Answering student's questions
I have no issue with answering student's questions. The problem I am having is that I have a few students that use their relevant question to then expound on a rant about what THEY really want to talk about which then somehow always happens to turn into something about them and their personal life. It usually ends up being nothing near on the subject and disrupts the entire class. How do I curb this? It doesn't seem right to not allow for questions.
With my experience in the business and accounting field I constantly have have the students ask questions about what they will face in the workforce environment
I tell students that are going off on a tangent or a rant that I must be sensitive to the use of class time so that all students will get the maximum benefit out of the class. I then assure them that I am interested in discussing this further with them and invite them to make an appointment to see me after class.
At times, I also stay in the classroom after the end of class to continue the discussion if that is what they want.
I find that only the students who have a genuine desire to discuss the subject further avail themselves of this opportunity.
Sometimes questions come up that I do not have an answer, I always take that question and find out the answer and get back to the student
I always tell students, I certainly do not know alllll answers
