Planning Document #4

"What If" Situations

There is an endless array of things that can be considered "what ifs" for this type of program. I do not believe this is necessarily a bad thing, and in fact, it may serve as a powerful tool to teaching students. If there is no precise formula to learning, students will have to strive more to achieve success at Kean University.

I believe students should have some general assumptions about this program, and not the specifics. They are more equals than students and supervisors, and have the same goals- learning.

1. What If Students are unresponsive?

- If this is the beginning of the session, start the group with some casual chat (or a freewrite) to open up the discussion.
- If this is the middle of the session, try to bring the discussion back to a previous subject.
- If this is near the close of the session, ask for student expectations for the next days class (and this can also be used as an opener for the next class, if needed)


2. What If Students are unprepared?
- While every student should be prepared (lets face it, these are freshman, and no one is perfect,) if a student does not have anything to contribute, ask him to summarize his class session
- Find out if any other students in the session are taking the same class (and if so, have them contribute)
- Have the student take a few minutes to write some observations now.
- Pair the student up with someone who is adequately prepared

3. What If Students are considerably late to sessions?

- Speak to the student privately (after class) and find the source of the lateness.
- Try to relate to your own experiences with tardiness, and emphasize the importance of being on time.
-If Student is continually late, alert the mentor.

4. What if Students are Overly Responsive?

- There may be students who think, the more they contribute, the better it will be for them. That does not work in studio. The facilitators give no grades, and can only give recommendations to students.
- If a student is overly responsive, try to incorporate an experience that another student had (similar to the subject at hand) to even out the conversation.
- Attempt to change the subject, where another student may have more input.
- Keep the conversation moving.


5. What If Students go off-topic for a considerable amount of time? (2-3 minutes)
- A little rant is not necessarily a bad thing. A longer one is.
- Try to relate the topic to something in the academic context.
- Ask the student- how does that relate to (subject at hand)
- Get the conversation back on track.

6. What If there is a personal conflict between the students?
- There are going to be students with very different backgrounds and very different attitudes. Even though these sessions are small, it is likely that there may be two students who don't get along.
-Remind the students that this isn't a debate forum, and that the university has standards. (Codes of the University)
- If the argument insists, bring the students back to the academic discussion.
- Alert the mentor if you have concerns with the students.