However, when we have students with polar opposite views in the same class, trying to manage class discussion so that it is accepting and non-confrontational can seem nearly impossible. These obligations include treating students with respect for their feelings and their dignity, and providing optimal conditions for learning. Three Teaching Challenges Loss of composure . Sometimes students or instructors burst into tears or lose their tempers. Sometimes the loss of composure is a group phenomenon, such as when two or more students gang up on another student.
Tempers flare, and everyone is aware of the tension in the room.
Inappropriate or too frequent self-disclosure . Students may need help in learning how to self-monitor. For instance, in a discussion of alcoholism one student begins to give a detailed account of her own or a relative's abuse of alcohol. Perhaps another student goes into detail in describing a personal or family problem, or maybe one particular student always contributes some personal story, often somewhat tangential to the topic. Opinions students and faculty express .