The University of Waterloo’s Center for Faculty Excellence has shared some interesting approaches for engaging students who are disruptive to your classroom learning environments:
- Ask the students if they have a question. Sometimes talking during class is legitimate; students have missed a key definition or number and need clarification from someone sitting nearby.
- Move closer to the disruptive students. Your proximity may signal to them that they are interrupting the class.
- Make a general statement to the class about the disruption. If you do not feel comfortable singling people out, you can indicate to the class in general that the disruption level is too high and remind them of the ground rules you set on day one.
- Use an active learning activity. Try a think-pair-share where you have students turn to the person next to them to discuss a problem or question. This will break up the flow of the class and help to re-capture students’ attention. It will also give you an opportunity to approach the disruptive students and discuss your concern with them.
- Ask those who consistently disrupt the class to see you after class. This will give you an opportunity to air your concerns outside of class and indicate your displeasure with the students’ behavior without embarrassing them in front of the class.
(Large Classes: Limiting the Chaos. Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo)
https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/catalogs/tip-sheets/large-classes-limiting-chaos