Hi Amy- Excellent- You are obviously a very empathtic instructor! Best wishes- Susan
HI Caryn- Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, the large classroom environment can indeed be quite intimidating to some students. Your use of small groups can be really effective for thes students. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Charles- Thanks for your post to the forum. We all know that it's easier to just call on the students who wave their hands to answer every question. But, as you mention, we need to always be working to involve every student in every class! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
By relating the content to a real life scenerio is one way....another way is to build upon responses
HI Charles- Thanks for your post to the forum. you are working hard to get all your students engaged in their learning. Keep up the great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
In my composition classes much of the value comes from class discussion. Having students take an active part in this by responding to and asking questions makes the class much better. Drawing out the students who are less comfortable speaking out can be a challenge because I understand their reticence, but they do, indeed, have much to offer. Peppering all corners of the room with questions and finding some good in every answer and encouraging all expressions of thought are the best ways to involve everyone in class activities.
I occasionally will ask a general question of the class and give perhaps 10-15 seconds for them to formulate an answer while letting them know I may call on anyone. The process here also includes the fact I am not trying to embarrass anyone. Throughout the course I ask for input from all as this is their class. Another encouragement is that when they ask or answer a question, they most likely benefit the whole class.
I have found that if I break a larger class down to do small group discussion, the introverted students are more likely to participate.
I have a lot of students that are in the classroom for the first time in a long time. I work hard to help them participte because asking/answering questions seems to be one of the biggest challenges they encounter.
One thing that I do if I notice a student that is not participating is call on them by name...but I choose the question carefully. I make sure that there is no possbible wrong answer...like their opinion! Once they actually speak in class and realize it wasn't the horrible experience that they were anticipating, you can almost see the anxiety melt away. After that first answer I almost always see a dramatic increase in participation.
HI Shoaib- Using small group discussion can often be the solution for such a student. Best wishes - Susan
But what about a student how is shy and doesn’t want to participate in discussion at all?
HI Joseph - Thanks for your post to the forum. You mention an good point. It is important to be authentic. Students can tell when you are not being yourself. Of course it's essrntial to keep a degree of distance between yourself and your students they need to get to know you as a person. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I agree with making them feel comfortable. I am growing a lot in this area but have found a couple things that help: 1) I try to teach/ask questions through my personality style (being me and not trying to be my mentor).
Knowing your students and knowing their weakness we should as instructors be aware of. By this we can work with the student and show them their improvement which builds their confidence.
Hi Arlene- thanks for your post to the forum. By ensuring that your students feel comfortable/safe in your classroom you do empower them to become active learners. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
In math class, the biggest issue is giving the students safety in asking questions. I make sure that it is clear from the first class period that the class is theirs. Every question is welcome. I remind them of the horrible days of junior high and promise them that that will not be the scenario in our class. "We have all grown up and are preparing for a career."
Sometimes though you as an Instructor have to be extremely careful of the culture of your students so questioning does not cause any problems,
The first day of class I always find out a little about each student: where they are from, work experience, any supervisory experience. That way I can phrase a question to fit a situation they are familiar with or may have directly experienced.
Try to put them in teams with other students so they can gain confidence within a small group.
I find that you have to first get the students that just blurt out the answer to every question to stop. The quiet ones know that if they are quiet, someone else will answer. I ask questions directly to the quiet students. I try to do it in a way to pull them out and get them involved.
