Reaching Students who don't want to particpate in classroom discussion
In my experience, there are students who always want to speak in class and others who never want to share their ideas. Are these students bored or perhaps they have not read the assigned materials. Classroom participation is important in students' comprehension of the material. It also allows students to share their thoughts and expertise. What are some ways to reach silent students?
Peggy,
Terrific! Reaching students is like reaching anyone, and that usually invloves attempting to understand where they are coming from, or their perspective. It's important not to let the same students always lead or answer questions. I will call out a specific individual name, then ask a question. Right or wrong, I'll then call out a nother name and ask them to react to the previous students answer. I can continue this process as much or little as I want, but at least it assures all will participate to some degree.
Barry Westling
I never think of it as a student who does not want to participate, they do! Each one has a thought, an answer, a question. Ways to reach a silent student? Take the time to understand the silence. I take full opportunity of silent student's when I first get them to laugh, really laugh, not just smile. It's not a joke I tell, but a real career or life situation that makes the whole class all of a sudden become one group.
Karl,
Participation can be made fun, random, and inclusive. I put student names on playing cards with some tape (so I can reuse the card by pulling off the tape). For participation, I draw a card at ramdom, and the student whose name appears is required to respond. If I have a student needs more attention, I may put their name on more than one card. Also, this lets me know right away if the student is up to speed. If not, I draw another name. After three, I'll provide the answer or continue to clarify the discussion. This can work with pocicle sticks, or pencils, or any inexpensive item that come in multiples.
Barry Westling
Asking for input instead of a direct question has helped engage the "quite" students.
groups are fine, but unless the student can relate personally to the material and their specific career goals/success, they are hesitant to participate.
Warren,
Rewarding, in whatever fashion that takes can be a powerful motivational too.
Barry Westling
Christopher,
I use this technique when students seem disengaged too. I find students like the activity and alos, I think it stimulates critical thinking. Just need to be careful the group stays on task (avoiding a "social" discussion rather than the topic).
Barry Westling
Highlight a students high/good points on their assignments. Ask individual students to critique their classmates work, then ask what they would have done differently. Reward them verbally and let them know that they are on the right track with the day's lesson, this can create a positive feeling about their success with comprehending and understanding the days assignment.
I agree that small groups are the way to improve class participation. It helps students interact in a smaller format that is less intimidating then if they were to confront the class.
Srey,
Well, that's immature of them. Classes require order. I've had graduate study courses (master's and doctorate) where a raised hand was required to speak. Without order chaos results. Afterall, you as the instructor are in charge. If the students don't like what you do on their behalf, maybe they need an "attitude and expectation" discussion from their leader.
Barry Westling
I'll give it a try with the note cards. My student's are usually reluctant in doing anything that resembles being in highschool. They don't even want to raise their hands when they speak.
Hi Jim,
Sounds great. You're right about some students not accustomed to particapating actively in a group discussion. In a way it makes sense that unless this was required of them in some earlier class ( and assuming they're not of the extrovert type), they would be uncomfortable and tend to not want to speak up. Another version of "practice" is giving a list of questions that are specific to a student (name, residence, marital status, favorite sports, recreation, etc), and going around the room asking students to share and or elaborate. Other students are invited to ask questions of the presenting students to clarify something mentioned ("I live in that city too. What part of town do you live?"). While this may seem intrusive, in a program where students will be taking multiple classes together as a group, it reinforces the friendly camaraderie that helps blend diiferent classmates into a more cohesive group. I usually do something like this in orientation, but a variation of it could be done in every class they take.
Barry Westling
This is a common situation. What I have done is to call on each of the students to get their thoughts on the subject at hand. I find that many students are simply not used to interaction in a classroom and, once they are forced into the discussion be being called, the begin to expect to participate and come to accept participation in discussions as part of the culture of the class.
Jim Parker
Hi Steven,
Yeah, there are a lot of benefits to, and variations of the collaborative learning environment. Really, for me, whatever I can do to get students from point A to point B is worthwhile to me.
Barry Westling
Like Barry said, small groups work great for my class. There are also lots of other "collaborative structures" that you can use such as Pair-n-Share, Sage-n-Scribe, etc. Google: collaborative structures in the classroom.
Hi Bret,
Small group discussion (limit to to three per group) almost requires all students to be participants. Also, someone can be designated "recorder", another, "reporter" (to the class).
Another technique is ramdomly asking questions by literally stacking the deck. Write the name of each student on a card and add all cards to the deck. The quiet students names can be written on more than one card. When you ask a question randomly by shuffling then selecting, it's more likely one of the silent student names will be selected. A little sneaky, but then we recognize it's in the best interest of these quiet ones. This selection can be done with anything such as Popcicle sticks or other esay to obtain household items.
Barry Westling
