Dealing with inattentive students
I have been struggling with a student who has a lot of things going on outside of school that are getting in the way of his education. We had to have a serious heart to heart about focusing on himself and putting away his issues when he walks through the door. I have been struggling with how to get him to focus on particularly bad days. He drifts off and I catch him on Facebook when he should be working.
I can think of two things:
1. eliminate opportunities for Facebook. If it is his cell phone, make them shut them off for class. If it is in a computer based class, simply state -- no facebook or social networking allowed. Schoolwork only. And you'll have to patrol.
2. My other thought on this is that I have a limited ability to focus for very long. So frequently I take a 5 minutes break surfing the web or checking my cell phone before I get back to work. I have to clear my mind for a moment, and then I can work for another hour or two. This is how I function. So maybe allow the students a couple of internet breaks. They alert you when they need it or you assign the time. And that way you are giving them (him) what they need without having to feel like a drill sargent.
I also had this problem, I took the studend aside and discussed the situation with her,I gave her alot of encouragement, and I believe that her knowing my concern for her success made a huge difference to her in trun she made a complete turn around and is now more focused on learning.Some timers they really just need to know someone cares if they succeed
Perhaps involving him more in class will help keep him focused. I would try to call on him more and
keep him engaged. Perhaps shuffling seats would also keep things moving. As for Facebook, I would
address that from Day One that that is not permitted
during class periods and I would try to monitor that
myself.
I agree with the breaks. The classes where I teach are scheduled for two hours. Every 50 minutes the students have a 10 minute break. In this break they are allowed to use their phones, or computer. It gives the students a chance to check-in with their social world.
Jamie Hoffman
Hi Jamie,
A ten-minute break does everyone some good, the students and instructors alike.
Patricia Scales
You are absolutely right Roberta! I think students need encouragement, especially when they may be having extracurricular distractions. I just had a student that was not listening in class this past week. Rather than assume that they thought the material was boring, I asked to seem them after class. I found that this student was having family problems. In fact, the student indicated that the issues were so bad that she was thinking she should take a leave of absence from school. I encouraged her to get into contact with a free service that our college offers to help students with life crises. Two days ago, the student came up to me and stated that it was nice to know that her professor was looking out for her best interests.
Sometimes they just need to know we care about there success!
Hi Roberta,
Absolutely! We have to let our students know that we genuinely care about them as a person as well as their success.
Patricia Scales
Letting the student or students know that I (we) care about their success is the approach I have taken. I have so far been able to take an honest and straight forward approach to the student(s) directly. Sometimes it has even become part of a non confrontational discussion in class, to keep the rest of the students involved.
I believe it is important to have emapthy and really hear the student
I am going to try using the seating chart strategy to move the students around the room because it seems like all the talkers end up in the back of the room.
Hi Charles,
Old strategy, but it works. Talkers do migrate to the back.
Patricia Scales
