Forcing Participation
I am just wondering about the need to have all students participate in class all the time. I myself hated class participation and I can empathize with the students who wish to be left alone.
I agree with the idea of limiting student involvement. Some students are so interested in sharing examples they unknowingly dominate the conversation. This is usually unintentional, but I find it necessary to address it and allow opportunities for other students who also want to share examples.
Also, we all know of students who do not want to participate and are happy to have others dominate the conversations. I want to draw the less talkative students into the discussions in a comfortable manner.
Hi DaNae,
This is a great strategy for maintaining control of the discussions without letting any one student dominate. Plus, I would think you get a much higher level of discussion since they have to be careful how they use their "talk" cards.
Gary
When a few students start to dominate the conversation, I will have create a discussion time that you can only speak 2 times. I give them cards and every time they speak they hand me a card. When their cards are out, they can't talk until everyone has spoken twice. I have found that students who are out of cards will say something like "(name), what do you think?" and now the pressure is coming from a classmate to talk and not me.
Hi Amanda,
Teaching is hard work when you have to leverage student participation through discussion groups or activities. But, when it occurs it is great feeling to see such students sharing in class.
Gary
Due to the type of classes in which I do teach I have to force participation on some students whom may or may not be all that willing. I try to make each class different and exciting so the participation will come naturally. And because It is a smaller class size the participation for most seems to just flow.
Attila,
I too can appreciate the students who don't want to participate - so I tell them the first day of class - in an office setting (I teach accounting courses) getting comfortable asking for help and giving your opinion are skills you will need to have. Therefore, I am going to give all of you the opportunity to get comfortable doing those as we go thru the homework assignments each week. Each student will have the opportuinty to answer the question or say they really did not understand, so then as a class we can help figure out the answer. I know at first this is hard for those students, but by the end of the quarter, they have also developed this skill that is so essitential in the "real world environment".
In my bigger class I usually just go around the room. I use this to find out if everyone is understanding what we have just worked on. I have found that some of the quieter students are afraid to ask questions, if they get the questions wrong I try not to make them feel bad but try to explain the concept in another way so they may understand.
That's excellent. That can become an incremental approach gradually allowing the student to feel more and confident with their presentation.
Thanks.
Hi Gary,
You make an excellent point. Each person has their own talents and being in front may not be that talent. What I do in this case is when they are presenting their projects is to have a panel, so the more shy student is sitting up in front of the class with 3-4 other students behind a table. These barriers if you will really help the student to feel more comfortable when presenting. (By barriers, I mean in a good sense-they are sitting, behind a table and with other students, this really helps to take the spotlight off of them but enables them to present their creative efforts.
Gary
Concur with developing them however, I frequently find students who are content with staying in the background. At some point forcing participation can become a detractor to learning. Perhaps we should also be cognizant of different ways to assess that learning has occurred.
Hi Nicholas,
You are helping to develop the ability to communicate with the "real world" when the students are out in the workplace. Much of their career success is going to depend on their ability to do such. The more skill they can develop in this the stronger they are going to be in their careers.
Gary
you can have students participate in any number of ways, not just orally
I always wanted my students to participate. True some students "get it" and don't get involve in discussions. I like to get them involved because I want to make sure that they are ready in case they come in situations outside the classroom that mat require them to participate in a particular discussion.
Hi Attila,
All students don't have to participate all the time. What you want to look for are different activities that appeal to the different learning preferences of student. That way you can engage the different students as their comfort levels arise. This also will keep one student or group of students from dominating the class.
Gary
