Dealing with difficult students
Greetings Everyone.
As we all know, we may encounter a student who has always been on the "A" grade but trying to ask questions with the checklist mentality. Some examples include
a) The syllabus didn't tell me what color font to use?
b) My previous instructor never told me APA uses italics
c) I never knew that I should cite sources in the discussion forums
d) You are not from this country to know how to write or speak English.
So, regardless of how professionally you maintain your tone, the messages are insatiable to the student. So, how do you deal with such difficult students whose questions?
Thanks.
Sriram Rajagopalan, PhD, PMP
I agree their are times when dealing with students you feel caught up in the flow more then the goal. With the position we hold we keep a system of structure and when its broke we feel as if students are off task, we all need reassurance at some point. Having accountability is a great way of reassurance, and usually a grat method is through documentation (Syllabus).
I do not have a perfect right answer that will work every time for this discussion. However, the main way one may deal with a difficult student who puts you in an uncomfortable position due to his or her questioning is by having an indirect discussion with the whole syllabus with your class. This means that you clarify the expectations in your syllabus and the assignments required in a clear and authoritative tone. You also have to speak to them about what is required in the assignments and what the rubric looks like. If students have questions after you have spoken to them about your expectations then you have something to rely on and tell them that you explained what was needed from them when you discussed the syllabus.
I agree with the posts here. There are always days when you feel like if one more student asks you a silly question you are going to scream. I have had days like that where I am just so frustrated because students are asking questions about things I have already covered, are not using the resources provided to them and seem to want me to do the work for them. Then I step back and remember not to make assumptions because I don't always know what is prompting them to ask these questions. They all made the choice to become a student because it is part of their overall goal. They want to be successful. It is up to us, as intsructors, to help guide them along that path and help them find the tools to be successful. For new students it can be really overwhelming and intimidating and if we are one of the first instructors they have we really have a chance to empower them and build up their confidence so as they progress through their degree program they can find the answers to these questions on their own. (Having documentation of some sort as a back-up to refer them too always helps too).
I have learned over the years, to referre students to their student conduct requirements. I support students who know their rights and strictly following their student hand book. I do not bend the rules of either book.
I try to remind the students that the information is there for them to resourse. It is a good learning experience to do so, I continue and one that will excellerate thier career when mastered.
Hi Sririam,
If you are teaching them to write using APA format then I would keep referring them to the APA Manual section that deals with their question. Some students ask questions just to kill time, others to challenge and some just because they don't get it. So I handle each situation individually and try to be as supportive as possible but in the end it is still up to them to comply with the requirements of the course and be able to write in APA format.
Gary
