There is always one..

SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN · Aug 30, 2012

Ugh, yes! I think we can all share your misery there!

jasilady · Aug 30, 2012

Haha r u in my class.? Haha no really... This just happened in my tuesday lecture. I'm like ahhh can u share after class, after we have covered the material!!!

KatieJ91 · Aug 30, 2012

Did you just start school or has this been going for a while? The reason I ask is because this happened my first few weeks of school, but my teachers nipped that in the bud quick. They wouldn't stand for what they felt to be unreasonable questions that consumed valuable lecture time. We can still ask questions.... just within reason :)

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2012

I totally agree. In my first year of nursing school there was a student that asked questions and shared stories constantly. Some of us used to count how many times she would interject something in class. In an hour long lecture, there could easily be 30-45 comments/questions! The more frustrating part is, they weren't often real, relevant questions. She would ask things like, "Can you repeat that?" "What does _____ (medical term) mean?" "Oh, I think that's a good idea." etc.

OP, I would approach your instructor about this after class or in her office. If there are other concerned students, bring them with you too. Let the instructor know that you're concerned that the number of questions/comments by the students (make it general) during class are making it more difficult to get through the information and for other students to really focus in on what is being said. Ask her opinion on asking students to wait until the end of a slide or even the end of class in order to ask questions, and to hold personal stories unless they are asked to share. The instructor may not realize the type of learning environment that all of these questions and comments are creating.

LCinTraining · Aug 30, 2012

I ask questions. A lot. It's how I learn. Visual learners can learn from reading the text. I will never remember. I have to be involved in the discussion to remember anything. I don't hate on class mates for their learning styles and I have worked just as hard to be here as another student. I also have to learn and process the material as best as I know how, just like you do. That said, I try not to run class down rabbit holes, but remember, this student may simply be trying to process what s/he has been hearing. Nothing except practicals is set up for the kinetic learner in nursing school, so us kinetics have to do what we can to survive.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Aug 30, 2012

It is the responsibility of the instructor to conduct the class in a way that ensures that all of the content is delivered. As with all things, expertise only comes with experience, so new instructors are more easily sidetracked. I agree with the PP - arrange to have a private discussion with the instructor to voice your concerns.

FYI, my technique is to pull 'Curious George' aside (before or after class) and suggest that we explore alternative ways to meet his needs - like submitting a list of questions to me after class & I will respond to them. This is a frequent problem, especially with courses that include complex concepts . As an educator, I used the questions as a form of feedback so that I knew which concepts were still fuzzy and needed more time in class. With these courses, an instructor-maintained FAQ list can also be very helpful.

Sorry to burst some bubbles, but educational research has clearly revealed that the old "learner types" is pretty much bunk... those may be a student's preferred method for receiving new information, but motivated people can easily adapt to any delivery method. According to an extensive body of research, there are actually only 2 distinct types of learners.... ones with prior knowledge of the subject and those without prior knowledge. For more on this issue, I would recommend reading Building Expertise: Cognitive Methods for Training and Performance Improvement & Efficiency in Learning: Evidence-based Guidelines to Manage Cognitive Load - both by Ruth Clark. Fair warning though - those texts may reveal a lot of areas in which your instructors are NOT very proficient.

eleectrosaurus · Aug 30, 2012

FYI, my technique is to pull 'Curious George' aside (before or after class) and suggest that we explore alternative ways to meet his needs

Woo sounds HOT!

Seriously, yea curious George will P/O his entire class fast. If i were in your situation where the teacher wasn't handling it, I would confront the student, first alone.. with a group if necessary. We all deserve to learn. Honestly my experience with said student was they didn't know the basic material and had to go home and READ.

LCinTraining · Aug 30, 2012

Sorry to burst some bubbles, but educational research has clearly revealed that the old "learner types" is pretty much bunk... those may be a student's preferred method for receiving new information, but motivated people can easily adapt to any delivery method. According to an extensive body of research, there are actually only 2 distinct types of learners.... ones with prior knowledge of the subject and those without prior knowledge. For more on this issue, I would recommend reading Building Expertise: Cognitive Methods for Training and Performance Improvement & Efficiency in Learning: Evidence-based Guidelines to Manage Cognitive Load - both by Ruth Clark. Fair warning though - those texts may reveal a lot of areas in which your instructors are NOT very proficient.

Motivation has little to do with learning disorders. I'd actually garner that I push harder than most students with my ADHD. And without being involved directly with the process there is no retaining of information. I can read a text multiple times and not remember a thing. I can outline and remember I have questions. I take those questions to lecture or privately to the professor for clarification and then the information is properly processed. That said, motivation can help, as it pushes me to outline the texts and find other methods of "hands on" learning, so I don't side tract the class too often. There is no comparison with actual discussion for me. I remember conversations, and the emotions I felt while discussing. In that I remember the material almost verbatim. ADHD is a minor blip on the educational scale, but there are other issues learners deal with as well, from outright cognitive delays to visual disturbances such as dyslexia. If someone who struggles to grasp concepts is merely told they are not motivated enough, you are trashing half of your future employment base, when the reality is, that if the educational need is met, they would turn out to be excellent in their career of choice. I come at this with years of behavioral therapy experience, and working with children who struggle, I've seen them both fail with improper educational methods and thrive with proper. I've managed to overcome much of my ADHD and focus issues with meticulous planning, but there is much to be said for those who learn more through hands on and it's setting those learners up for failure to ignore that.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2012

LCinTraining is spot on. Back to the topic:

The professor needs to handle the situation appropriately, discussing the issue with the student after class and suggesting they defer stories and nonessential questions until after class.

If the prof doesn't have the guts to handle the problem, the best solution is to wait until the professor's back is turned. Then, taser the disruptive student and quietly drag their twitching body out into the hall. If the professor notices this, they will pretend not to out of gratitude. It works every time!

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Aug 30, 2012

Oh my goodness. THIS is what I'm fearful of. I've already met that one student the day we had interviews. I knew her life story, as well as why she's becoming a nurse (for the money, lol *eyeroll*) in the 15mns I sat with her. I'm going to read the replies now to see others advice

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Aug 30, 2012

I can read a text multiple times and not remember a thing.

((hugs)) this is me. I've always been that way which is what kept me from going to school before. I am definitely a hands on learner. Show me & I completely understand. Nursing school will be a challenge with the amount of reading, so in your case, (and mine) I'm all for asking questions.