UNDERSTANDING STUDENTS
Barring few
exceptions, teachers do not treat students as their customers. However, if they
change their view and treat them as customers, it can help in understanding
students better and subsequently modify inputs in and outside classroom.
Teaching cannot be mass customized;
however post lecture interaction, discussions, counseling can be made more
meaningful if psyche of student community is understood. This is an important
issue because challenges faced by teachers at school, college and at doctoral
level are different. In school, class control is crucial whereas at postgraduate
level, arresting attention of students after 30 minutes is critical.
Students (at
different levels of education) are divided into four categories- on knowledge
base and verbal/ non-verbal interaction in class. Their characteristics and
behavioral symptoms are described. There may be overlap of symptoms across
categories. Following pyramid shall make my point clear:-
1-Knowledgable + Silent (Genius): - Few teachers are fortunate to have
taught students from this category (Exceptions- prestigious institutions such
as IIT/IIM/Medical colleges). Reason being- they are very small in number. They
are genius and not merely brilliant! Identifying them at school and grooming then
is crucial. Teachers take pride in having such student under them and refer his
name publicly at first opportunity.
They are
very polite and occupy
middle bench in class. They have dish antenna and get signals from various
quarters on different topics. Some teachers get nervous due to sheer presence
of such students in class.
Normally
they do not ask questions in class. If teacher has forgotten a point or gone
wrong while explaining topic, they will tell him/her after class. Atmosphere in
school or college does not have any negative impact on them.
They solve Break Even Point problem to fourth
decimal and show graphically final solution. They bring those elements in answers which
even teacher does not know. They will not solve question with negative marking
in surprise quiz if not sure of answer. They do not compare themselves with
other students from same school or college. They participate in on line essay
or other competition at global level. They are publicity shy and are passive
members in social functions such as school gathering/cultural festival in college
(exception-competition related to academics or general knowledge). No
statistics to prove but only general observation. Boys outnumber girls in this
category.
2--knowledgeable + Vocal (Brilliant):
- They are more in
number compared to genius students. Obviously, they are intellectually few
steps down compared to the genius but try to reach top with sheer hard work.
They are ambitious; use multiple sources for knowledge and information
gathering. They, like the genius, have dish antenna to receive signals. They
are regular readers of newspapers, magazines such as India Today, Reader’s
Digest and are current on happenings around world. They occupy first benches in
class and in spite of criticism from colleagues; they ask questions to teacher
or add value to what teacher has said. If student is a boy, his questioning to
teacher in some cases is treated by his fellow colleagues as a tact to impress girl students in class.
They are
normally convent educated, fluent in English+ one foreign language, from good family background and are focused on
their goals. They may change school/college or even University if they find atmosphere
not competitive enough. Teachers use their services during various programs as
anchor, for welcoming guests and during interaction with external agencies such
as inspection teams. Before using their
services, ego massage is necessary. They actively participate in science
exhibitions at school level. They are well connected to friends in other schools and
colleges and are aware of academic and non-academic activities there. If school
arranges international tour, they always volunteer first.
Girl from
this category tries to find out (through phone call) from her friend a day
before examination which topics she is studying. No statistics to prove but
general observation – girls outnumber boys in this category.
3-Ignorant + Vocal (Impressionist): - They are not knowledgeable but are
vocal in class. They have in-built antenna due to which they have I KNOW IT ALL
attitude. They have more nuisance value because discussion related to their
questions takes classroom nowhere. They very well know that aggression is the
best way of defense and hence ask question to teacher before he asks. There is
no clear cut purpose behind asking question except for making presence felt in
class. In case of co-education, their
purpose behind asking question to teacher may be to impress fellow girl
students. They have a feeling that examiner has done injustice to them in
examination and demand revaluation of answer sheet if facility is available.
They do
multiple activities apart from study and hence are relatively poor performers
in academics. They are up to date on technology and use it for homework,
project and other academic activities.
When they
participate in group discussion, they say -I fully agree but also ask other
participants their opinion. Their participation has no substance. They are
under impression that if they take initiative to open group discussion, panelists
are impressed and evaluate favorably.
If
attendance is compulsory, they help absentee friend by proxy. If teacher does
not cover particular topic, they are vocal and blame teacher. If valuation of
answer sheet is done internally, they argue with teacher and ask for more marks
even though their answer is not comprehensive. If teacher exceeds his time
while teaching, they tell him to stop immediately.
If teacher
does not fix particular order while taking individual quiz, they motivate
others to go first and prefer to face oral quiz in last. Their logic is- by the
fag end of the day; teacher is tired and may ask few/repeat/simple questions.
4- Ignorant + Silent (Spectator): - They form large number in class (not
referring to school or college, which admits only brilliant students). They are
silent spectators who are interested in attendance, which may affect their
grades. Reason for their silence can vary from sheer indifference, earlier
failures, priorities back home, parental pressure, comparison with siblings, to
family issues at other extreme. They have simple (five-element) antenna.
They are
vocal on issues related to extracurricular activities. Earlier, they used to
take help of knowledgeable students. However, now with Google search, they are
on their own. “Why me” is the reaction on their face if teacher asks question.
They do not believe in asking questions to teacher during classroom
interaction. They carefully look at icons on laptop of teacher. Nevertheless,
once presentation starts, they switch off mentally.They are passive during
group work. In institutes with residential accommodation compulsory, they can
be seen half-asleep in first session and alert in last session. If teacher
decides to shows video, they insist that lights in class should be put off.
While doing individual project work, they outsource it to juniors, friends,
family members, relatives or in extreme cases to service providers (by paying
money). They kill time in class by solving puzzles in notebook, or X and 0
game, graffiti on benches, drawing caricature of teacher etc.
In case of
practical examination laboratory, they establish good contacts with
attendants. If they participate in group discussion, only sentence they
normally speak is – Yes. I agree! They are active during field trips and have
good contacts with sponsors if social events are organized. They expect that
teacher should be sympathetic while evaluating them and give some concession
because they brought sponsorship for cultural event.
Teacher
should bring them in mainstream and best way is to ask open-ended questions.
To conclude, students from either school or colleges show
some traits in and outside classroom. Once teachers understand them, handling
becomes easier.
