The Shy Learner
I find that alot of students are extremely shy and reserved. I try to incorporate group activities to encourage participation as much as possible. Currently, I'm in an online environment, so discussions work very well.
I also consider myself a shy learner. I do not like to work in groups. I prefer to work alone. I do my own research. and I compile my data. When I was attending Barbados Community College, we were divided into groups for an assignment. Each person had to gather a particular section of information and present it to the group. I did horribly.Sometimes during the discussion, I did not know what to say. I just sat there like an idiot. I hate group projects and I do not take part in them, but I give my students a choice.
I enjoyed your response, Myself have now started to realy focus on bringing these shy students into the lecture. I have given them topics that they need to research and lecture the information they have found on it. I have also had them get up and do dances as a whole class. They then start to relax and open up more in subsequent classes.
Hi Hugh, Thanks for sharing a great technique! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
Susan Polick
I have worked the shy student into the conversation in class by asking questions and letting the spring-butts answer and discuss. I then will look to the shy student and just ask what he thinks. I am not asking for a right or wrong answer and I am getting them involved. Eventually they almost always begin to respond.
Hi Kristi, Thanks for your post to the forum. Real life scenarios are such a terrific learning tool! Great approach for encouraging greater participation. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
An approach that I have found affective is to give real life scenarios and ask how they would respond in situations. This opens the discussion. For the shy student I may not ask them right off the bat for their response. I will let more of the vocal students reply first. If I find the shy learner continues to withdraw from the discussion I will ask if they would handle the situation in a similar way. Sometimes I will "tweak" or adjust the scenario before I ask them so they don't just agree with the other students.
Reserve a classroom that will accommodate the kind of participation you have in mind. Starting on the first day of class, arrange the room in a way that encourages active engagement
I will have to try this approach, as my teaching also takes place in a classroom.
Hi Letrice, I also teach primarily online now and find that often students who are very shy in their onground classes really shine online! Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Lynne , Thanks for your post to the forum. Great observation - if students feel comfortable with and excited about a topic, they will be more likely to participate. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I have found that in the classroom, when i have shy students i try to bring them out by finding a little more about what they like and bring this into the classroom activity. It seems to help
