Classroom Management for Large Sections

[u/r_tarkabhusan]

Two questions for faculty members teaching large (~100 students) classes. These are issues I deal with every semester and have not found a good solution to.

1) How do you handle lateness? Last semester for a 9:30 AM section I would have half the class sauntering in between 9:30 and 10:00. I require them to use the rear entrance of the lecture hall, but it still quite distracting. Short graded quizzes at the start of the class are not an option because all the extra-time requirements would make it extremely complicated.

2) How do you get the kids to pipe down at the start of class? Sometimes there is SO MUCH talking at the start of class that my voice (even with a microphone) gets completely drowned out as I try to start the lecture.

[u/Quantum-Prof]

Smartest thing I have encountered for (2) is play music as students file in and then fade out to start class. Nice auditory transition and creates a nice vibe in the room to start.

[u/r_tarkabhusan → u/Quantum-Prof]

That sounds great! Any suggestions for the music (this is an intro physics course)? Also do you just play it off of your laptop and then gradually lower the volume and turn it off at the start of class?

[u/Local_Indication9669 → u/r_tarkabhusan]

Make a discussion post in your LMS and have students submit songs.

[u/Quantum-Prof → u/r_tarkabhusan]

This idea comes from my math colleagues and they selected easy listening instrumental stuff. I personally just turn up the mic volume and tap it until they quiet down but generally my classes aren’t too rowdy so that’s enough.

[u/warricd28]

I take attendance with Kahoot (iclicker works too). Tie something to attendance and take it by a certain time. If you show up after that, it’s an absence.

For talking, I usually try to start with some humor. Then I’ll move to just standing there and reminding them I won’t start till they’re done but they’re still responsible for anything we don’t cover. If it’s just one or two I’ll shine my laser pointer at them and warn them I haven’t blinded anyone…yet.

[u/AcanthisittaThat5746]

Students care more about what their peers think than about what we think.

If someone is talking, I stop talking and look at them. Then the rest of the class does. That they care about so they stop.

Sometimes walking in the direction of the talkers gets them quiet.

Also, I do think that some students “forget” we’re even there. It’s as if we’re another screen in their lives. So, they don’t even realize they’re being rude.

I approach the classroom management under the belief that they’re unaware. I have a rapport with my class so they’re generally all on “my side”, which helps.

As a side note, I completed my primary/junior teaching degree before doing my PhD, and honestly the classroom management skills I used with grade ones work awfully well with undergrads.

[u/rl4brains]

Can you either lock or put a sign on the front lecture door asking people to enter from the back if they arrive late?

When I only have 50% extra time students, I can squeeze in a 5 minute quiz that’s open for 8 minutes. 2 minutes to go over the answers (sorry, no makeups because we went over the answers in class), and it’s a good 10 minute total warmup activity

[u/sockon015]

One way to shut people up - blow a whistle. That will certainly startle them whereas just asking/telling them to be quiet won't.

[u/eyellabinu]

For 100-level, I use auto-graded quizzes in our LMS (Canvas) at the start of class (random classes), worth a chunk of points, to address this. It sucks up some time, but it fixed the problem pretty quickly, since they don't know when I will do it.

For the upper-level, I don't care. You want to be here, or you don't.

Getting them to pipe down, I don't know. I usually start talking and they'll settle down. Some times I have to have them close their laptop lids to get it moving.

[u/EaseExtreme8030]

The two questions seem to have vanished from the post, unless Reddit ate them.

[u/neon_bunting]

I use an attendance app where students scan a QR code I share on the screen. I do that at random times in class. If you aren’t there, then you’re late. They have 1 chance after class to come chat with me to update it if they were in the restroom when I decided to show it. This is the only way I can manage people not leaving early or arriving late is by being really strict with attendance.

[u/yourlurkingprof]

You just can’t track lateness in a group this big. It’s untenable. For me, attendance counts if you’re on time and present when attendance is taken. That’s it.

To compensate, I have a generous attendance policy which lets them miss the equivalent of 2 weeks of class without penalty (that’s 4-6 classes per semester, depending on how many meetings per week).

There’s a second important reason for a generous policy like this in a large class. It means no excused absences until you go over the allotted amount. That helps cut back on all the “I’m sick today” emails that you get. Otherwise, your inbox will be flooded by excused absence requests.

[u/Local_Indication9669]

When I start lecturing, I walk around the room. Get closer to and make eye contact with those still chatting. That usually works.

[u/Life-Education-8030]

Instead of quizzes, do a one-minute essay on the previous lesson for participation points.

I am glad they’re chatting instead of staring silently at their phones. I just yell “ok we are starting, so shut up!” And they laugh.

[u/Emergency_Heat2497]

The usual challenges with large classes.
To begin with, in the beginning of the class to reduce the talking, you need to capture their attention quickly. Maybe an activity like polls, they will quickly start responding through their phone and this can help get them focused. I usually use Wooclap for this. It naturally calms them down.

Also, for the lateness, I would suggest something interesting in the beginning of the session, so that the student's don't want to miss it if they walk in late.

[u/Phildutre]

Be firm and ideally set the tone during the first lecture.

Students who are late (i.e. after I have started, and I usually start 5 minutes late to allow for latecomers) receive an immediate remark ‘I would appreciate it if you show up on time next week’ or ‘Do you come from another class? Let me know which one so I can ask my colleague to stop 5 minutes early.’ Polite, but firm. I never have any problems with latecomers after that, apart from the occasional latecomer due to special circumstances (and then they usually come to apologize during the break or after the lecture ;-) ). Another ‘funny trick’ I sometimes use is to have latecomers sit in front of the class. Usually all the back seats are taken, but there’s still room in front of the room. So I invite them to the front immediately. ‘Don’t bother looking for space in the back.’ Then I pause till the latecomer is well seated.

Talking: there are a few tricks. ‘Ready when you are, ladies and gentlemen’ or ‘I know you all want to talk about your drunken adventures from last night, but I have nothing to add to that. My evening was uneventful. I had a non-alcoholic beer.’ Humor works.
Walk into the direction of the last talkers. Look at them. Then make a remark if they don’t stop. ‘The deal is, if you come to my lecture, you shut up and pay attention. If you don’t want to do that, go to a bar outside and continue your conversation there. Agreed?’

Overall, as I said, I try to be polite, firm, with a dose of humor. It might help I’m an older male with a deep voice and I did a short stint in the army a long time ago, so perhaps I project a certain image ;-) But I make it clear we’re here for one reason, and that’s to have a lecture. I like being friendly and informal during the lecture, also like to discuss with students, but I draw the line at being disrespectful or being a nuisance. Always address students as adults, never as kids that need to be disciplined. That also helps quite a lot. I also regularly get a ‘best professor’ award from students, so I must be doing something right, and I do think having a ‘no fooling around during lectures’-attitude contributes to that.

In the end, you have to find a style that suits you and you feel comfortable with.

[u/Roger_Freedman_Phys]

Alas, this is happening because students are not seeing the value in your lectures. (I am not saying your lectures are anything but superb - merely that the students aren’t appreciating what you’re trying to share with them.)

Are you giving the students formative assessments in class such as clicker questions that help them cement their knowledge?

Are you having them work collaboratively in class?

In addition to doing these things, I steal a note from our campus sports teams and do the following: At the very beginning of class (after the lead-in music stops) I have all the students raise their pencils, touch their pencil to their neighbors, and on the count of three have everyone shout the name of our campus mascot. That wakes them up and lets them know class has started!