The Queen Mary
October 26-29, 2005
Keynote on October 29
Long Beach, California
9:10 A.M. - 11:25 A.M.
Taking Control of the Classroom
Delaney J. Kirk, Professor of Management, Drake University
Teaching has become more challenging because college students have become more aggressive and demanding. You may have thought out your expectations and communicated these in class, but everything hinges on how you deal with those students who ignore your policies, whether aggressively or passively. Some tips to taking control of your classroom are:
Think about what it is you are trying to do in the classroom. The readings, assignments, and exams you choose to give your students should reflect what you are trying to accomplish.
2. Establish Your Credibility
Your students should believe that you are the best person to teach your particular class. Establish this on the first day by briefly discussing your professional and academic credentials with your students.
3. Stay Current in Your Field
Read journal articles, look over new textbooks, and attend conferences in order to keep current in your subject matter as well as in new teaching methods. Look at local and national newspapers to find examples of applications of the topics you are teaching. Your students will be impressed that you took the time to find timely examples to share with them.
4. Establish Your Class Culture
You will need to decide how formal, or informal, you want your class to be. This affects everything including how you dress for the classroom, how your students address you, and how you take questions. You also get to decide on your attitude each day when you walk into the classroom. You want to be upbeat and enthusiastic so that the students will be excited about the course also. Show students that you care about them as people: learn names, and create a classroom culture where they can feel comfortable asking questions.
5. Be Clear About Your Expectations
Set expectations and be consistent in enforcing them. If attendance is important, then tell the students this and reward for regular attendance. If you want assignments turned in on time, then either don’t accept late papers or take off points if they are late. Whatever you do, be consistent. Remember the importance of “withitness.” The most effective teachers are aware of what is going on in their classrooms and enforce their policies quickly and fairly.
6. Handle Discipline Problems Right Away
If a student is coming in tardy and you do not address the problem, he or she will not all of a sudden decide to come to class on time. If you do not say anything, you have essentially rewarded the wrong behavior.
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