Questioning
I've had some courses where the students are inquisitive and ask great questions. They're involved and make the learning fun and interesting. On the other hand I've had some courses where they just stare at you. When you ask questions, they don't respond and the atmosphere is boring for them and me. I think that each class takes on a personality. I've tried a lot of the techniques that were listed in the content. It was a good reminder though of things to try to engage students in learning.
i love the diversity that i get from class to class it makes things fun
HI - Thanks for your post to the forum! I agree, starting early and questioning regularly is a great strategy. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I always like to open the floor at the beginning of class by reviewing last weeks material through the students eyes.
Yes. Its important I think to set a "tempo" early on so that students can grasp this idea and become comfortable with questioning as a key part of their learning.
Hi Kristi- Thanks for your post. Your additional question does indeed ask your students to thnk further. Great work! Susan
I've had the same experience and it truly is amazing how varied the student engagement can be. Using the follow up question of "Why do you think that is?" is my favorite "Go to" question to increase thinking & participation.
HI Melanie - Thanks for your post to the forum. Dealing with students who dominate the classroom and/or the non- participating majority is always a challenge but you have it well in control!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Classes really do take on their own personality. It's amazing how one activity will work with one group of students and the next group just sits there. What I try to do in that situation, however, is to keep asking questions and, eventually, someone will start answering. It seems like a lot of the time it simply takes one student to get things rolling. Once the ice is broken, I find that other students will respond more.
It's also problematic when you have a class where only 1 or 2 students respond. Sometimes I think the other students feel as though the class is just for the 1 or 2 that are actively participating. When I notice this happening, I will say something like "I'd like to hear what some more of you have to think about this." Or if I sense that someone wants to say something but another student is talking a bit too much, I'll wait for an appropriate break in the conversation and call on the student. That usually helps the other student who's being a bit more vocal to realize that someone else might have something to say as well.
Isn't it crazy how different classes can be with different students!
