I pay to hear the instructor... not your stories (rant. beware)

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How can i get the students in my class to stop telling stories and giving personal examples of every single thing we discuss? It is driving me insane. Our lectures with a particular instructor regularly lose upwards of 40 minutes to student "contributions" about their aunts best friends sisters hospital stay(not kidding... this happened today). We run out of time and miss half the lecture. Several students stopped coming to lecture with the instructor that allows this because they are better served re-reading the book then going down these rabbit holes.

So how do i fix it?

-Tell the instructor that this is impeding learning?

-Tell the students involved (there are 3 that i know the pathology of their entire extended families by now)

-air horn? ::i dream of this one, but would never do it:) ::

-say something on the internal class forum?

Every option is going to be uncomfortable. what would/did/can you do?

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"please hold your questions and comments until the end."

interject the instant someone interrupts. repeat as necessary.

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I'm with you. This totally drives me batty and I think it is a total waste of class time. We are not talking about the occasional relevant example, but rather the student who has a personal story for EVERY single discussion.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I'd probably say something like "Could we please get back to the lecture now? I really want to hear our instructor's lecture on the rest of our class content for today." in the middle of their stories. I'd look at the instructor with a pleading look and hope she got the message that you (and others) didn't want to waste time with the story-telling -- and that you valued what she (the instructor) wanted to present.

The instructor may appreciate your support and begin trying to move things along. She may be hesitating to do so because she mistakenly believes you students want that kind of discussion. Letting her know that you value her lectures might help her grow a set of cajones.

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Specializes in CVICU.

This is a problem in some of my classes as well. IMO it should not be the student's responsibility to moderate other students. Simply inform the instructor that it is hurting the learning process whether they know it or not.

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Specializes in NICU.

I vote for the air horn.....:)

We had this problem in my class, too. What was effective was every time the students started to share personal stories (and it was always the same two or three) someone would say, "Can you tell us about it after class so we can get finish the lecture and leave on time?" As long as it's consistent, it's pretty effective!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

Does your class have evaluations at the end? Be sure to let the teacher know she needs to improve on the control of her classroom.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Yeah the stories and such are probably best left at home.

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to keep the drama at a minimum, go to that particular instructor after lecture and let her know that the stories are affecting your learning time. Tell her it is distracting and that you and several other people would rather spend that time listening to what the instructor has to say... she will be flattered that you are interested in her info and she can put a stop to it wuickly the next time it happens.

this works. I had to do it three weeks into our first semester.

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I definitely feel your pain.

But I agree, speak to the instructor about it.

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Agree that the instructor doesn't seem to have control over the class. Is there any way to ask

"Can you tell us what we missed in lecture that we need to go over in the textbook?"

Maybe a "subtle" hint?? YOU really can't do anything, except let the instructor know you want to hear her. :)

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You could do what the people in my class do. The constant interruptor sits beside me. Behind us are the girls who hate it. Every time she starts talking about something not pertinent, the girls behind us collectively sigh loudly enough for the whole room to hear and then whisper "Shut Up".

It hasn't worked thus far, but it's pretty entertaining for me! :)

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