How many times has a student been told that class will start back in 10 minutes and find that 15 minutes later, the instructor is in a sidebar conversation with someone and has lost track of time?

I have been that waiting student and…yes, I have been that instructor!

Is it a big deal? Maybe it is not a big deal if it happens once but I find that it often happens again and again. Recently, I had the opportunity to take a class just for the learning.

I observed another fellow student who was in her chair at the appointed time looking around to see when the class would resume. Seeing that she was one of the few honoring the clock, she took out her phone and started a new text message. After she finished that short task, I took the opportunity to ask her how she felt about returning on time to be put on hold for an indeterminate period.

I told her that I wasn’t being critical of the situation. Instead, it was a problem that I struggled with as an instructor and that I valued her perspective. She said that she didn’t like being punished for doing what the teacher asked while the violators were more or less rewarded for ignoring the start time but that “it happens all the time”. I saw other “innocents” starting conversations of their own and a few decided to get up and leave the room for a second time.

Finally, the instructor completes his conversation. He begins the first of several actions needed to get the crowd back into the room and from there, back into the learning mode. He never had a break.

The fact that a student is engaged enough to have questions and the fact that the instructor is connecting one on one and gaining feedback are good things. These good things are often compounded into a negative. The instructor has sacrificed one of his responsibilities to his class and may have even compromised the students earning their desired C.E. credit.

So the question is: How can I manage these situations more effectively?

First, I need to be more precise in how long the break will be. “We’ll start back in about 10 minutes” is not the best way to announce the recess. One effective tool is the use of a timer that is up on the big screen. The whole class can see the countdown and use the remaining time as they desire. There is no mystery as to which clock we are going by and no need to ask what time are we supposed to start back.

Another effective and fun approach that I have seen is when the teacher rewards the table or row that is back 100% on time. Peer pressure plus a piece of candy can go a long way, even with adults. This can burn a minute or two but it does get everyone back in the classroom, physically and mentally.

One instructor announced that she will review test questions immediately following each break. If you come back late, you may miss some crucial information.

I would like to hear your ideas on what you have used or observed as an effective means of maximizing the learning by managing the breaks.