Capturing a student attention
When there is a talkative student in my class, when I am giving a lecture or asking for class participation, I just walk over by that student and stand there for a few seconds; then I walk around the whole class so it did not look I intentionally pick that student out.
Hi Thomas,
Get administration involved because by disobeying a policy, they are now violating the conduct code too. At my institution, we will suspend a student for this type of behavior and they have the right to appeal; student may or may not be granted the right to continue with school.
Patricia
It is not necessarily one student , but how to handle the situation as it arrises. Is it wise to remind them at the beginning of each class? Or have a reminder to turn off the phones written on the board before each class? It seems that they just honestly forget to turn them off before class begins , and I can easily forget to remind them as well.
Hi Thomas,
Extenuating circumstances constitute an emergency, such as medical needs, hospitalization, death, fire, etc. Have a firm conversation with this student about the importance of being in class and this type of behavior will not be tolerated on the job...simply end it.
Patricia
What constitutes an emergency? How do you stop a student from getting up and removing themselves from class every 2 minutes?
You can have that policy , but that does not mean the students will actually turn it off or not text message. The question is , what to do when that situation arrises?
To stop a talker, I usually ask the student by name, if he/she has a question. That works, but for some, only a short time. Stopping my lecture usually works. The talking student quits talking; often other students will jump in tell everyone to be quiet.
Our policy is very similar to yours all cell phones must be on silent. If a student has an emergency they must excuse themselves from class and take care of it outside the classroom in order to minimize the disruption of the class.
Our school has the no cell phone policy, and it is so needed in this age of electronics to keep class time on track. In most cases students turn off cell phones or select the silent mode. We have a break every 50 minutes. At that time students are free to use cell phones outside of the classroom.
Hi Marlin,
Wow, at your institution students are allowed to text and talk on their cell phone. At my institution it is a no cell phone policy during instructional time.
Patricia
That is a bit brutal to ask the student to share the text message with the class. does the student ever become angry and walk out of class?
My school has a policy that cell need turned off during class. I love the policy. Saves time and energy.
One of the first things I do when starting a class is emphasize that when I talk, they listen. If they want to talk, raise their hand and I will give them that privalege. It is very easy after that to simply stop tal;king whenthey are talking, to each other, on the phone or even texting. Normally that makes the point and we can continue. I do not hesitate to do it again with the request that they share with us, even their text message. This tends to be a bit brutal but it is very effective and long lasting.
Marlin
Hi Vanessa,
What a tactful way to handle a talkative student, and I am sure the talkative student got your drift.
Patricia
