Understanding and Handling Classroom Incivility tap.msu/nvgt/rescs/thoughts.htm

1. Understanding and Handling Classroom Incivilityhttp://tap.msu.edu/nvgt/rescs/thoughts.htm Kevin M. Johnston MSU TA Programs kmj@msu.edu

2. “I think a little conflict is a good thing, particularly when everyone agrees with me.”- George M. Johnston MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

3. Workshop Format • HISTORY - Considering Incivility – What is it? • Organization and Facilitation Strategies • Case Vignettes • Recommendations for knowing WHEN and HOW to handle incivility when you encounter it. • Large Case Study MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

4. What is Incivility? • Civility “norms” change. (What is it to YOU?) • Incivility rooted in ideas of community, survival, and progress “…behaviors that elevate human interaction and discourse.” (Pavela, 2006) • IU-Bloomington Survey (30 Categories of Incivility) arriving late; cutting class, being unprepared male/female students equally perpetrate young female faculty report experiencing it the most MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

5. What Causes Incivility? • Student (Parent) sense of entitlement? • Learning Enhancement Forum (LES) results 28 Causes of Incivility Developmental/Societal/Institutional/Faculty • “…Irritable Faculty Behaviors” – MSU Teaching Thoughts #10http://tap.msu.edu/PDF/teachingThoughts2008.pdf MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

6. Conflict Can Be Avoided With Good Organization/Classroom Facilitation • Set A Supportive Tone Early • Share decision-making processes with students • Use syllabi as a means for setting classroom behavioral standards • Facilitate open communication MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

7. Pilar has a strict policy for turning in assignments. Students must turn in their papers to her when they first arrive in class. Midway through the semester, Ben and Will arrive in class fifteen minutes late and attempt to turn in their papers. Pilar does not accept them. They respond loudly, “*!%!+$, “%^&*(@!”!!!” and sit down, continuing to grumble. Pilar continues to lecture… MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

8. Handling Conflict When It Occurs • Why Does Conflict Occur? • When is the Best Time To Deal With It? (Do You Always Have a Choice?) • Are There Ways to Prevent Most Kinds of Conflict? MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

9. What Situations Result in Conflict?(Can You Always Predict When It’s Going To Happen?) • Mistrust • Unfair Treatment • Condescension • Confusion • “Power” Inequity Does It Matter Who’s At Fault? MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

10. “Syllabi are “Contracts!” Siobhan declares, and teachers and students should stick to the “program” laid out by the TA. “I include all assignments, materials, and testing schedules in my syllabus. I don’t think it’s my responsibility to have to include anything else. The students should be able to figure it out. What I say goes! It’s their fault if they don’t read it closely enough.” MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

11. The Decision To Confront (When) • Is There A Significant Problem Right Now? • Is the Issue Important to You Personally? To The Other Person? • What Needs (Issues) Are Threatened By The Problem? • How Will The Other Person Respond to Your Efforts To Solve It? MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

12. When Do We Risk Confrontation? (cont.) • How Significant is the Issue? • Do You Want to Preserve or Strengthen the Relationship with The Other Person? • Is there Time? • Can You Avoid becoming Personally Aggressive? • Are Either Party Ready to LISTEN? MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

13. Timing is Crucial. When at all possible, avoid conflict until you and the other person are ready to deal with it properly. Conflict Management Flowchart. Donohue, 1992 MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

14. Lisa is handing back her students' midterms at the beginning of class. The exam is worth 45% of their grade, and the class averaged 65, a grade in which Lisa and a lot of her students are disappointed. An irate student, standing up near the center of the class, begins shouting angrily at Lisa about her grade as she gets to passing out the last papers in her stack. MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

15. Handling a Confrontation • Is The Potential for Crisis under Control? - Can you avoid threats/personal challenges? • Can you REDIRECT to Relieve Pressure? - Involve other students in the conversation - Make it a “thing” for the whole class to handle • Can You Relieve The Crisis? - Avoid Getting Defensive - Avoid the Conflict Spreading MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

16. Averting Crisis • Repeat Comments Objectively (If Possible) • Request The Other’s Solution/Others’ solutions • Review Options Once the conflict has become destructive, the situation is probably out of control and continued confrontation will likely result in more harm than good. MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

17. Handling Conflict (cont.) • Can You “Reschedule?” • Begin by Setting the Stage for Productive Problem Solving? • Can You Separate Emotional and Relational Issues from The Data, Interest, and Value Issues? • Can You Create Multiple Options? MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

18. How Patient Are You? How Patient Should You Be Expected To Be? • What Personal Influences Affect Your Ability To Handle Conflict? • Can You Set Negotiating “Ground Rules?” MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

19. CASE STUDY DISCUSSION Please work with the case study assigned to your group (Although, I will give you all three) • List your biggest concerns with the situation • List your solutions to the problem • Be ready to discuss your choices with the rest of the workshop participants MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

20. Is Power Balanced Between The Parties? • Does Each Party Have Equal Ability And Willingness to Impact Each Other’s Decisions? • Are Their Communication/Negotiating Skills Equal? • How “Safe” Is The Negotiating Environment? Always Work To Restore Power Imbalances – Donohue & Kolt MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

21. Kai gets back his essay. In large red letters across the top of the page, Distinguished Professor Mark D. Sade, has written “See Me After Class Immediately! In My Office!” MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

22. Deal With The Issues, Not The Person • Select a Third Party if Necessary • Create a Space in Which Conflict Can Be Resolved MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

23. Handle Conflict ONLY When Ready • Conflict can be terrifying, but it can also provide very effective contexts for learning • Document, as much as you can, potentially troublesome or threatening language, actions by your students. What If You Are (or, Feel) Physically Threatened? MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility

24. Department of Public Safety 355-2222 (or, 911) http://www.police.msu.edu/resources/eminfo.pdf Ombudsman’s Office 353-8830 Departmental/College Dean’s Office ____________ Counseling Center 355-8270 Women’s Resource Center 353-1653 Judicial Affairs 432-2471 Resource Center for Persons w/Disabilities 353-9642 MSU Workshop Series – Fall 2009 Handling Classroom Incivility