listening and effective questioning
keep your listening ears open during open discussions that will help other students get involved that typically do not.
Hi David- Thanks for your post to the forum. You are obviously a very caring instructor! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I agree strongly, listening carefully to a student's response and responding to what they have said gives the student credibility and that builds confidence and confidence encourages the student to engage again. It also ensures on lookers that if they engage they too will be listened to and treated respectfully.
Hi Tammie- Sometimes when working with groups, I find that the composition of the group will determine the length of the discussion. If you are familair with personality types, there are some personality types that just do not do small talk. They cut to the chase, decide on their answer and are done! Other groups may go on forever without reaching a conclusion. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
keeping the discussion focused on the task at hand is important to keep all the students engaged in the course lecture. If you have several groups i find that some of them may be "done" with the discussion. I try to ask them other questions leading from their answers to provoke more conversation
Useing the broad range of learning skills in the class helps you to provoke questions that will involve the students at multi levels.
HI Terry - Thanks for your post to the forum. As you mention, if we listen carefully and assess the direction the discussion is taking we can, by remembering information about our students, pull the more reticient students into the discussion by referencing some of their experience. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
