Students and monitoring procedures
What are the adverse effects of poor student monitoring skills? Do you think that you are effectively monitoring your class, why or why not?
Poor student monitoring skills could cause the instructor to lose control of the class. It also provides opportunity for cheating if students don't fear being caught. I know i do not always effectively monitor the LRC because of work that requires me to stay in my office. Lack of my presence allows students to feel safer to visit websites that they shouldn't be on during class time.
The class should flow in the direction of the topic at hand. I encourage questions but am always in control of the direction and length. During a test, there is no talking unless a student has a question for me regaurding clarity.
Keeping the students interested and involed in the subject at hand is the easiest way for me to monitor the class. Showing an interest in their opinion of the topic and drawing answers from the group makes them feel a part of the discussion and focused.
Hi David,
The instructor definitely has to keep the lesson on task. If you have a lot of talkers, you can really get behind in class.
Patricia Scales
You have to engauge the students and constantly monitor the speed of the lesson. I find making them become involved in the lesson tells me when it is time to move on to the next topic.
Adverse effects of poor monitoring include students falling behind, students trying to cheat the system, and students distracting/taking away from the rest of the class' learning. I will move around the room keeping the students focused on what I'm trying to teach them. I'll ask a lot of questions so that I can be reasonably sure that their subject knowledge is improving.
I think when you enable the student to complete the bad behavior that you loose comtrol of the situation.
I don't feel right unless I walk around the classroom while I teach. I am a very interactive instructor. Walking around the classroom allows me to express the information I am presenting more effeciently--and it allows me to keep my students' attention. When I walk around, they wonder what I am going to do next.
Hi Dee,
I see your point. It can make students feel uneasy. I typically walk all over the room. My take is if you're not cheating, you should not feel nervous, but I certainly understand your viewpoint on this.
Patricia
During my tests, I walk around at the front of the class, but I don't walk down the aisles. I keep my eyes on the students from the front at all times. I agree with the information in the Modules, that walking closely among the students can needlessly raise their anxiety levels - I can remember feeling VERY uneasy when teachers walked close to us during tests - and I wasn't cheating. I make a habit of having at least 2 different versions of my test out there, so that if students did copy eachother's Scantrons, they may be copying wrong answers anyway, but I keep a pretty watchful eye on them.
Hello Chuck,
It really does sound like you are an effective classroom monitor. With the classroom management skills you possess, I bet you are an awesome instructor as well.
Patricia
I see a loss of direction. When a instructor has poor moneriting skills the class dirfts of topic and learning stops. An increase in horse play and students wondering the halls
I feel my moneriting skills are fairly good, my class schedule has time spent on the computers with time dead lines and specific requirments that need to be met, this is all laid out the first day of class with reminders on the white board each day as to what the goal for the day is. I move around the room and check with each student to see how they are progeressing and if they have questions or any issues with the material.
Hello Tom,
I have also noticed that eye contact curtails misbehavior.
Patricia
Students who are not being monotored are likely to distract the students who are trying to learn. If disobedience is allowed to take place without confrontation the class will lose respect for the instructor.
Every instructor should be making eye contact with every student in order to make learning personal. If this is taking place all students will be observed, and noncompliance should be dealt with immediatly when observed.
DO NOT HIDE BEHIND THE PODIUM AND NEVER TEACH SITTING DOWN!
Hello Dave,
Nicely said! Wow, you use great techniques!
Patricia
I am confident that I monitor my classroom well. Some techinques I use are: daily quizzes (oral and written) and lab evaluations. This gives me the oppurtunity to provide the student with feedback and focus on areas the students may be struggling with. Having positive monitoring in the classroom helps students stay focused. If I did not monitor the class and provide feedback the students could get off track.
Hello Joseph,
You really don't have a choice about being on your feet. It is almost a must for you to be on your feet monitoring constantly.
Patricia
Monitoring students in a lab is crucial to insuring safety and learning competencies. In a kicthen class where you have as many as 15 students working with knives, open flames and various dangerous equipment, it is imperative that you are on top op each and every student. If they know you are constantly monitoring their moves, there is less chance for horseplay and injury.
Hello Misty,
We must monitor effectively in order to control attrition and retention.
Patricia
