It is important to me to make my students feel respected and appreciated as a whole. Some awesome strategies that I used in the classroom was allowing them to be a participant in my demonstrations or any type of hand on activity. Allowing them to interact in the classroom by sharing a related story. It allows them to communicated and participate in the discussions in the classroom. It is also a way to learn interesting information as a team, this allows the students to feel optimistic and apart of something spectacular. We want them to understand that we care and they matter.
I teach in an on-line environment. I try to lecture/teach for no more than 10 minutes at a time before having some sort of class activity --an open question or a writing exercise. Students seem to get so much out of the exercises! Actually 'doing' is such good reinforcement. (I teach English Comp.)
In terms of creating a community, at the start of the course I have them write about their life goals and their goals for the course, and help them find a correlation. In addition, each week I send out an email that lists our class goals for the week. This is also posted in a discussion forum. The students can then reply to the forum and discuss how well we are doing as a class in reaching our goals for the week. It helps them see their progress.
Hi Betty,
I agree. The more interaction students have with each other the higher the level of sharing. Also, they will learn how to work together which is going to be a requirement when they are out in the work world.
Gary
I believe if students can develop a rapport with each other that they are more apt to participate in discussions.
This sounds like a very interesting idea to me, too. I'm a new instructor, and I will begin actually teaching in a few weeks. I will definitely research this information and see how I might work it into some classes. I also think that the "musical notes" was an interesting idea as well. I think I would like to try that out and see how receptive classes are to something like that. Thanks for your great ideas!
I like to have student teaching each other also. But I don't use it the same as your method. I will generally pair students with student whom they can help in class (with prior permission from both parties of course). If they choose to continue the partnership outside of class, I refer them to students services and the tutor can be paid for their services. This works well for both parties.
Have them work in groups, it really is helpful to learn from other students. They have experiences that other students can learn from.
I like to have the students suggest assignments. I also enjoy multimedia presentations where the students are responsible for a minimum timed presentation of a topic of their choosing within the course materials. They are REALLY involved on those days!
Hi John,
I really like this approach. You are slowly bringing the student into the class but in such a way not to put stress on him/her. The fact you build them up by using what they have shared with you as a discussion topic. This shows them that they have something to offer and they then expand their contributions to the class from there. Thanks for sharing this strategy with us.
Gary
A strategy that I use is to talk with a student individually, especially a shy or quiet student, and ask what they think about the course in general--what they would like changed, how the teaching could be clearer, worries about exams, etc. Then, later, with the student's permission, I bring up whatever's been discussed with the entire class. I know then that the class is talking about a topic in which the quiet individual is genuinely interested. He or she even seem proud that they were the one that "sponsored" the questions under class discussion and join in, sometimes quite vigorously.
I post "Introductions" thread in my online classrooms. I start it by saying a few things about myself, then invite the students to state their major, hobbies, and anything they feel may be important. This gives all of us in the online environment a sense of who we are working with. I do try to respond to each student in the public forums over the course of the class as well.
Individual emails addressed by name when a student misses participating in a discussion or submitting an assignment make the contact personal. The student knows that they specifically were missed rather than a blanket email about late policies etc.
It also helps to comment specifically on student's workplace examples in the discussions so they know that there unique post is recognized. It makes them feel a part of the class and re-enforces the quality of work that is expected.
Learning more about them as humans and not just students. Showing empathy for their circumstances outside of the classroom. Be welcoming and never condescending.
When the class size is small you can have a lot of discussion with students and they try to come out of shell and participate in most discussions.
My classes have tended to be small which helps me relate to each student. My subject matter (Psychology) does lend itself to good discussion as well. I try to make sure that each student contributes to the discussion each class period even if it is minimual.
When I was teaching face-to-face math classes, many of our activities allowed students to see themselves as "members" of the class rather than observers. Initially we all provided introductions and simple, often funny, information about ourselves. We kept class statistics and determined that the success of the class was aided by each individual's participation. We worked in group settings with group goals. All students presented results from group interactions.
do not treat students as high schoolers teat them like adults
Encouraging them to seek additional information from other resources as a group,creating a learning environment where they also feel like they are helping others to learn as well, playing educational games that pertain to the topics covered.
Let students know they are respected and valued
I always try to evolved them all by asking very simple questions, giving some examples that are very simple where they can be identified and they can participate more and have more retention about this particular issue.
