Dealing with unattentive students?
what ideas do you have about the student who knows everything youre already lecturing about?
Hi Allyson,
This can be so challenging when you have someone taking your course that is at a high education level. You handled this well and certainly put the doctor in his place professionally and tactfully.
Patricia Scales
Joseph, I actually have a physician taking my course right now. He tends to know everything of course and will try to teach what he knows. Unfortunately the rest of the class is not on his knowledge level as I'm sure you can understand. I allow the doctor to speak and then when he is finished I make a statement like, "Thank you Doctor for your input. That is correct, but you must remember that that information is above what today's lecture is about. We will be discussing that later on in chapter x. Do you have any questions about todays material?" It usually works, and the good doctor will stay quiet atleast for the next 10 minutes or so.
If they are verbal about their knowledge, I would acknowledge that I had an appreciation for what they already know and that they might view this course as a refresher. I would alert tmem to in being attentive, they might even pick up a new tip about the concept that would enlighten them further. I would not dismiss their knowledge.
First, determine if the student thinks he knows everything about the subject, or does he actually have a great deal of knowledge. A student that thinks he knows everything and is disruptive or inattentive needs to be counseled. It is better to help/stop the behavior early before it reflects on the student through adverse grades or worse, begins to degrade the performance of others. A student who actually has a great deal of knowledge will perhaps make a great asset to you. If not, sometimes it is enough to remind the student that his/her gifts don't extend to all and give them some more advanced personal work to accomplish. They can't be allowed to disrupt the learning of other students.
Hi Joseph,
Have a firm conversation with the students about respecting you as the instructor and their classmates who may not know the material as well. Make the know-it-all as an assistant when you can. Know-it-alls like to be helpful so that they can showcase all that they know.
Patricia
