I have a student that wants to get on her lap top during lecture and then ask questions that were just went over. I had to talk to her during a break about this and she seemed to not even get the fact that it was unacceptable. She did not bring it into class after I talked to her.
I think that those are very good methods, but since you are teaching at a college level you should not have to keep reminding students the things that they are not suppose to do. I mean I am a firm believer in listening that is how you make it though life. you must listen. I would let them know the first day of class then after that rather they decide to follow rules is up to them. You are an instructor not a babysitter and they will soon learn after the first semester when they know they should have done better and they will learn how to pay attention and put those phones away.
Hi Robert,
Our students truly have a lot going on outside of school, and time management is key for them. We have a 4-hour seminar at my institution that all new students must take, and in that seminar there is a large component that teaches students how to manage their time. The seminar has proven to be very helpful for students.
Patricia
My most challenging students are the ones who underestimated the amount of time they'd have to spend on school work. These are the students that become overwhelmed due to their other commitments, i.e. family, job etc. I try to work with these students to a greater degree and make myself available for tutoring as necessary. Most times it helps, sometimes not.
my most difficult students are generally those who like to draw attention in class and constantly interrupt with comments out of place and also those who clearly are not paying attention to the class and are not learning, I have drawn both estrategis different as private conversations and successful tutoring
Our biggest challenge these days is cell phones, ipods, etc..Technology is faster and useful but also a distraction if their use is not the focus of your class. I make general statements about respecting yourself as well as others with respect to technology, and it's time and place.
Hi Sidney,
I have noticed that this type of student really becomes humble when they are presented with various topics that they know nothing about. They tend to act like a totally different student for the better.
Patricia
My most challenging students are the ones who think the "know it already." In reality they're usually knowledgeable about part of the material but need to work on the broader topics. My challenge is to get them on those topics that they don't know.
One of the most challenging type of student is one who has parents in a very similar field. They often feel that do to "life" exposure or asking their parents about something they have all the answer. Plus their way is ofcourse alway right. One of the best ways I have found is to let these students show what they know and to add to their understanding or to guide them in another way that doesn't challenge what they have been told but to allow them to see a different side of it that neither of them might have thought about. Another way is to have guest lectures in on the various topic. Sometimes hearing and seeing others view points give the student an understanding that there maybe many different ways to get there but the end is always the same.
That strategy worked for me. I got the "high achievers" to help the class to get the concepts for the other students. It also helped bring the class together as a group and not separated by different achieving levels.
Hi Kathleen,
Yes, let her know your thoughts about her actions and behavior. I bet she will be receptive to what you have to say in a private setting because you will handle the conversation very professionally and tactfully.
Patricia
Hi Andrea,
I strongly agree! Students will only do what we allow them to do. Send students home if they are out of dress code, reprimand the students accordingly if they break rules. In the real world employers will not put up with them breaking rules. They will lose their job. If instructors cannot enforce rules, deal with them accordingly as well.
Patricia
We have rules that students cannot eat or drink any thing in the classroom except clear water. This can be a challenge for student used to the casualness of public education. I establish the students as already part of their profession and the classroom as a professional environment. This seems to engender student self responsibility. I very rarely have to remind someone and then they are quick to comply
We have rules that students cannot eat or drink any thing in the classroom except clear water. This can be a challenge for student used to the casualness of public education. I establish the students as already part of their profession and the classroom as a professional environment. This seems to engender student self responsibility. I very rarely have to remind someone and then they are quick to comply
That is an interesting observation Elizabeth. Insight is a powerful tool to refine content delivery. As teachers we are on stage, but we do have to be careful that our lecture presentation is not abut us and what we know and how we can entertain and regale the class. We can be fun and serious edutainers, with the focus of the content upon student comprehension and application.
I bet your classes are great fun!
The students who present the greatest challenge to me are the ones who engage in transference. They have issues with authority that have nothing to do with what is happening in the classroom. A current student manifests her transference by inserting her opinion of what I think about her when she is asking a question. I can barely understand what she is asking underneath all the you are so wonderful, but you must think I am stupid stuff laced through out the incomplete sentences of her question.
I have attempted to reassure her of my acceptance. This did not work because she could not receive it and then she wanted more so the behavior escalated. I have tried to just focus upon the objective facts before us this seems to quell some of the rambling and I see her exert control of what she says most of the time.
In the skills development portion of the class, when I come around for feedback she gets very nervous and stiffens up before I speak even though she asked me for the feedback. I have gone to observing her skills from a distance, making brief comments and encouraging the students to give feedback to one another.
Do I need to address this privately with her?
Cell phones...ARRRGGH...the students will try to sneak these in, use them, text, google, etc. I have studied them and can now spot them in a flash. I simply put their phone in a locked drawer until the end of the day.
The most challenging students are those who blatenly defy a rule that was just discussed or continually defy the schools basic rules such as dress code. These students generally have the attidude that they are special and allowed to break rules. This is the fault of every instructor who allowed this behavior.
My most challenging students are those who work and are parents. These students want to ensure that they are doing best for themselves and their families. I have a lot of single mothers with multiple children, so I always explain that if they can get ahead on the homework on a weekend that they will be better prepared in class.
I always suggest that I can copy a few of the anatomy pictures from my anatomy coloring book (such as the lungs, heart and brain) that their children can color while they work on their coding homework so they get to spend time with their family but they also are able to get their work done for class.
Hi Bonnie,
No, I never take their phone away. We have an institutional policy pertaining to cell phones. You may want to implement a rule in your class about cell phones to see if taking the phone away will work or not.
Patricia
