Irrelevant tangents
I teach a legal class to medical students. I have a student who constantly wants to talk about other legal issues that really are not relevant to the course material. How do I guide his interest into a more constructive route?
During the first few violations of relevancy, I like to ask the student questions like "How can you relate that back to the material?" or "How can you connect that to the lecture?" There are several ways this can work:
1. The student DOES connect it back, and the discussion becomes productive and perhaps new and interesting.
2. The student can't come up with a connection and might become aware of the need to connect all comments directly to the lecture.
Of course, there are some students who get the signal but can't help themselves. That's when I talk to them after class and say something like, "While I wish I had time for that discussion..."
Hope this helps!
Hi John,
I love your sterness! It is the instructor's job to keep the course on point!
Patricia Scales
Of course, we always want to encourage participation and interaction/comments from our students, but an "irrelevant tangent' is another thing entirely. Without being aggressive, I have firmly let a student know that the entire class is there to benefit from the course, and that irrelevant tangents are disrespectful to the class as a whole. I then encourage the class to bring up relevant topics as they are benficial if applicable.
This accomplishes 2 things: first, it shows respect of the class' benefit [ as well as respect and benefit of the tangent-teller ]. Second, it keeps the course moving, still encourages relevant stories/concepts.
Hi Jennifer,
Have a private yet firm conversation with him about keeping the discussion on point as to what is being discussed.
Patricia Scales
Jennifer,
I have had a student like yours form time to time. I have found that giving them attention is a good way to keep their mind on the lecture. For example, I will ask the student in question; a direct question about the lecture that I know will not lead them astray. But there will always be a student that it does not work on and I simply state that I can discuss the question after class.
