Discipline in Large Classes

* TALKING AND INNATENTION

- Make direct eye contact with those who talk so they know you noticed them

- Physically move in proximity of those who talk

- Ask a direct question to the area where they are seated

- Call offending student to remain a minute after class and make a private remark (usually students appreciate when they are not embarrassed in public)

- If you ever have comments in the course evaluations from past courses where students complain of their peers it is a good idea to read those in the first day of class, this creates peer pressure. Also make everyone know that you appreciate if they bring to your awareness that there are peers who disturb the learning process (this creates as well a peer pressure and minimizes misbehavior).

* ARRIVING LATE OR LEAVING EARLY

- Spell clearly the ground rule in the syllabus, explain in the first day of class and let students know that you expect them to come to class on time and in return you will start and finish as scheduled.

- Have a starting ritual: dim the lights before you start talking, play music, ask a group of students in the front row to clap all at once so it draws everyone’s attention, read a joke or a quote of the day, etc.

- Require students to inform you verbally or in writing if they need to arrive or leave early (due to conflict or tight schedule of classes in other buildings) possibly you can reserve a special space in the front or the back of class so they do not disturb the teaching process

- Station the TAs along the back of the classroom and approach those who leave early and ask them what is the reason or if they are okay, why are they leaving, etc.

- Post on the board in the last 5 minutes of the lecture a topic or a question to conclude the teaching of the day and preview the next topic. It is useful to have similar questions on the exam, that way students will be less tempted to leave.

- Let students know that there are costs for arriving late or leaving early; you do not teach two times the same topic, gather assignments in the first 5 minutes or take sporadic attendance in the last 5 minutes of class time by having each student exit the door by turning in one flash card with their name on it. Post TAs at each exit. That way students cannot turn in multiple names at once.

* INNATENDANCE

- Attendance and Participation are different things. Attendance is physical presence, as opposed to participation which involves physical presence but it is not limited to that only. Participation supposes active behavior of being involved in the teaching and learning process that take place in the classroom. If you require attendance then be sure to have a measure for it. Collecting homework, in-class assignments that are collected at the end of the class, a quiz at the end of the class, one minute paper, flash card with name and response to a question on “Muddiest point” (what was the most difficult concept, or topic, a question that remains after today’s lecture).

- A good system to take attendance is by using a extra credit system by having 10 short quizzes at unannounced times in the semester. This will measure attendance and encourage students to be present to your class since most students like to have the extra credit opportunity. You also measure learning in that class time and is a good way to see how your students understand the topics you teach.

- Some students who have lecture notes online consider that notes are sufficient to prepare for exams. Make sure that your students understand the connection between having the notes available upfront and participating in the lecture by learning the application of the concepts. For this reason it is always good to use many examples and practical application in the classroom which clarify the lecture notes posted on the class web, or the text provided in the textbook.

- A good modality to make students aware that you pay attention to their presence in the classroom is to ask them on exam day (when attendance is high) to write on a piece of paper (no names provided) the reason why they missed, or would miss a class, or why they do not attend classes regularly.

* DEADLINES

- The syllabus must present clear statement concerning missed exams, make-up exams, turn in late papers or late homework. Over the semester periodically refer to your policies since students tend to forget and do not pay attention to what is stated in the syllabus.

- If you have clear policies stated in the syllabus, make sure you explain the reason in the first day of classes. Do not make any exceptions from your rules unless in extraordinary circumstances and then in private. Always explain and document the rationale of any policy changes.

- You also must keep the deadlines. If you promise your students that you will turn in the grades at a certain date then do so.