A few disruptive students can poison the learning environment of a whole class. Some faculty members have stated unabashedly that they prefer teaching online, just to avoid the face-to-face rudeness, chattering, ringing cell phones, and disrespect that increasingly creep into the traditional classroom. (As we all know, rudeness is entirely possible online too—and some say it's more extreme.)
Faculty who discuss the issue calmly and analytically often point to various contemporary symptoms in related settings (such as in obnoxious behavior during movies, concerts, speeches, and other public events), and the likelihood that many first-generation students have not yet absorbed the norms traditionally associated with a college class. Today's students are often unfamiliar with the term "syllabus," for instance, and occasionally are indignant when examinations can't be retaken.
Diagnosis is easier than treatment, of course.
ProfHacker is a blog that delivers tips, tutorials, and commentary on pedagogy, productivity, and technology in higher education. A recent series of posts involves the hypothetical presentation of a disruptive classroom scenario, with suggestions from readers on how they might handle a similar situation. Veteran instructors will recognize the scenarios immediately, and may find some useful tips on how to deal with various situations. The contributors are practitioners. Importantly, the blog makes it plain that its purpose is not to complain about students.
Here's the link.
ProfHacker is especially strong on technology issues, and publishes Monday-Friday.
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