Disruptive Students in Class
I have two classes in which there are more than one student who have no interest in the subject matter or learning the material. The entire class is spent making smart remarks and trying to get the attention of the other students who are trying to learn. As the term progresses their behiavior has gotten worse despite attempts to calm them down and respect the other students. I have tried many of the techniques discussed in these forums, without positive results. Any suggestions?
Kenny,
These are probably coomeon resons students loose focus. Our goal is tackle their disinterest with something effective and meaningful to get them back on track, such as questioning, discussion (in class or the personal kind), or some physical change of activity to get them reanimated and engaged with the flow of the class.
Barry Westling
I find that most times when a studnet is engaged, there is one of two issues, they have personal problems that have them side tracked, or they are crying out to be challanged!
Hi Vickie:
That's a good strategy. Something else that may work is assigning groups that force the students to work with other people in a collaborative fashion.
Regards, Barry
Hi Steve:
This sounds like the perfect topic for a discussion amongst your students. Depending on how creative yo uwanted to be, you could create scenarios where a student is made to act in an unprofessional manner, then shown the consequences of those actions.
Regards, Barry
Hi Maria:
I use the workplace as an example as well. Students will say "but I'm in school, I wouldn't do that at work". Subtle ways to quite disrutivevstudents include standing near them, waiting until they stop, or even having them stay after class the same amount of time of disruyption. If the whole class seems distracted, time to change gears and move to another activity (on the same topic), just another way of presenting it.
Regards, Barry
Hi Stephen:
Sometimes, the adult students are worse than kids. Poor upbringing, bad manners, feeling entitled, oblivious that they are distracting you and/or others - these are just a few reasons (other than just plain awful behavior) that students behave and act out. If they can get a glimpse of the importance and opportunity they have to really shine, they might be more responsible. Can a leopard lose it's spots?
Regards, Barry
I find a lot of success in pulling students aside (during break time for instance) and respectfully explaining the cost and consequences of their behavior.
Hi Mike:
Or, on the fly, announce to the class that you will ask some questions, and have everyone participate in the answer.
Regards, Barry
Maybe try talking to the students on a private matter, and ask them to try and interact in the course
Disruptive students usually sit together in a group. A strategy that I have found that curtails a situation where more than one disruptive student is in class is to separate them by assigning seats for the whole class.
Absolutely. My experience has been that students behave exactly the same in the workplace as they do in class. I have also noted that the usual response to this observation is resentment! "Oh no!" they cry..."it'll be different!" From the feedback I get from the industry---no, it's not different. Folks come here to improve their lives, and I am dedicated to help them achieve that end. But just as some do not possess the necessary skills to be successful in the classroom, some do not possess the necessary skills to be successful in the real world. Sadly, I am not sure how to address this. Any ideas?
I always have to remind my students that if they are going to behave in the workplace the way they do in the classroom, they will not be able to keep their jobs nor do they have the chance for career advancement.
Hi Steve:
I try to never let a disruptive student distract me or the class. I move from the level of ignoring to talking to them at a break. My rule is we have to come to an understanding regarding my expectations in a class. If they persist, they missed the message, and I direct them to the Dean.
Regards, Barry
This is a common problem, but I feel it has several different causes. True, some just aren't interested because they are enrolled for the wrong reasons, while others may not fully grasp what is being presented so they don't (or won't) concentrate. You are correct about the "don't treat me like a child" attitude. So far, the best approach I have found is to speak to them and discover just why they are there--what is the problem they have with the class--and how can I help them? Beyond that,if they persist with disruptive behavior, maybe expulsion from the class is the only reasonable choice until something changes in their life.
I think we have become way too tolerant of disruptive students for fear of possibly "hurting their feelings??" This is post-secondary education and they must understand that people are paying money to learn and they do not have the right to take that away. I would ask them to stay after class and tell them this and also tell them that admin is aware they are having a problem and next time they will be asked to leave the class.
Robert, I've sometimes found that if I use small groups, randomly assigned and lasting the whole term, then I can break them into those groups on the spur of the moment and give them a surprise assignment. Then, I assign roles to each group's members, including observer. The observer must remain silent and record the activities of the other members, reporting on that later. Disruptive students make good observers.
So as not to embarrass them, I talk to the students in private about how they affect the class. This is verbal warning. If this does not work, I write them up and make them understand that the report goes on file and may be used to have them removed from class if they continue.
Ironically, they would even ask me why I treat them like highschool students and they demand to be treated like mature individuals (sound familiar?). There are also some who would tell me that they can do whatever they want because they are paying for it, to which I my response is, "So are your classmates." I make them realize that others are paying to learn, and it's unfair to them if their learning process is disrupted because of other students' behavior. So far, this works.
There are always going to be individuals who do not have any interest in the course but have to fill their credits for their degree. For the students who "have to take my class", but have no interest in the subject, I try to put myself in their shoes and see what would interest me in the subject. Their degree somehow ties into what I am teaching or they would not be in my class. Try to bring in a "hook" or story that would relate to their degree and show them how what I am teaching is relevant to their field.
Try being silent to get their attention. I do this when needed. It gets to the point when their peers will actually help to keep a student from being disruptive.
