Student conduct
Positive classroom environment and good peer groups should be established.
Mutual respect and the ability to work in teams.
I teach in a relaxed style and the great majority of students enjoy this and do very well. I have, however, had students who have been clinically diagnosed with physical problems that also have resultant effects on their behavior. They can't or won't respect other students or myself when it comes to constant loud or inappropriate speech. The school would like to keep them in class but I feel there is a limit to how accommodating we should be as it annoys other students. I'm curious if others have been in this situation.
Peer goups has been something that I've found to work well in the classroom . they seem to police themselves thus the Instructor can consintrate on actualy teaching rather than doing damage control with a class.
Hi Nora,
This is a very workable idea. It is being used in a number of colleges throughout the country.
Gary
This is a great idea, but extra credit is not allowed at my institution...But I'm thinking this could be taken a step further and have a group of students assigned on a rotating basis to be helpers for each class, which could be part of a participation grade or whatever, so even the shy students would HAVE to be responsible for a certain number of classtimes. Since the helping would be one-on-one, it would be less threatening for them, and knowing ahead of time that this would be happening would allow the students to prepare and become confident in their knowledge and skills.
Im a younger guy and i have noticed that it helps me witht he students attitudes and conduct in class. They see that im very approachable and that im very easy to get along with but at the same time when i need to lay the law of the land down they respect it.
Hi Gary,
Good strategy. This also helps students to develop stronger social and interaction skills which will be very helpful once they are out in the workplace.
Gary
I teach Photoshop and it's hard to help everyone in the class, so I tell my students if they help other students in class they will get extra credit, this does a couple of things; they learn the program better by teaching it to another student, it gets students talking that normally wouldn't, the class goes faster.
The quiet,shy students can be drawn out in small group settings. I like the idea that adult learners like getting involved, so an activity based on a short lecture is more effective than a long, boring lecture.
Peer groups are really helpful. Students feel more attached to the school and the class when they have someone to study or discuss the material with. When students form study groups they hold each other accountable.
