Answer:
Dealing with students who ask irrelevant questions to show their presence can be a challenge, but there are some strategies an instructor can employ:
First, it's important to establish clear expectations and guidelines for class participation at the start of the course. Explain to students that questions should be relevant to the material being covered, and that digressions will be discouraged. Encourage students to save unrelated questions for office hours or after class.
When a student asks an irrelevant question, the instructor can politely acknowledge the question but then redirect the discussion back to the topic at hand. For example, "That's an interesting point, but let's return to the topic of X that we were just discussing." This shows the student that their question has been heard, but refocuses the class.
Another approach is to actively solicit relevant questions from the class. During a pause or transition, the instructor can ask "Does anyone have any questions about the material we just covered?" This encourages students to ask genuine questions, rather than irrelevant ones.
If a student persistently asks off-topic questions, the instructor can have a private conversation with them to understand the motivation behind the behavior. Perhaps the student is struggling with the material and using questions as a way to participate. The instructor can then provide additional support or guidance.
Ultimately, the goal is to maintain a focused, productive learning environment for all students. With clear expectations, redirection techniques, and one-on-one conversations as needed, instructors can minimize disruptive irrelevant questions and keep the class on track.
