noisy student
I attempt to manage noisy student by engaging them in leadership roles in group assignment or in live chat opening remarks.
Dennis,
Thank you for sharing this advice on handling students that would take a discussion off topic or disrupt the session. Always a challenge but something that with some guidance can be handled.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mahmoud
I don't have too many issues with 'noisy' students on discussion boards but in a chat session they can be a time-consuming esp. if they start posting comments into a chat that are off base or asking for confirmation that they are approaching an assignment correctly.
I encourage them to email me regarding the assignments, so I can give them more personal attention.
Cheers, Dennis
Radmila,
Your outlook on this is very helpful. Often we don't approach this situation from that perspective. Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I do like your approach...It is sometimes like redirecting a small child. Finding a different approach or an extra task would keep the "noisy student" occupied and centered. Because in all honesty this is usually the bright and restless student who want to share that fact with the world. So if put in a lead position this would be a good leader and most often would modify from being a "pest" to being a good assistant..
I have a personal discussion with the noisy student and try to redirect thier attention to the key concepts of the course and that their posts should reflect this. Each week I have a primary topic and up to ten key subtopics that are sequential. Students are required to post a minimum of three times per week, a minimum of 2 complete paragraphs per post, and the post must have a reference. For the noisy student this quickly helps focus their attention or they find the extra research is time consuming and they start to limit thier post each week. I also find that most students post more than the minimum number of posts each week because they now have an ownership interest in one or more of the key topics.
Hi Mahmoud!
I have to agree with you. Obviously a "noisy student" can be a problem and disrupting the flow of the class discussion is not an acceptable situation. There are two approaches I would take simultaneously to this situation of the "noisy student".
1) In an announcement and e-mail to the class I would enthusiastically and in a positive tone reiterate the role of the discussion board for the students and how to properly respond to a classmate's post. The "noisy student's" name will not be mentioned here nor will any reference to his or her posts be made. This is just a friendly reminder and encouragement to everyone to remember professionalism and the status quo.
2) I would have a private conversation with the "noisy student" by phone and e-mail (for documentation). It is important to note that this is not a reprimand. The "noisy student" is most likely wanting to be very involved in the discussion board. This is perfect! What instructor wouldn't want an engaged student? He or she just needs his/her passion to be channeled into appropriate behavior. That is the key here and secret to instructional success with this student. Then this student will a) be the most dedicated student in the class and b) most likely be one of the most successful students in my teaching career. It's all in how an instructor handles the situation.
The "noisy student" needs to know that his/her input is valuable and appreciated. Moreover, I want to know what he/she thinks and I know he/she has a lot to contribute to the class. However, there is a much more effective and fun way to use his/her time. Rather than critiquing other students' posts, if this student wants to be active, he/she gets a special assignment. Depending on personality, I might set him/her on critiquing my posts, trying to find the holes in my theory could lead to some exciting discussion between the two of us that would engage the entire class. The student critiquing the instructor is a long-standing academic tradition from the Renaissance that is rarely employed today outside philosophy. Or picking a philosopher, the class lecture, or textbook and critiquing the theory on a philosophical level.
This would all be optional of course. I cannot require the student to do something the rest of the class is not doing. But he/she does have all this excess energy that needs to be expended on something productive and less damaging to the classroom environment. Let's turn this "noisy student's" deconstructive behavior into an instrument that will propel the class into exciting, lively, and thriving discussion!
Latasha,
Thank you for sharing. Have you had good results with this?
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
giving a noisy person all the information they need and other activities keeping them busy will keep them from being noisy
Rebekah,
The redirect is one of the tools of master teachers. Very good. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Typically the noisy student has sufficient knowledge but really lacks confidence. The attempt is to demonstrate their intelligence through monopolizing the conversations. Each discussion question is designed to enfource the course objectives, I use that information to re-direct the conversation to include practical application through experience or research. When asking the noisy students to directly support their assertions with research or provide n example to support their claims, it is amazing what information they will share. The goal is to harness their information and knowledge in a productive way so that the entire class can benefit from the information.
Concetta ,
Very good. Divert the extra energy to a productive use.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I will engage the noisy student in a group activity. This controls their volume and excitement. It lets them feel that they are in control and they can actually display their knowledge.
Pamela,
Nice touch. Thank yopu for sharing your insight.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
In a group setting when I have one student trying to dominate the group, I will do a "pattern interrupt" by asking another student a question. This usually quiets the noisy student....until the next class.
Marshall,
This is a good strategy. Well stated.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I will try to keep them busy with follow up responses, staying on track, having them research their responses to be supported by way of documenting their answers.
Mahmoud,
Very good approach. Redirect the learner's energy and desire to influence to positively impact course outcomes.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
