Hi LE,
Instructors must be good listeners. As you mentioned, just by having a student express themselves, generally, the problem will get resolved easily.
Patricia
Hello Julie,
Students do not want to be lectured to all the time. Students enjoy variation. Let's be creative with our teaching styles and think out of the box.
Patricia
In order to reduce student complaints, I let students know the first day what my background and credentials are. I review my syllabus and classroom expectations, explaining my expectations, rewards and punishments, and what I am prepared to give students in the way of help.
I tell students that the discussions periods in the class are "open discussion" and any topic is acceptable as long as it is presented professionally, in a positive manner and does not reflect negitively on another student or instructor. It is their responsibility to be professional and address issues with other students or instructors through the proper campus system. All discussions are help in confidence and kept within the classroom.
If a student chooses to challenge me, I send the rest of the class on break and discuss the issue privately with the student. If we can not resolve the issue, I escort the student to the Associate Dean or Dean for further discussion. This has seldome happened as I believe in working out a win-win situation.
If a student is troubled and it is beyond mine and the class's ability to handle, I direct the student to one of our resources - Student Services, Financial Aid, our outside counciling firm, their Program Director or our Dean - to help them resolve the issue.
Getting to know your students as people, with unique personalities, lifestyles and interests goes a long way toward reducing student complaints and challenges. As an instructor at a career school, it is important to remember that these students are here to learn a skill, not sit in class and listen to us lecture. By providing different and varied methods of delivery, you help to reduce the problem of angry and disruptive students.
The best way to reduce student complaints and challenges is to listen and give the student a chance to discuss his/her concerns. Generally, we are teaching adults and when given a chance to discuss their concerns many can be simply addressed and resolved before they escalate.
Hi William,
Students want to hear about your credentials! The more years, the better. I always share my 20 years of teaching with my students.
Patricia
I have found that taking the time during the first class session to cover the syllabus in detail is the best strategy. I cover the grading, attendance, homework, tests, quizzes, classroom rules in as much detail as possible. I introduce myself, my experience, degrees, work experience and teaching philosophy. I also make a point of telling my students how long I have been an instructor - 7 years - which I have found actually reduces their stress and tells them that I am not a rookie that can be manipulated easily. Usually takes a good 20 minutes or so.
Hi Robert,
You have to learn each student. Once you determine a student's strength. You need to utilize their strength to their benefit.
Patricia
Hello Michelle,
Great! I love your open door policy. We have to show our students that we are there for them, and it seems like you do that. Keep up the good work!
Patricia
I always let my students know on the first day of class that I am here to help them be successful in school. If there is a problem in the class, small or large, they should not be afraid to come and speak to me about it. I want all of my students to feel comfortable around me and my students. I believe that if students know that I have an open door policy, they will feel better about bringing up issues that they may be having. I think that in my classes, this strategy helps to reduce both complaints and challenges. I also have clear expectations for my students that they are made aware of on the first day of class. I reiterate these expectations throughout the quarter to reinforce the message.
Hello Mike,
Nicely said! If you belittle a student, especially in front of others, it is only natural for the student to try to belittle you to save face. Alwys give students the utmost respect.
Patricia
Always be fair and unbiased in grading assignments. Never be sarcastic or belittling when talking to a student. And, keep an open forum in the classroom...one that is based on mutual respect and common courtesy.
Hi Aimee,
I love during evaluations at the midpoint as well as at the end. You may be able to fix some things throughout the module, if evaluations are done at the midpoint.
Patricia
Hi George,
At my institution we are very well structured too. Syllabi, tests, quizzes, lecture notes, lesson plans, etc. have been developed. These various documents being in place make it a lot easier for new instructors especially. Complaints are minimized whenever things are prepared.
Patricia
When an instructor has a well prepared course, with a proper syllabus, and lesson plans the chances for student complaints are significantly mitigated.
My organization does our best to properly prepare for each and every course we present and we very rarely have any student problems, unless problems arise from external influences out of our control. The only real issue we deal with is students still having responsibilities to their organizations while attending our courses and there is not much we can do to mitigate that situation.
Lastly, we are very fortunate to have students that want to attend our courses and are prepared to get to work. If problems do develop we try do help the student in any way possible to find a equitable solution for all.
regularly allowing the students to express positive and negative view on the course. evaluations can be effective during the course as well, not only at the conclusion
All students have something to contribute. The goal for challenging students is to find out what they can contribute so that they become part of the solution in a class and not the problem. As a new instructor, I would like suggestion on how to do this.
Hi Laura,
You are on point! I don't blame you. It is no gray in your policy. Students like to play the card, "I did not know." They can't use this excuse in your class, and I love it! Continue to prepare students for the real world...I do not know is lame and played out. Employers will not tolerate it.
Patricia
The best strategy I know of is outlining all expectations in the syllabus and discussing them during the first day of class. I do not accept late work for any reason; if a student does not meet a project deadline, he or she receives a zero grade. This is clearly outlined in my syllabus, and I explain my reasons for the policy during our first class meeting. The students may not agree with my policy, but they can't turn around and claim they didn't know.
Hi Diana,
When it's etched in stone, you have an excellent audit trail. I too put my assignments in writing so that there is no gray area.
Patricia
