The center stage student gives me the most challenge in my classrooms. I haven't yet come up with a balanced strategy for dealing with these students, but after this course, I will definitely use the observer method.
Hi Fred,
I understand your points. An instructor should never let a challenging student control the classroom. It is so unfair to the other students.
Patricia
Challenging students can be distracting to the instructor and cohorts for a number of reasons. the reasond for which they cold be distracted can be varied. Perhaps, issues that could be attention related, financial, personal or even psychological. Having them becoming the observer of a group may give them meaning to be in class.
Hi John,
Students with unacceptable behavior should be dealt with quickly and swiftly. Things can really get out of control if the student is not handled.
Patriciia
The most challenging students have been those who are inattentive and are on their phones texting. I tend to walk around class and engage the students in discussions so I make sure my presence is known and usually they will put it away.
The type of student I find most challenging is the student that becomes confrontational with classmates, and the instructor. I usually try to defuse the situtation quickly, not take sides, and try to stay neutral. I still let the class know I am in charge and we are moving on with our class time, any issues that need attention will have to be discussed after class.
My older students who have life experience can be the hardest to teach new things too. I try and put them in small leadership roles that acknowledges them and lets them practice their skills
Hi Lori,
Great response! Even adults need boundaries! Students want and need structure.
Patricia
I totally agree... You will always have students that will do great no matter what but then there are those who are no going to do anymore than what is required. If you keep the bar raised I beleive that you will find that most of them will meet it. I also feel that even though we are talking about adult education you still will find that they like those bounderies.
My most challenging students are my older students who feel that I will let things slide.
Although I am new at the teaching, I have been in the field that I am teaching for over 17yrs. and I know what medical office are needing and looking for and I have taught the externs that were at the sites that I worked.
I may take a little doing but I try to keep the lines of communication open and I make them aware that if they are needing anything I am there to help them and I want to see them succeed.
Nice idea ,John. I thought of having the student write down what he or she would suggest to stop the unacceptable behavior. I would let them know that I have identified him/her as the source of the problem and that I would try the student's suggestions before following my own course of action. I have not actually tried this, of course.
My most challenging students are the students who are inattentive in class. The students in my classes all have many things going on outside of class. My biggest source of inattention is the cell phone.
I am still working on strategies to work with them. I refer them to the school policy, I have tried to make the more involved in class, given them "roles" in the class, used my proximity, etc. Nothing seems like it deters the biggest offenders. Any suggestions?
My most challenging students are the ones who do not accept any personal responsibility for completing their assignments. They do not communicate if they have any unusual circumstances that might prevent them from completing an assignment, they do not come to class and then question their grades because they expect to pass.
I make it clear on the first day of class what the expectations are and students are required to sign a contract that states they understand the expectations. Some of the just need to be reminded but others just do not seem to comprehend that they are adults and need to held accountable.
Hi Dennis,
You have it! These are certainly challenges. At my institution we have a 4-hour seminar that teaches about proper study habits, time management, stress, obstacles, discipline, etc. It sounds like you have strategies to combat these challenges. Keep up the good work.
Patricia
I have found inattentive students to be most challenging for me because I sense that they negatively influence the "energy level" of the class. The attentive students notice their classmates' disinterest and it affects their ability to stay on track with the material being presented. Along with meeting with these challenging students individually, I also use small group exercises which contain assignments that need to be completed within the class period. I also rotate the "group leaders/facilitators" in each of the small group exercises and the 'inattentive' students soon learn that they are going to be the "group leaders" at some point and it seems to improve their attention and accountability.
Hi Alethea,
Great eye opener for students. Some students are solely wrapped up in getting the "A", with little value placed on knowing the skill.
Patricia
My most challenging students are the ones that come in that don't believe in the process just the grade. I have overcame that perception by showing them how the skills learned are more important than the letter grade. People can have excellent grades with poor skills and incredible skills with less than perfect grades. Then end result should be the skills to attain a fantastic job that they value and where they feel they are valued.
Most challenging students are one's who have been out of school a long time and those who come directly from high school and are unclear on life choices. The older student's have to learn to study again;I tutor them in proper study habits and offer my availiability outside class. Younger students often are undisciplined and many do not pay for their education. I find similar strategies work well for both groups.
I teach computer software classes and can usually identify fairly early on the students who have little computer experience in comparison to the others. I encourage them to sit right up by me in order to keep them from constantly inerrupting and relying on the people sitting next to them. That way I can concentrate my efforts on them. If they continue to gravitate toward the back of the room where they can hide their inability and rely on asking their neighbors, then I just insist that they move.
My most challenging student was a student who blamed everyone else for their lack of responsibility in completing their work. The student consistently had an excuse for every late assignment, poor quiz scores, etc. Even after I assigned the student extra credit work to complete because of his/her misfortunes, the student “blew off†the work.
