Do you have students that like to take the class off on tangents? Some do this on purpose, of course. Others are simply interested in seeing where certain ideas can go, but its not always productive to go off in that direction.
Nevertheless, you want to keep your students engaged, but you also need to keep the class focused and on task. The "parking lot" idea is one worth using, as it allows you to do both.
From: http://www.lansing.cc.mi.us/cte/resources/teachingtips/tip14.aspx
Parking Lot
Do your students sometimes digress from the topic at hand?
Are you torn because you want to address their questions but you are also concerned about interrupting the flow, or getting too far off topic?
Consider putting a "parking lot" on the board. It could be a circle or square where you record questions and ideas not directly related to the task at hand. If you use a "parking lot," consider one of the following options during the last few minutes of class:
1. Address the questions in the "parking lot" as appropriate, particularly if they relate to upcoming sessions.
2. Decide what "vehicles" will be driven away and by whom. If a question is not related to the topic, ask a volunteer to find the solution and share their findings either in the next class session or via your [d2l] course site. (If no one volunteers, maybe the question isn't worth pursuing.)
References
Adapted from the University of Kansas - Center for Teaching Excellence, Vol.2, No.4 "Teaching Matters" newsletter.
We Believe
15 years ago
Professors must answer all questions, either in class or privately. Teachers must encourage students to think. See "Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better" on amazon.
ReplyDeleteCan an "answer" be another question, though? At some point, isn't it important to teach the student to find his or her own answers??
ReplyDelete