Get Your Students Hired
Rules say none, but if done right i think students can sometimes help eachother understand and teach eachother.
Hi Jesus,
You are right. The more students are engaged the higher the retention of content along with increased attendance. So we instructors need to work hard to make sure we plan well and deliver valuable course content.
Gary
As an instructor you should make sure that your lecture is never boring. The first thing a student wants to do is anything but listen to a boring lecture. In order to keep the atention of the student make your lecture as intresting as possible. If a student starts to talk I ask them to share their opinion with the class if it related to the subject at hand if not they must answer some questions that I will ask them. This will tell me if they are listening or not. I try to not put them on the spot but they get the idea when they can't answer the question. The more exciting the lecture the more the student listens and participates
Hi Alicia,
Way to go with your student behavior management plan. Cell phones and computer useage are challenges in almost all classrooms. As instructors we have to keep on top of how we are going to keep students engaged. I like your idea of moving them around and separating them from their computers for a while.
Gary
Rather than having talking during class, I have had more problems with students being on their face book page on their laptop, rather than using it to take notes or working on the assignment we are doing.( Or even trying to show their neighbor!) So this disrupts their attention and their classmates! I regularly call on students to review material we have just called, make them organize into groups for discussion so they have to leave their laptop behind & also circulate the class.
Hi Mark,
With career college students you have such a variety of backgrounds that you can use your students as resources. I like to call on their experiences when ever I can to help round out the course content.
Gary
I agree, rules say none, But.........
The instructor being willing to let the class veer off on a subject can sometimes be a good thing, as long as it is on track with what I am lecturing on.
None off us know it all, we can and should learn from others experiances.
If the idle talk is about the subject matter that is being discussed, then it should be shared openly but if not, then just a polite request of keeping on the subject matter usually will cure the issue.
Teaching is about the class having a set of rules. The majority of students wish to learn. When students talk in my lectures, I stop talking and stare at them. Usually the other students quickly lose patience and tell them to be quiet for me. Having a peer tell them how to follow our rules has a better effect than one person inforcing the rules.
That is a very good idea that if the subject is dull, in relation to the subject have real experience and ask students to participate in group discussion along with that ask them questions it will help them to absorb the lecture better.
I agree if a student is talking in my class. I will stop talking and ask if they have a question. many time a student will have a question and be afraid to ask. The one who is talking will often be asking thier parner a question that others may have on thier mind.
I also like the idea of 15 minute blocks. If the subject I’m covering is dull, that’s about the amount of time it takes to start to lose some of them. I try to break it up somewhat by turning on the lights and passing out related items for them to examine. Passing out some kind of a study guide with area’s to fill in before the lecture also gives my students some thing to keep focus with.
I agree with you that letting the class know in advance that there will be no review of the material before a test is one way of stopping the talking during class. What I have obserbed is that there are students that feel that as long as they listen up during a review they can pass the test. So any lecture or class activties do not matter.I f a review is needed because of the complexity of the material a study guide can be given or a student led review can be done.
Hi Ronald,
You make a good point about establishing yourself as the instructor and class leader. Respect is a two way street and the students have to know you respect them but in return they have to respect you and what you are trying to do as their instructor. It is under your leadership that they will progress in their career development.
Gary
I tell student stright at beginning of class that student here pay good money to learn and while I'am doing lecture on a topic no one talks when I'am talking how ever I will stop and ask questions if you raise your hand This is very disrespectful to other students and they have a hard time hearing me if somone is talking. I do this in a nice way and gain there respect from the start.
I do the same thing! I also let my students know the longer it takes me to finish my activities for the day due to interruptions, the longer they will have to stay (even if it means staying over a bit).
I believe there is a fine line with students talking. Some students aren't as focused as others so they will tend to talk to their neighbor. I've had classes that no matter what we were talking about some didn't want to participate with the group, they would rather hold their own conversations. At times I let them until they get to loud. I do not review for tests so I tell them that I hope they know as much as they think they do. If one or more fails the test it usually wakes them up and they realize they have to pay attention. I have had some classes that have had really good discussions based off of 2 students having their own conversation.
Anthony
Hi David,
In response to your question about test taking. First from a student's perspective there is no good time. Now that we have that out of the way we can talk about the best time.
I have conducted research on optimum learning and test taking times. What I found that mid-morning and early afternoon is the best time for students to focus in on test taking. What I found was that they had gotten over the early morning wake up time and had not gotten hungry for lunch yet. The afternoon time was based upon getting over lunch but fatigue had not yet set in for the afternoon.
A reality factor is that for many teachers they have to test whenever the class meets. For example my class meets from 4 until 10pm. I try to find a time within that frame that will have the students thinking their best. What I have found is that they are most focused around 7-8. I give them a break, get them out of their seats let them get some refreshments and then bring them back for the test. This way they are refreshed physically and mentally. The blood is flowing to their brains so we hope they do well on the tests. Bottom line on testing though is that as you well know you have to work within the confines of your class meeting times.
Gary
This topic is a challenging balance between maintaining classroom control and engaging the students.
I like the idea of 15 minute blocks. If possible, breaking up the class with daily lab helps as well. Does anyone have any feedback on test taking? Do students typically do better at the beginning, middle or the end of the day?
James:
I sometime ask questions that will start a discussion by the students, related to the lecture. My lecture is probably boring.