Hi Wray,
That's right! Students should be able to learn in an environment that is conducive for learning.
Patricia
It sets expectations for students to be able to show success. If you always relate it to the real world and future employers employee handbooks. If you follow along with the expectations/procedures you can achieve good grades/ learn information make the deans list. The same in business in the form getting a raise, promotion or not losing your job from not obeying procedures or guidelines.
I find the same thing. Someone is always the example and then the others learn that it is not tolerated.
I do have trouble with those few that think it is all about "me" and the heck with the rest of the students. I am getting many ideas in this module of how to work with these students.
I review what I call classroom etiquette on day one. Basically it is an explanation of the rules and regulations of the class and expectations. I am becoming aware through work with this course and experiences in the class that to some I come across too strong. I'd like to tone it down some but also convey what is needed.
Hi Arlene,
Absolutely! The instructor has to be in control. Students deserve as environment that is conducive for learning to take place.
Patricia
Class management is important because the students are taking the class for a reason. It is costing them time and money. Nobody wants to feel like their time is wasted. There needs to be classroom management so that the students can learn.
It sets the stage for success. Each student will have equal opportuntiy for learning and not have to deal with distractions.
It is impotrant to be the leader of the class and create an environment for learning.
Teaching an algebra class of 35 students a year ago was nearly impossible to control.
Ahy suggestions how to deal with such a large algebra class?
It is building a structure for the class, getting prepared to teach the class. The students wouldn't learn anything if their instructor was not prepared to teach that certain class.
Hi Michael,
Each assignment needs to be meaningful. Students should be tested on material that they have been taught.
Patricia
The students will try to control their education. I try to plan their education so that they can see the need of each task and classroom training. The hands on skills test at the end of the course and each written test needs to be a test on what they have been able to accomplish with hands on and their minds to figure out a problem, not what they have been told.
Good class management sets a good example for others. By showing my students that I am prepared, that they deserve my full attention and that they are my priority, it is my hope they will devote the same attention to their assignments and studies. I give them the respect of good class management and in turn, I expect them to be good in class. If I show up, look sloppy, have bad time management and seem scatter brained, what can I expect in return? What do I deserve in return? Good class management shows the students I care about our time together and that I want to get the most and the best out of it.
Hi Craig,
It sounds as though you do a thorough job of making course requirements clear. Students really need to know on DAY 1 what is required of them so that they know how to move forward from the beginning.
Patricia
Many of the "rules and reguations" of our university as well as course requirements are included in our course syllabi. I always review and clarify all of these policies and procedures during the first class to minimize the possibility for future misunderstandings. I also discuss "keys to success" in my courses. These "keys" highlight the specific steps that students can take to maximize their learning and performance in the course. Examples include:
- Attending class
- Submitting assignments when they are due (and penaltiies for late submittal)
- Distinguishing between individual and team assignments
- Participating in class activities - both individual and team assignments.
Hi Jeff,
Great analogy as compared to driving! Sudents need to know the hows and whys to get a better understanding of everything. When the why is clear students have a much better understanding as to what is going on.
Patricia
Having control of the classroom shows many facets to your dedication to the art of teaching. It shows that you are prepared, focused, confident, and all those wonderful adjectives that we like to use to describe our "best" teachers that we have had at one time or another.
As a student is required to be prepared, I must be even more so and try to control the flow of information yet still foster discussion, answer questions, provide critical think opportunities, etc.
That's a lot to do, and if I'm not the conductor, the whole orchestra (class) gets out of synch and instead of a symphony, you have a 3rd grade recorder class! :)
Class management is essential because as an analogy, teaching is essentially like putting the student behind the wheel of a car for the first time.
Allow me to explain. If a student is merely handed the RULES for driving, they may know that they are supposed to stop at a red light, but maybe not why. If you teach them how to apply the knowledge, they may not know when they are supposed to stop. Managing the class room gives you the opportunity to establish not only the "hows" but the "whys" which will in turn give them a much better understanding of what it is they need to learn.
As instructors, all of our goals should to be to make the students "safe and better drivers", to perpetuate the analogy.
In managing the class, we can also identify the bad drivers, and address their particular issues.
And for the record, I am NOT a driving instructor :)
Hi Carmen,
Absolutely! It is our job to ensure the environment will allow learning to occur.
Patricia
If the class is not managed it will not have order and students will dissassociate themselves from the class and instructor and learning will cease to occur. Instructors must be the ones that manage their classroom to creat a condusive learning environment.
