Sitting down and having a safe and open conversation with a student can teach you a lot about what is going on. I had a student tell me how her husband got shot and is paralized at home. And I had NO idea and it happened months ago. It was such a eye opening conversation. She was working full time and trying to take care of him and go to school full time. With two kids. I have many more stories from talking to students.
I like the idea of walking around the class during lecture to keep student's attention on me and what I am saying while I observe their behavior to make sure it is appropriate for class. Calling on students who are less vocal/verbal to answer questions keeps them engaged and on their toes. I also like the idea of calling names out of a hat or from the attendance roll for students to stay prepared to answer questions.
Students may often disengage when they feel lost or like they aren't understanding. This also happens when a student doesn't see the relevance of the information, or thinks it's not important. I like to simply ask the students, "why do you think this information is important for you to know?". This gives them a chance to reflect and identify the value of the information.
Students who are inattentive in class are generally those students who typically lack understanding of the course requirements. As an instructor, reevaluate my approach, tone, and expectations.
Using colored cards is a great way to limit over talkers.
All ambiguous behavior is interpreted negatively. Make sure students feel valued and respected.
I have had some students that were trying very hard at running the class and some were more difficult to get under control. It takes thought on the instructor to not allow that person to run the class without causing a situation.
Overall, it was an informative session and I learnt various ways on how to deal with inattentive students, students who feel overwhelmed and are ready to quit, student who would blame others or find excuses for their unfinished tasks.
very informative to involve and engage all different personalities.
I learned that students should be acknoledged at all levels to underscore their mental status and keep them engaged. When one has adult learners though, I am not certain that color coded cards are what is needed. They would probably throw them in the trash.
When dealing with unfocused students it is important to first look at how you are handling the situation. You may find that you have not made your course policies and requirements clear or that you have not been specific in what your expectations are for student performance. Also, include all of the students in discussions and activities. It is easy to let the center stage student take over so you need to make a concerted effort not to overlook the quieter students.
Harry Dumas
Fins it very interested on how to deal with these type of students
Keeping all students engaged and ideas to help bring them back...
Challenging students are worth the effort. Everyone deserves a viable and comfortable learning experience.
How to manage students better.
I learned some techniques on how to keep students engaged such as note cards and asking probing questions. Other techniques to keep them interested include inviting speakers and even offering virutal tours.
I actually sort of like the "observer" concept. It will make all student take notes because they don't know when they'll be called on.
Active learning strategies should be implemented. Get your students involved in making decisions and avoid immediately giving them your solutions. Ask questions leading them to think on their own and celebrate with them when their choices work out and hold them accountable when they make mistakes providing a constructive feedback.
I constantly deal with students who are on their phones, ipads and computers. this is one of the biggest challenges that I face. What helps me with this is giving them Rubric grading assignments, which are hands on assignments that basicly keep them more grounded in the class.
"All ambiguous behavior is interpreted as negative." I don't like this, but I can see how true it is! It's so hard to be ON all the time. It's disappointing that any little slip-up can have real negative impacts on student relations.
