Hi James, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, expanding questions will not only aid understanding but also increase participation. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Instead of only one answer I will ask other students to give a different approach to the same question. Once they know the answer it's easier for them to get in on the discussion.
Hi Kellie, Yes, when students see the relevance of what they are learning, they are definitely more engaged.
Susan Polick
i find that sometimes keeping it to real world experiences engages the students into discussion a little more too
Hi Denise - Thanks for sharing a good idea to get students participating! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career
Susan Polick
I have students get into about six groups and have each group come up with two questions and they exchange their list with another group to answer them. All questions are discussed and two questions are used as a pop quiz the next day.
Sometimes I would tied the questions to the real life philosophy.
I do the same thing. I first ask to get background information on the students to see where the class topics can relate to their previous experiences. Then ask them questions to bring them to the point where they see the relevance. Light bulbs on = success.
I like to tie in personal experiences when at all possible. It makes the line of questions relevant to the students, it opens up communication between students and it begins to foster trust between the class and the teacher.
A good way to get students to participate in class discussions would be to first allow them to know that it is okay to give a wrong answer. Sometimes if someone gives a wrong answer it allows the instructor to further explain the question with a better understanding. Also, asking questions in a context that will make the student think of siutations they have encountered in their own lives will somtimes make students more eager to participate.
By developing games like jeopardy which requires them to answer a statement with a question. Then they get to pick the next participant so they are more likely to play since their peers are involving them.
Hi Seth, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, when students can relate what they are learning to personal experiences they are more engaged. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Kenneth, Thanks for your post to the forum. When students can "teach-back" they are demonstrating competence with the material. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I would think that relating some of the material towards the students personal interests would help students engage in questioning.
I will sometimes section off the class into small groups who are then in charge of presenting some portion of the days lecture. I will play the part of the "student" and have lots of questions. After that I usually have quite a bit of involvement from the rest of the class.
Hi Lorraine, Thanks for your post to the forum. I think that probably works best with smaller classes. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi William, Students do like to share their personal experience and this demonstrates relevance to their classmates.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Jan, Thanks for your post to the forum. I also utilize quizzes based on my students' reading. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Erwin, Thanks for your post to the forum. I loved your analogy! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
i like to encourage the "choir", and have students shout out an answer if they know it rather than waiting to be called on. if you aren't alone, it's not as scary to speak and be wrong. i find they like it.
