Students talking in class
Some of my students are constantly chatting in class. If they disturb me or others, I put a stop to it. Because they are in the back of the room in a large class, sometimes their behavior goes unnoticed by me. Their classmates often 'shhh' them or otherwise reprimand them on their own.
Is it ok for me to let students regulate themselves like this, or will it cause animosity and other problems between them later on?
That works for me as well. I stop talking and stare at the offenders. It's never failed to get their attention. The next step would be to have a private chat with them, but I've never had to take it to that level.
I think it would cause major animosity in the class. The students doing the reprimanding may feel you are not doing your job and may begin to feel that you are incapible of doing your job. They may develope animosity towards you as an instructor.
I usually stop talking. Then I notice the chatty ones stop talking. I wait a few minutes then I begin again. They get the point. I haven't had a disruptive student too often, which is great. Stopping the lectures ,seem to work for me.
I would also challenge you to find out what they are talking about if they are trying to figure out the material than we do them an injustice to just reprimand. I like to call them out and ask them if they need to ask a question or if the conversation is for the whole class. If they continue chattering I move them to the front so they are separated and sitting right in front of me after a couple of times doing that it usually stops.
Hi Jeremy,
You need to take control and reprimand the students. If the instructor doesn't take things into their own hands, other students will, and it is not good for students to control others. Remove those students who are being disruptive.
Patricia Scales
