complaint I provide background information on how certain decisions were made and then offer solutions based on what is available and explain the benefits. Most of the time the students understand and the complaint is either reduced or eliminated. Through this process, I've also found that students then trust the information I have provided to them in the past, and so they generally come see me when another issue arises in order to find a solution or get some action on the issue they are facing.
Encourage them and give them motivation as to why certain things are of importance. Make sure everything is clearly understood and students know what your expectations are. Make sure you are available to students who may need extra help or assistance.
In particular, it is helpful on the very first day of class to specifically go over the course objectives, grading system, syllabus, assignments and their due dates.
Additionally addressing how they can contact the instructor with any questions or concerns that come up regarding assignments, content or class attendance can help to resolve issues with individuals before they get large enough to disrupt the flow of class.
During the course an instructor could also make a point of frequently checking in with the students about how they are doing or if they have any stresses impacting their ability to pass the class.
Kathy
While I respect your public forum approach, I would like to share that giving credence to complaints and allowing other student to "keep them under control" is very risky.
Misery loves company and the gregarious nature complainers can set you up for other consequences you may not see coming. Another instructor at my institution posed the question "If you could improve __________ college, what would you do and how would you do it?" for a final project in a business class. The result of the project included several rumors about the instructor complaining about our school and students completing adlibbing what their instructions were and how their instructor perceived the school.
I believe we are to be enthusiastic about our teaching environments at all times and that complaints should be addressed privately.
Lissa J.
