Many responses have focused on listening which seems key. The Chinese character for listening has several parts: ears, eyes, undivided attention, and heart. Remembering this in the heat of the moment has helped me focus on the person (as more than a complainer), paraphrasing, and problem solving.
Hi Kim,
Monitoring the room by walking around will minimize complaints. I also constantly ask my students serveral times throughout the class peroid does everyone understand? Are there any questions? Who needs help? These questions will keep the students out of the program chair's office.
Patricia
Hi Stanley,
Absolutley! In front of their peers, a student has to save face so to speak and appear to be very bullheaded.
Patricia
IN MOST CASES IF YOU TALK TO THE STUDENT ONE-ON-ONE THE SITUATION CAN BE RESOLVED.IN CLASS SURROUNDED BY HIS PEERS THE STUDENT CAN'T SHOW HIS SOFT SIDE.THERE IS A NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERANCE IN STUDENT PERSONALITIES IN CLASS AND OUT OF CLASS.THE CHALLENGE IS OVERCOMING YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT ON A STUDENT BEFORE GETTING ALL THE FACTS.
Hi Chris,
Simple, never give up on a student.
Patricia
Stay involved with the students, just because they are challenging is no reason to write them off as problem students. Listen to there complaints and try to coach them through their challenges.
Hi Andrew,
You must be true to your word with students, otherwise you will lose all credibility. Students will take you as a push over.
Patricia
Hi Ben,
We must encourage our students to be held accountable. Employers like accountability.
Patricia
Hi Russell,
You are fair! You give your students ample opportunity to not get in trouble for cheating.
Patricia
What are some strategies that instructors can use to reduce student complaints and challenges?
Hi Russell,
I do the same, in addition to paraphrasing what has been told to me by the student. These tactics are very effective.
Patricia
Hi Christine,
You must have boundaries. Some situations may be extenuating, and those situations should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Patricia
Set rules and make sure each student has a copy in the syllabus. Have students sign a copy of the rules and keep them in student files so you can remind students latter, if necessary, that they committed to the rules. I believe that rules should be boundaries not walls, and that situations need to be dealt with on an individual basis, but having a firm guidline in writing is necessary.
The first thing that I do, is listen to the complaint then make notes and address the complaints one at a time. most of the time we (The student and I) can find a solution that is reasionable. When this is not possible I will ask for assistance from a manager.
Being direct with most students helps the learning enviroment. I have found that most students are looking for loop holes/ excusses to crawl through for not doing an assignment or copying a nother students lab. When students are testing and I notice a student looking too far to one side, the first time I make a general statment "keep your eyes on your own paper" the second time I will call out their name and ask them to keep their eyes on their own paper. If I must I will pull the students paper.
You're absolutely right! Each instructor is required to have an addendum per class to outline expectations, etc. It helps keep the students responsible.
I find it best to be as clear as is possible upfront and to hold to your word. Keep dates, honor policies and be consistent. This takes a lot of work for someone like me that wants to help students but they will complain less and it will reduce the challenges you face.
Hi Laurie,
I have a question answer session based on the various concepts that have been taught, and we discuss these concepts at length. I act like Oprah, and the sudents act as my audience.
Patricia
Make sure that we are paying attention to are students, making sure that they are understanding the information we are giving. We need to make sure that we are walking around to see signs that they have issues and just may be too shy to voice it. I've noticed that there are quite a few students who don't understand the material and think i go to fast. but they don't voice it and rather just be lost. I assume that they understnad so I keep going...As a result they go to my program chair to complain about me. So I've learn from the complaint that I hear to act on it and change it. No i make sure that I do my lecture and then my demo and walk around after when then are doing class work to make sure each and every student is on the same page. this seems to be working because the complaints have decreased
I would like to know more details about "The Patricia Talk Show"...that sounds like fun for the students AND you...would like to implement that into my classes.
