The Experts
I teach some of the begining courses, and as a result some of the material in my class is fairly basic. Some of the students have passed a basic test to work in the industry, yet i have to cover this material as a starting point. They get VERY bored and disruptive. I've tried the reasoning approach, by letting them know if they have some industry experience that they should take this opportunity to affirm their knowledge. Some do this, others become disruptive and rude.
Then what? They know the info, I'm not teaching them anything...I'd be bored too.
Hi Bruce,
I see your point...perhaps, your institution can offer a placement test for this course. At my institution we have placement tests for basic courses.
Patricia
Patricia
We do offer students the chance to test out of the General Education course, but this course is for a certification from another organization (National Restaurant Association), and it requires them to take the classroom portion.
Hi Bruce,
Oh, I see. On Day 1 trying using a very calming approach and present to the students the relevancy of the course, and how it is going to make them more marketable.
Patricia
i teach cosmetology, and many of the students have parents or family members in the industry and already feel as if they know it all. but over time, they see its quite challenging and rewarding, and with a gentle approach, i have learned that we can all continue to learn from eachother!
Hi Carly,
I hear you loud and clear. I will make it known that I am sure you have great resources in this area, but you must focus on classroom theory and application so that you can pass the state board.
Patricia
I try to utilize the expertise of these students in class by asking them specific questions, or having them occassionally answer student's questions, it is a difficult balance, however, to ensure that other students do not see them as getting preferential treatment.
Hi Bruce,
I've experienced this as well. One thing I've tried is having the "bored" students help other students who are struggling. I might also have students choose a current events topic and apply concepts we are discussing in class to the topic. I don't know what you teach. I teach math, accounting, and composition. All three of these courses can be a challenge to keep interesting.
Cheri Elkin
Hi Carly,
Some students can be arrogant. I teach accounting and have the same problem you do at times. Today we were talking about interest rates and I asked students what interest rate they were receiving on their savings accounts. They thought it was a lot higher than it is. Two students called their banks to verify this. The beauty of technology. We can get immmediate answers.
Cheri Elkin
Hi Cheri,
It's a technological age and some of our students will take full advantage of all the technology that is available to them.
Patricia
To me, this is the most difficult issue with teaching in a career college environment. There are such a variety of learning ranges that it can be a challenge to keep all students engaged at the same level. I tend to fall back on more practical, real life examples of the material to keep the students interested.
I would give a final test in the beginning of the class and adjust depending on how well my students do.
I've had a couple of these types of students too. What usually works for me is to encourage their input. I try to create a discussion environment. After the "expert" explains his viewpoint, I ask for someone to argue the opposite. To be truly informed, you need to be able to articulate both sides of an issue.
