Class Participation
How do you get more of the students to participate in class discussion? I alwarys have the same students participating.
I try to encourage participation of the students by telling them that it's ok to say the wrong answer and that I just want them to try.
I can get more students to participate in class discussion by showing a picture or doing a demonstration and getting them to to discuss the basic details and elements of a hairstyle.
I do problems in class and I usually assign a problem to a student to work out on the board and explain how they get their answer. I find that the students will correct any mistakes if there is any. In that way they all participate and I get to see how well the students understand the content.
I also try to instill in the class that even a wrong answer will bring about some type of discussion, and thru that we will arrive at a correct answer or get on track to find the correct answer. If I find that the same students are answering all the time I will make a student the teacher for the question and answer period to allow them to moderate that time frame. They seem to like that, and take it as a challenge.
I find that it takes at least 3 to 4 classes before some of my newer students feel comfortable to participate in class. Also, I agree with breaking the students up into groups so that they are not only comfortable with me, but also with each other.
Elidon,
Good examples of how to get participation from students. The more we can get them talking the easier it is to identify if they are grasping the concepts that are being presented.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
There are several reasons for class participation. One is that it depends on what kind of students you get and how each of their character is. You have shy characters and you have those students who have outgoing personalities and always like to participate even if they are wrong. This is good, but the problem is getting the shy students or the rest of the class to participate more. Another reason is the way the instructor explained the lectures. If the students do not understand they are going to hesitate in participating. A good reason in getting everyone involved would be to relate the discussion to every day life or current events that the students would understand it better.
I always encourage my students to ask questions. The question that they have will most likely be the same question that someone else was afraid to ask.
Rochelle,
This is a nice way to support your students and encourage full participation throughout the course. This is a strategy other instructors can use. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have found it very important to make sure all students are engaged. If you allow the same students to answer questions always then the others can be made to feel inferior and then won't ever answer questions. I tell my students on day one that everyone will participate and if they won't volunteer I will call on them. However, I reinforce that demand with a positive. "It's okay to make a mistake or be wrong" We are never 100% about everything and if you give an answer that is not correct then you need to reinforce to that student that they tried and it's okay that their answer may have been incorrect and to not ever give up.
Jennifer,
This method keeps all of the students involved in listening and being prepared to respond. No one gets to take a pass this way and decide not to be a part of the learning process if they want to be successful in the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I don't ask questions to the class. I ask on specific student a question. Once that student has answered then I will open it up to everyone. This was all students are requested to give information at some point in a discussion.
I have also tried pulling names from a hat as a discussion contintues.
Pamela,
I ask each student questions of the lecture that was cover. In addition each response will received participation points.
Pamela,
One way is to put the students into groups and have them generate questions or respond to questions you have created. Then each person in the group presents his/her response. This gets everyone discussing but for the shy students it isn't too stressful since they are surrounded by group members and know they have to speak only briefly. This gets them going but they don't have to volunteer which many of them won't do as you know.
Gary
