Hi Doug, You are obviously a very caring instructor! For the "Off-topic" questions - I put them on the "Parking Area" of the white board and get to them at the end of class or the beginning of the next.
Susan Polick
I often get students that do not want to participate in discussion. One of the things I like to do is catch them on break or outside of class and let them know that I really want to hear from them. Once back in the classroom I can often just look to them and they will join the discussion. This has not always worked, but most of the time I can get a student to become more confident in participation especially if I simply sit with them for a minute and make them feel like I really do want their input.
The one other problem with getting all students involved is the students who want to answer every question even if they end up completely off topic. Often I will need to keep them from answering everytime and try to redirect my question, 'Someone have thoughts on this?'.
Hi Jessica, Thanks for sharing a simple but very important reminder -the only "dumb" question is the one that was not asked! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Ronald, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are clearly creative in your teaching style! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
In my class I make sure that the students feel "safe" to ask a question. Many students are reluctant to ask questions as they feel their questions are "dumb". When a question is asked, that student is acknowldeged in a positive way simply for asking a question.
I feel that it is important to get all students involved when answering questions. I usually have a student or two, that wants to answer all the questions but I will tell those students to bite their tongues or lips. I do it in a fun, laughing way that they do not get offended. I try to have fun learning games, like who wants to be a millionaire, or who is smarter than a 5th grader. the students seem to enjoy the fun new learning methods.
I enjoy class participation in my classes. I find that once students are comfortable knowing that they can respond (even with a "wrong" answer), they are learning from each other's experience, knowledge, and ideas!
You could offer rewards. Also redirecting questions and having students take a little extra time to think things through have helped more students get involved. Not everyone can answer very quickly-they need more time to think and respond.
it is very important to ask quotations to make class involve to the discussion
Hi Bakhriya, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, discusion does break up lectures and gets students participating. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Donald, That's a good incremental approach to getting participation though questioning! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I think quastions are very important, it helps to open dusscutins and make class time interesting
I start with narrow questions that do not demand a broad knowledge base and let students receive positive feedback and comments from both myself and other classmates. Once the class gets comfortable, I ask them to draw from their experiences and broaden the topic more.
hi Leslie - you have a very interactive teaching styles that must surely keep your students engaged! I agree that it is really important to make the time to personally greet and chat with students before and after class. Susan
When I question students I let them know on the first day that I want all students involved. There will always be a few students who feel shy and don't want to say anything. During the questioning period, I will either ask each student a question or when a student gives an answer I will ask the shy student what he/she thinks about that answer. Eventually all students will get into the discussion.
Hi Leslie, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are running a very interactive classroom! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Using a variety of teaching methods is a good way to get the majority of the students involved. I also try to arrive several minutes early to class and spend time talking informally with the students. I think using both variety and arriving early helps students feel more comfortable.
When I teach I tend to move around the room and make eye contact, which helps engage students. If I ask a question, I may call on several students that are sitting near each other and collectively ask the question.
If I am teaching the skeletal or the muscular system I will project images on the white board and ask for a volunteer (or two) to label the various parts of the image. The remaining students who are not in front of the class labeling are more than willing to help out those who are labeling. A variation of the labeling activity is that a student will label one part of the diagram and then call on another student to label another structure. Then, there is always 'PowerPoint Jeopardy' which engages small teams of students to compete for the most points by answering questions correctly.
If I am teaching an organ system in Anatomy and Physiology to massage therapy students, I usually end the lecture with some representative pathologies of that system. Showing images of the pathology and presenting a case study is usually a good way to get a lot of students involved in a 'what would you do' discussion.
I make it very clear that we are all here to learn, and if we knew the material already then what would be the purpose of attending school. If there are to many non responsive students that do not start to open up, then I will call on them direct.
Hi Marie, Thanks for your post to the forum. Allowing students to use their book to search for answers certainly takes the pressure off! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I get all my students involved in a class discussion when there are questions that have been brought up all students participate because I will have them search in their books for the answers and you would be amazed on how many different answers we come up with as well as the discussions all of my students seem to enjoy it and that helps them in the learning process.
