Hi Jeremiah,
Some classes have massive amounts of material to cover, and if the class is not managed well by the instructor a lot of time can be misused/wasted. I really like how you explain to your students the way to accomplish a large tasks by setting aside blocks of time.
Patricia
Hi David,
Absolutely! Instructor you are at the top...lead the classroom in every area.
Patricia
Hi Robert,
Students must ensure an environment that is conducive to learning. Students need and want structure.
Patricia
Hi Heather,
We must do all we can, of course, with the effort from the student to help them succeed. It should be our main focus to help everyone get to their success.
Patricia
The environment of the classroom, lab, or other educational setting has a direct influence on the effectiveness and efficiency of the learning process. Failing to consider the environment of the instruction could cripple the educational plan before it gets of the ground and, then, failing to use solid classroom management in application will undermine the plan that is employed.
Classroom management requires me to take a very diverse group of individuals with varying backgrounds and make them successful. I have to be clear in course requirements and make the relevancy of the course topic clear. I have to get them to buy in from day one. Furthermore, I maintain a standard of classroom policies and ethics to provide a common place for very different individuals. Their success in classroom will help them be successful in their education and future career.
Hi John,
Laughter is fine, but never let it dominate the classroom. Students are there to learn, therefore as instructors, we must ensure an environment that is conducive for learning.
Patricia
Hi Kari,
I felt bad just reading this response. I know the students must feel awful. Sad to say, they are certainly instructors as you have described. They are really setting a poor example. I do not tolerate this type of instructor at my institution.
Patricia
Class management is vital to student success because it not only sets the standard by which the class will be conducted but it also prepares the students for the hierarchy they will face in the workplace environment.
If you cannot manage your class, your students may very well lose faith in you as a competent instructor, and then you've lost them. When working with other instructors, you know those instructors who really know their stuff but are so disorganized and have ungraded tests/papers all over the place from weeks ago, some things are saved on a flashdrive, while others are at home, and they can't find their keys to go home at night! I can't imagine getting that far behind--it is so hard to catch up even from just a couple of days!! You can appreciate them for their knowledge but you wouldn't want to take their class, so just imagine what their students feel like!
This has been my experience also, David. We have all ages and levels of maturity, commitment, etc. We have the occasional personality problem as well. The "disruptors" must not be allowed to wreck the environment for everyone else. A slight deviation from the subject, a little humor, etc. can be a help and build rapport, but this can't be allowed to dominate the classroom. A good plan can also help us to be flexable when it would add some welcome variety to the subject matter.
Hi Sharon,
Students are first and foremost. Foolishness should not be allowed.
Patricia
Hi Joe,
It is the instructor's job to control the environment. Disruption should not be tolerated; it is very unfair to others.
Patricia
Proper classroom management allows for a environment that is condusive to learning. Allowing disruptions from individuals or groups, takes away form the learning process and can hinder the more timid student.
Class management allows the instructor time to focus on the learning needs of the students instead of watching the class being derailed by distractions and disorderly behaviors.
The often accelerated nature of these classes makes the organization aspect of class management essential. With such a lengthy list of topics and skills to present in such a limited time, keeping the information organized early makes it easier to determine timing for your topics and allows you to note any interdependencies that may require you to present topics in a certain order. This cascades into how you outline the course, and even trickles down into how you write your exams.
The other aspect of organization that is essential for you to not only utilize but teach as well is breaking tasks into manageable pieces. I've often encouraged students not to set aside five hours to work on a research paper, but instead to set aside an hour to research the overal topic, a half hour to select their main points, a half hour researching each of these points, and so forth. It often gets them to have a much easier time of tackling this large task.
Hi Christopher,
Absolutely, you must practice what you preach. The tone should be established on Day 1. If you miss the importance of Day 1, it is hard to make an establishment from that point.
Patricia
Also today education is so expensive, if they feel that the classroom is out of control they will feel cheated and not continue.
Hi LeeAnn,
Super response! You get it! As an instructor we must ensure an environment that is conducive for learning.
Patricia
My focus is on the success of my students as they continue in their studies at the school as well as providing the best preparation for their career choice once they graduate. Leadership, consistency, reliability, encouragement, as well as flexibility (willingness to be open to new ideas and student suggestions) is what I strive to offer them. I really liked the two questions that Thomas DeLong offered in the video clip(within Module 4): (1)"How do people experience you?" and (2)"How do people experience themselves when they are with you?" I think these are valuable questions to ask ourselves as instructors and our goal is to get the student to the "upper right box" utilizing effective class management techniques.
