The Working Evening Students
It is so true that by the time the student reaches the evening class he or she has so much stimulus from the events that occurred ealier in the day. The instructor has to create an atmosphere inwhich she or he can grab the student's attention in preparation for the new learning that is needed.
I have found it much easier to teach night students. They are usually older, more responsable people with day jobs and families. I know this is a broad assumption, but i find it true more times than not.
Hi Deborah,
I agree with your assessment. I have never taught evening classes. However, I did my BSN & MSM in the evening. Yes, it is difficult to hold some students attention and keep them focused; because they usually have long hours at work all day and other issues that they are dealing with.
By the time they come to class, they are so wrapped up in the events of the day, it is extremely hard to stay focused. This makes the Instructor's job much more challenging.
Hi Holly,
You do have a tough situation. I'm not sure I have any suggestions since you do not have the support of your college. Your administration has to back you up on running an orderly class. If they don't you are left without many strategies beyond the ones you have already tried. Is there a way of starting the class a little later, like 30 minutes? If so then the students could grab a bite to eat and start the class. One of my classes starts at 7:00 pm for that reason. We run later but they do come in with full tummies and on time.
Gary
I agree with your assessment, my students are sometimes like animals when they first arrive at 6pm. They ALL have worked throughout the day at various jobs ranging from a car wash to a doctors office. And even the drive to school doesn't settle them down. Most forget to eat before they get to class, so at our first break after 50 min, it is hard to get them back to the classroom on time. Many will take a 15-20 min break instead of the 10 min allowed. I have to begin without them and when they finally get back to class they are disruptive. Even writting them up and having them go to the DON hasn't helped, what do you suggest, HELP!!
Hi David,
This has been my experience as well. You get to plan your instruction is a different way when you have a student demographic like this.
Gary
I do agree that night or evening classes are better because I believe they are more focused on their carriers and understand the information is important to their success.
Hi Joan,
There are several formats you can use for review games. I break students up into teams and have them do a version of Family Feud. They really like this due to the competition. The questions are set up for them to eliminate answers so they get to review a lot of content in short order and select the most appropriate answer. This game can take as little or as much time as you want but it does send the students off at the end of the class thinking about a lot information since they will have just used it in answering questions.
Gary
Although I have had both types of students at night, I believe that games focuing on the lecture at the end of the evening helps. I would like to learn more short instant reward games.
YES, the instructor must be like the primary school teacher, when children come in the class in the morning, they are all excited to tell the teacher what went on the night before. the instructor must figure out a method, to bring them into the learning process, by allowing the events of the day to sometime be the platform to bring their reality into the classroom.
Hi Stan,
It is interesting isn't it how the time of day impacts the students and their investment in the course. I teach from 4 until 10 and my students are tired from working all day but they are zeroed in on the course because they are there to change their lives and pursue their career objectives. They know what they want and are willing to work to get it. They are a pleasure to teach.
Gary
I also see the difference between my morning session and afternoon session students. Generally, though, my easier class to work with is the morning session, as I find the students more motivated to learn.
I teach General Education classes at a Culinary School and really struggle with the late class times, until 10:45 pm. The students like working in the kitchens and do not have as hard of a time staying engaged, but the gen ed classes are not quite as "active". I have found that I can add activities at the end, but truthfully, part of me just wants them to go home and go to bed once all of the material has been covered.
MY STUDENTS THAT COME INTO MY EVENING CLASS ARE OLDER AND MOST OF THE TIME WORKED MOST OF THE DAY SO THIER BRAIN MUST SETTLE BACK INTO THE LEARNING MODE
I teach in a culinary arts college. The way I create my atmosphere is to have a high level of intense instruction. This keeps their energy level at the high level it was when they came from work or from another school.
Hi Barbara,
I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I understand where you are coming from. I use the same model as you because otherwise I will lose the students. They will just sit there in a stupor and not be engaged. With your model they are engaged and focused on learning throughout the evening.
Gary
Since I teach the evening classes, I try to give them a short breather-get something to drink, and sometimes I have a small snack to begin with so they are not thinking about food because of hunger. We start the class and take our one break halfway through so they can eat something and then we start with a new concept to keep the interest going. If I notice people are getting tired, we break into groups and start a contest based on what we are learning. So far it seems to work.
Hi Andrew,
Right you about us instructors needing to keep our students engaged. I teach from 4 until 10 pm so I have to work very hard to keep my students focused on the course. They are great students and dedicated to learning but they are worn out after working all day and handling all of their life affairs. I have to change the pace of the class frequently, do a lot of activities and show them the relevancy of the content in order to hold their attention.
Gary
We also have to remember that most of the students are coming from a their job directly to the class and are tired, sometimes exhausted. It is important not only to grab their attention but to keep them engaged so that their minds aren't free to wander.
In our school we find that the evening students are more focused and ready to work when they come to school. Plus the evening students are a little older than the day students and are more goal orientated and are ready to come to class and ready to work and learn
