Teaching as Performance I

From Centre for Teaching Excellence

Glenn Schiraldi

Audience Management

Probably all teachers hope that their teaching will always be so engaging that students will always be attentive and respectful. As a rule, students will be that way, except when they’re not, because sometimes they won’t be (to paraphrase Dr. Seuss), despite our best efforts. Some ideas for encouraging respectful viewing/participation and discouraging disruptive noise:

1. Rather than getting annoyed at sidestream conversations or making a scene, I’ve found this technique to be very useful for those who persistently hold private conversations. If the usual tricks don’t work, as I walk around the room lecturing, I quietly slip the offending party a previously prepared note. It says:

         Gentlemen/Ladies,
         If you continue to talk privately you will deprive yourself of the privilege of being in class. Please show this to the person(s) beside you.

I bring these notes to class with me each day, just in case. It has never failed to do the trick. However, I also bring another previously prepared note that reads:

         Gentelmen/Ladies
         Because you have been talking privately, you have deprived yourself of the privilege of being in class. Please leave class now. You may return:
         ______1 week from today
         ______2 weeks from today
         ______1 month from today
         ______ Only after talking privately to me

Please show this to the person(s) with whom you’ve been talking.

As I said, I’ve never had to use the second note, but find it comforting to know that it’s ready to go, if needed.

2. Say, “You might be asking a question others need to hear.”

3. For people packing up before lecture is over, try saying:

• (at the start of the semester) “Can we agree that we all stay focused until we formally dismiss, so as not to create noise from premature packing up?”
• “Can we have everyone’s attention until we formally dismiss.”
• “We’re not finished yet, but people are making noise packing up.”
• “Excuse me. Is it 4:30 yet?”
• “That will make a great exam question. Did you all hear it?”
• “The noise you’re making might be preventing your classmates from hearing this.”
• (Simply) “Stop fussing with your books.”

4. For electronic devices:

• “Our rule is this: Cell phones and pagers off. If they go off during class you must leave.”

Summarizing the Lecture

• Before concluding the lecture, go around and have all or some students respond to, “Tonight I learned that….” Or “As a result of our discussion today I realize that…”
• In a large lecture, asking, “Are there any questions” is usually a signal for students to pack up. Instead, try, ‘Before we go on, let me pause to ask if there are any questions.”