Get Your Students Hired
I always ask at the end of the class that if they still had questions they can ask me. That way, if they did have a question and were afraid to ask in front of the class, they can one-on-one. Once they feel comfortable with me, I try to pull them in to the discussion during the next class.
Hi Ben - The more we know about our students the better we can make the material we are teaching relevant for them. Susan
I have always found that posing questions to the group and giving more responsive students to give a few answers so the non responsive students have a point of reference to respond. This will build their confidence and I will compliment them on their answers without showing obvious favoritism to them.
I will then follow up with future questions and ask the non responsive student to answer sooner and hopefully through their increased confidence they will be more involved.
It can be challenging to get full participation from a group..I will often do a little meet and greet early in the course to give me something to relate difficult material to them and encourage participation through common knowledge.
Hi Robert - Thanks for your post to the forum. Your strategy to get students to participate is excellent! It takes work to take notes about students interests and experiences but as you point out, it pays off by getting students engaged. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
To involve everyone in the question and answer sessions I will go around the room and let each student get a turn to answer each question.
A strategy I really like to use is to employ the personal knowlede i have gained about a student's interests to ask a question of the class on or near that topic and redirecting to him or her while alluding to something poignant they've said if they do not volunteer to answer the question right out of the barrel.
Hi Brad- Thanks for your post to the forum. You are obviously listening to your students and getting to know them - excellent! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Christina- Thanks for your post to the forum. putting your students in a position in which they feel more in control is an excellent strategy! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I dont want to embarass them so I find out what they know and ask something I know they know or ask them to share an experince that I have discussed with them. I consider them ice breakers to get them talking...
When wanting to involve non-responsive students in question and answer sessions, I usually encourage students to ask questions of their own.
Hi Melania- Thanks for your post to the forum. Getting your students to continue the conversation while working towards an answer in a questioning session is terrific! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Some students are waiting to be ask the question maybe they do not feel comportable answering as a group. Encourage them to answer and always make them feel a part of the class.
I usually hand out a self-evaluation on various topics, hobbies, etc. at the beginning of a mod, or class, have the students fill it out and turn it in. Throughout the rest of the mod, I have a better idea on who to start questioning -- more assertive student, and then narrowing the questions down to the shy and not so outspoken student according to the input on the evaluation and try to get a response from that particular student when I call on him.
Hi Lynn- Thanks for your post to the forum. Allowing your students to submit ideas/responses without criticism when using questioning. As you mention, it assists in getting the discussion going and involving all students. Great work!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Sometimes I emphasize that at the moment, I am asking the students to propose an idea that might work, not necessarily a "right" or "wrong" answer. That way, I can proceed to find the value in what was proposed, and ask other students if they can add to that idea, or would they propose something different. Once the students understand that I am not looking to criticize their contributions, they speak up more often.
Hi Vicki - I agree- small group work is very useful to pull more students into the discussions. It also tend to improve their sel-confidence. Susan
I often use small groups within the class for discussions of questions. I have them discuss within their small groups and report to the class. A lot of times reluctant students will feel more comfortable sharing in a small group setting.
I like to arrange small groups and ask a series of questions for them to discuss and answer. Sometimes working in smaller groups will draw out responses from students that would not normally participate in larger classes. I then move between the groups and interact with each one. I find this helps to build student confidence and increases their comfort level.