My challenging students are mostly talkative and inattentive ones. I try to get them more involve in class discussions and that seems to work.
1) Chatty Kathies. It doesn't really bother me if people talk, but I know it bothers other students who are trying to listen. I address it in the fashion. Persistant chatterers, I eventually separate during class.
2) Students who are uninterested in the subject matter who actually seem angry that they are not interested! Most courses have some "dry periods" that are tough to get through, but the ones who get angry about it seem to have a difficult time recovering even when the material returns to a more interesting area. I need help with this one! I've only had a few students like this, but I don't know how to manage it! :)
My most challenging students are the "unprepared Students". No tolarance is a good theory but sometimes they need a bit of a nudge with just a penalty. I present/offer the syllabus clearly and tell them that it is their responsiblilty to review it and ask any questions. I explain it as a contract or guide as to how to pass the class. Rubrics are accecible in the syllabus as well. rules are posted in class and pointed out. Each day is reviewed with strengths and weaknesses pointed out. I will think about doing a class quiz. It sounds like a doable thing.
Adult learners need to see the correlation between what they're learning and how it applies to where they're headed. I have found that my students who shoulder a quiet sense of inferiority are often my loudest, most opionated students. They challenge everything. So I have made it a practice to help them by having them research out what they are challenging. I invite them to meet with leaders of the industry they are going into as well as Alumni who have been through the same training. Then I go out of my way to make sure I am relating it accurately and in a way that attends to their learning needs.
Judy I like this approach. Could you please comment further on your success or lack of using this technique?
My most challenging students are those that do not see a reason for taking a particular course, especially the foundation courses, i.e. English. In explaining to them these lessons are necessary to lay the groundwork for other courses, information can be used to their career benefit, or simply that it is a required course seems to hold them. I also use the other students understsanding of this concept to use their influence to the challenging student(s) from a peer perspective.
To answer this question I am first going to revert back to my high school teaching days. The reason for this trivial explanation is a practice I have used in classroom management for years. In order to gain control of a classroom I used two disciplines; fairness and consistency. To clarify, treating every student equitably and remain consistent with your rules. Now you have gained the respect of the student which enhances the teaching environment and lessens the probability of classroom problems.
I have taught heterogeneous groups of students for many years in a middle and high school setting. Teaching college courses to adults did not change my philosophy I have use for years. With adult learners I was still teaching a diversified group of heterogeneous students. I told that story in order to explain how I handled these following student situations.
The 2 most challenging students I have encountered are those who come to class and do absolutely nothing and those who think they know everything. After a couple of days of student engagement with interaction and participation assignments, I was able to take a complete heterogeneous group and sub divide them into homogeneous groups. Within these new homogeneous groups I would make the non participating student the leader of his group and the no it all student an observer in her group with a strong personality leader.
I would provide the assignments with a rubric and a criterion for the leaders providing them with the necessary information to delegate within their groups. I only ran into one problem in the many years of providing this type of student learning and that was the student who was designated the leader and never showed up to class. In that case we just moved forward.
In conclusion, the know it all student became a better listener and the student who didn't want to do anything showed increased confidence to interact with other students.
I have to agree with Ashley with regards to the two types of challenging students. Those that are inattentive are my favs becasue i like to drawn them into the discussion by finding out more about why they are not interested in teh class or subject - if I feel that student is not comfortable with this in class, then I speak to them in private, remind them of the course requirements and participation expectations - spending soem one to one time usually does the trick. For those that are over opinionated - again, I talke to them outsid eof class and let them know how much I appreciate their participation, but that I need them to remain open minded while others are sharing as well - should I find this to continue then I will have additional conversations with them. Usually, once they have heard this from the instructor they start paying more attention what they are saying and how often.
My most challenging students are those that are a little older and full of life experiences. although many times their experiences help in class, they are sometimes "too experienced." They think they know everything, there is nothing left to teach them, and they challenge the instructor every chance they get. Their goal is to someday be able to prove the instructor wrong and show that they are right. This takes away from class and causes animosity among the students. It can also make an instructor resentful of that student.
Hi Nancy,
Students must understand the importance of deadlines whether it is classroom submission or electronic submission. Deadlines are in place to be adhered, and students should be reprimanded if these deadlines are not met. In the real world one can lose their job for not meeting deadlines.
Patricia
Hi Edwin,
Great way to deal with this type of student. It only becomes an issue if the instructors makes it an issue, don't let them see you sweat. These type students need to focus on becoming a better student instead of trying to prove us wrong.
Patricia
There are some students who will try to see if they can agitate the instructor by catching them in a situation where the instructor can't answer or won't answer their question. They want to try to prove to the rest of the class that the instructor doesn't know the material that he is covering.If the instructor says, thats the way it is, deal with it. The student will make life hell. The way I deal with those students is to above, keep my cool and don't give the appearance that I may be agitated. Answer the questions in calm manner. Once they know they can't get to you the problem goes away quickly.
Usually these students had a prior instructor
they had problems with or did not feel was giving them the knowledge they needed.
I teach online, so my problems are a little different. I tend to interact with my students one on one. I do have students who do not understand that their work needs to be in on time. I find that enforcing due dates is very helpful with that problem.
I also have students who try to submit assignments by alternative methods, usually email, instead of submitting them through Blackboard. I let them know that their work has to be submitted as required in the assignment.
i have 2 loud, opinionated students that are constantly at each other. i have pulled them both aside and asked them both to be "more gracious" in class. when that didnt work, i started being silent when i wanted their attention. now if i stop lecturing in class everyone looks to see who we are waiting for. peers are great at getting the "loudness" muffled quickly. for every minute i wait, the whole class has to stay that amount of time before class is dismissed. so far it has worked great, however i am still a new instructor of only 1.5 terms, so if anyone has suggestions, please let me know :)
Every term, I will have a few students that need special attention. They take up more time than other students. I consider this just part of the job as an instructor. I had a student that repeatedly asked for the answers for homework assignments with little effort on this part and this was challenging. I tried to point them in the right direct but without giving them the answer. I also allow students to email me a draft of their assignment for general feedback before final submission which can help with those challenging students.
Student who may have expierence before or have taken the class in the past. I found by telling them they may have missed something in the past or that a different instructor can present the information in a different way. because not every instructor is the same dosent mean your going to learn the same information.
Hi Nelson,
There are some bright students that come through. Use these students to your advantage, and allow them to help you, help others.
Patricia
I have found the quit ones are the most problems.
Most instructors have, on occasion, had students in their classes who know more than they do about some specific topics they are teaching. Instructors who see themselves as facilitators of learning can find a great deal to offer these students. As a facilitator, orchestrator, designer, or coach, the instructor presents the conditions for learning. He or she helps the student develop the skills necessary to learn.
I don't use seating charts, I allow the students to choose their seat. However they are to sit in the same seat everyday. If a problem does arrise in the classroom I have no problem changing the students seat. All cellphones must also be turned off in class. The instructor is in charge of the classroom, not the students.
