Dealing with dominant students
Ask a question and an engaged and enthusiastic student answers - great answer. Next question same student.
I like the suggestions in the study of giving students color cards and asking for answers from certain color sections. However, I usually ask students to raise their hands when the question requires a specific answer, that way I can say, "Angela you give such well thought out answers I would like to hear from some of the other students. If the discussion requires open ended answers, I might have students get into groups of three and discuss the answer for 3 min. before I ask the groups to contribute their answers in an open forum.
I have a student who always was sure he knew more then most. I was able to defuse the situation by letting him make his statement then asking him politely to educate us by showing us his reasoning. When he backed himself in a corner I would explain to the class that he had a good reason to feel the way he did about the subject,and then would provide the correct information. He has changed in his attitude and contributes with informed information to his credit.
good for you!
I have a student with the same issues in my class. we talked and it seemed better and he backed down for a few weeks... but he's a bully and I can feel his attitude starting up again.
It's very un-nerving at times and I know he picks up on it. His girlfriend is also in the class and there is a "show-off" factor involved.
I try to use their strengths against them by giving them assignments to present information or topics to the class. This tends to set them aside from the rest of the class and to give them the ability to answer my questions on the topic. Since, I have an extensive background in what I teach I can be quite adept at asking questions that without the specific knowledge they can't possibly answer. This tends to settle them down and make them understand we can all learn something from someone else.
Hi Karen,
He is who he is. You nipped it in the bud. I have found with these type of students you must be very firm with them and take care of any inappropriate action on their part immediately. These are the type of students that will try to control the classroom and intimidate the instructor.
Patricia
I had a student a year ago. He was an older students and had the attitude that he was so much smarter that the other students, "The 25-year-olds" as he put it, that it was a waste of his time to allow them to their opportunity to respond to question. An underlying problem here was his attitude towards me.
Although I eventually won his respect, he initially thought he knew more than me. I had to take him aside and speak to him quite forceably about "civility" and my belief in all my student's ability to succeed. He backed down after that but I know that he has had problems with other instructors and continues to have problems with other students. He may be an extreme situtation.
