Kristopher,
It is amazing how effective movement can be in setting the tone for a class and giving students the feeling of engagement. Good point.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Even something as small as moving throughout the class room while lecturing will make students feel more a part of the class. Even if it's just by "keeping them on their toes."
Rick,
This is a great way to get students interacting with each other plus learning what each class member has to contribute to the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
During our first week together I have a group assignment where they are searching a text-book dictionary for a number of term definitions. I split the class into 4 member small-groups which allows them to split up the load of finding the definitions of each term. It "breaks the ice," so to speak, of having them work together.
Like sittinng them in groups so they work on their assisgmnents as a group if they have different answers for then to come up with best answer
I assign a group project, that involved each member of the group to have a turn being the group leader.
Terry Marie,
This is a great idea and a good way to get all students involved. Thanks for sharing this with us. I know it will be of benefit to many other instructors.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I always make them participate in everything we discuss. Also, I have introduced the use of our portal's forum because I find that this day and age that our generation is hooked on texting. So, every week, I incorporate a dicussion topic so we can talk about it on line and in class. This kid of helps as an ice breaker to get those who dont talk much to open up and become part of the class.
Learn their names. Greet them at the door. Call on them by name in the class. Make them feel their responses are valuable. Give individual feedback. Give positive feedback.
I have incorporated class activities that require students to work together in teams. It helps them to develop relationships with each and they enjoy working together as opposed to being "fed" information. It goes back to the idea of the active learner - the students are much more enthusiastic if they are participating - whether it be sharing an experience that they have had that relates to the topic or working together as a team on a project. I believe that these strategies help students to feel a part of the class. Also, my attitude and tone are important aspects of helping students to feel a part of the class.
One of the main strategies I used in making students feel part of the class is working on a project for the course with a group.
I would assign a project for the class in helping with the lecture part of the course. Examples researching information and presenting a report to the class creating a poster or power point presentation for the course.
Team work. I always tell my students after they have completed their work to kindly offer their help to other students in need.
Denise,
Thank you for sharing this strategy with us. I know it will be of value to other instructors as we are always looking for ways to start off our classes.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
For the last few terms my classes have met only once a week for 10 weeks. On the first day I have them play a game where everyone has to say their full name, something they did over break that was unrelated to school but game them a sense of accomplishment, and one thing that they don't like (it could be anything). Everyone has to repeat what the prior person said until we make it around the class. (We have small classes - like usually 5-15 students.) It starts a sense of community that I try to build on throughout the class.
Katherine,
These parings like this are great ways to develop respect for each other and for them to share their newly acquired knowledge. This benefits everyone.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Have them help you with the assignments or partner them up with "new" students have let the "new" student shadow them
Have students do a group project. Gets them to spend some time together.
Erika,
Good advice for all instructors. Students need to feel accepted and valued if they are going to be successful. The more we can support them the higher their satisfaction with the course is going to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that using interactive activities/ teamwork/ and valuing their contributions allows them to feel a part of the class. Students who don't feel like the instructor answers their questions or even mocks them when they don't understand begin to isolate themselves from the group. So, it is important to show each student that they are valued and that their questions are answered in a respectful way. This allows them to invest more into their learning and the class.
Eddie,
Good point and I like the example you shared. It makes a lot of sense in relation to how we learn and will work together in the workplace.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
