kyra, I think demonstrating to each style the characrteristics creates a good awareness of how others see them.
Michele Deck
I have a few loners in my classes. It is very hard to pull answers out of them. I try to get all of my class out of their chairs at some point however the Loners make it hard to let loose with everything. I feel as though talking to them more one on one outside of class has made them realize I am a human.
I have more jabbers that I would like to count and the way I get them to understand how they come across is getting them to teach a lesson. They will have to get in the front of the class and present something and normally get interrupted and at the end we will discuss what was right and wrong about what happened.
Tina, I'm so glad that you shared your experience with Jabber. It is indeed a challenge to create self awareness in students, but your approach accomplishes that.
Michele Deck
I have had a jabber I think in every class I taught. I found that you need to call these students out in class because, otherwise they just continue to talk throughout the whole class.
At the begining of each semester I hand out the rules and etiquette for my class. I read each of the rules outloud and ask if there are any question. Usually that were your jabber emerges with, but "what if i need to etc.?
Then I ask my student one by one to stand up and introduce them self to their classmates and tell them something uniques about themselves. This is usually the begining of the jabber taking control of the class by being the clown.
In my rules and etiquettes of class I tell them there are no side conversation because your particiapation grade will lose points. I give the student two weeks of class to become adjuusted to being in class, and then the jabber becomes the crying student. "Why did I lose two points off my grade? "Do you remember the rule of no side converstation".
After the students realizes she/he is not going to run the class, I do a group porject. Each project I do I assign a captain of each team, yes; you guessed it the "JABBER" is the captain.
Talk about a new way to have the jabber become a team player. Ms. Cuth "Johnny won't be quiet when I was going over the assignment for the team. " I told everyone to have the work completed by Friday, but no one listens.
This is a hard lesson for some of the "jabber' to experience, but it has help improved them talking less in class.
Radha, your successful approach of pairing with her yourself had given her the ability and confidence to succeed. Thank you for that!
Michele Deck
I currently have a loner. I think because she is the oldest student in the class (50yrs) she prefers to work independently. However I work with her one and one and as a result she realised she is capable of performing at the level of the other students or even higher,although she "has been out of school for 30+years".She has certainly come out her quiet zone and has a lot more confidence
Amy, it is an adjustment for learners when learning a career. They mistakenly think that all they have to do is learn the material long enough to pass a test, and then it can be forgotten. This is all they have known from previous school experience. Personal responsibility is a new concept in connection to learning to some. Teaching that responsibility is just as important as your review tools. You are doing both in your classes, keep up the good work.
Michele Deck
I currently have Loner in class. I find that even though she is extremely intelligent she still looks to me for approval. For example, the other day I handed out a "study guide" for our final exam which was today. She asked me to give her the exact answers and have it worded the way it would be on the exam. I immediately put the accountability back onto Loner. I said no, I would not be able to facilitate that, but if she did the work I would be happy to look at it to ensure she was on the right track. This is also a lab class. Instead of standing directly over her, I give Loner space. I am able to safely watch from a distance without telling her exactly what to do. This allows her to troubleshoot on her own, learn, and retain all aspects of theory.
Shirley, it is a shame that others take advantage of those on task. Thank you for sharing your insight.
Michele Deck
I actually enjoy the loners. I have found that they get frustrated by having to work in groups. They know how they are going to do it, have it all planned out. Other types of learners tend to take advantage of students who are on task.
Lisa, thank you for sharing your experience with all of us. Some are puzzled by this type of learner.
Michele Deck
Yes, I have had a few Loner's in my classes. These are the student's you can give them the syllabus and course outline and let them go. I have noticed that, they do not do well if there is a change in forward motion.
Gayle, I appreciate you sharing your successful strategy. Individualizing classroom instruction is the proof of a great educator.
Michele Deck
Yes, the Loner. This person churned out quality work. So a group setting, I have "allowed" them to work more independently by monitoring their participation levels within their comfort zone, and have encouraged them to participate more within that zone.
Ashley, it is smart to personalize your assignment to Jabber. A great teacher can make the lesson meld with a students personality.
Michele Deck
I find that my Jabber, needs to feel that he is in charge of something and needs to be a leader so I give him duties of that kind, for example lab lead or having him give instructions to the class on a particular project.
cynthia, I'm glad you can recognize the different learners in your class. I hope you have tried the methods for teaching each one suggested in the course.
Michele Deck
I have had avJabber I figured out she wanted all the whys so I spent extra time on whys with her others in the class did not need that. I also for sure have a loner who calls me go reassurance but does not like group study and does so much better alone.
I have had a Loner preiously in lab, and I would do the demonstration as usual. I made an effort not to hover or offer extra guidance unless it was asked for. I find that if I make it clear that I am available if needed,this student worked indepently and apporached me as needed. She performed well.
