I always divide the class into small groups when I have silent students so everyone has the opportunity to participate. I usually go around and monitor the groups discussion to make sure that everyone participates.
Hi Tarsha,
I have certainly found that silent students enjoy being a big fish in a small pond. They feel more comfortable in a small group environment. They will shine in a group that is not big.
Patricia
I am learning so much from this forum! Tonight in class I split the group into 6 smaller groups of two each. I split the chapter I was lecturing on into 6 sections. Each group of two students was responsible for a specific section. I gave them 30 minutes to work together and come up with the key points, and come up with an interesting way to present it to the class - I told them to think outside the box, use visual aids, whatever they thought would grab our attention. It turned out so great! At first they weren't excited about it, but I explained that I wanted them to go outside their comfort zone, work with new classmates, and learn how to communicate with eachother. I pointed out that they would be working with new and different people constantly in the workplace. By the end of the lecture, they were so into the whole idea and the majority said they felt they had gotten so much out of the chapter!! I feel great about it! Thanks so much for all the great suggestions taht got me motivated!
Cindy
I agree with the tutorial about the importance of group work. Working in groups allow students the chance to open up and share with out having to involve the entire class.
I divide the class up into small groups so that all students participate.
Trying to get silient students to get involved in class discussion is trying at best. By putting the students in small groups they feel more confortable therefore they will interact with each other.
I divide the class up in groups so that all students have a part in solving a computer problem. This gets the silent students involved yet does not put pressure on them to be in the limelight. The students may express their opinions without being in front of a group.
I have had my shareof shatter mouths and the too quite students. What i have done in the past is created small groups for quick assignments which allowed participation from my quite students. I also ask them an open ended questions, a question that does not have a right or wrong answer. My intention is to involve the student into the discussion, not scare them away by giving a wrong answer.
Along with offering small group work/panel discussions and small group presentations, I like to try small assignments like 1 or 2 minute challenges. A student is assigned to speak for that short time on a topic connected to the course. It can be an opinion speech/talk...informal. I wouldn't ask a quiet student to do the speaking...I would assign the silent student to be the "good" listener. After listening, I would ask the "silent' student to retell the speaker's message briefly, but accurately.
After the stategy is used a number of times with different speakers and listeners, the silent student may feel comfortable enough to be the speaker.
Hello, I like games myself. I use different ways for students to learn and participate. When beginning to work with students I have not taught. I use an ice breaker. Many qustions in a jar. Each student selects on question and discuss the answer. On the botton of the card it states " If you feel uncomfortable, ask someone to answer the question." But in doing this they also remember others can ask you to answer their question. I espcially use this for the end or a course for review.
I usually will speak with that student one on
one to determine if it's shyness or some other
underlying factor. Shyness is easy, engage
student for answers when I see confidence in
their body language or facial expression. Sincere
praise for a job well done, assess their strong
points and call for their aid in a demo situation
or to show a fellow student who isn't as strong
in that area, "how to".
Silent students can be difficult. Sometimes, as an instructor, you wonder, does he/she not understand the material? Is he/she shy? Is he/she bored? I like the idea that was stated in Module 3 about doing small group discussions that allow the quiet students to voice their opinions without having the attention of the entire class. I was shy student as a child, and although I understood everything, I used to be terrified that the teacher would center me out and ask me a question. Quiet students can be very smart; sometimes they just need help getting out of their shells!
Hi Mary Jane,
The smaller the group the better. Students tend to do a lot better in smaller groups.
Patricia
Hi Angela,
Making small talk with the silent students can help tremendously.
Patricia
I like to have a smaller group for those students to participate in. I also talk to them after class to see if they are shy or if there is any other issues going on.
I break the class up into small groups with directed assignments. This helps to build confidence in me and themselves.
In my years of teaching, I have found that it is extremely hard to get silent students to become involved in the classroom. I think sometimes it's because they are shy and other times they just have a negative attitude and just refuse to take an active part in class. Sometimes I am able to pull them out by letting them know that I too was shy and didn't like to speak in front of others but as I continued to open up and speak out, it got easier and I was more comfortable with it. So using myself as an example, it helped some of the students to get involved.
I find groups seem to help the student speak out better. It helps them overcome shyness in increments.
I use a participation grade as part of my final grade for class. It works most of the time but there are times I have to dig deep to get the students to talk in class. I find that engaging them in discussions on class materials can really help with this.
I tend to make small groups for them to work in with others. It could be a group of 2-4. I try not to make it more than 3 people per group because then it starts to get a little in their face when there are more people around. They tend to "lock" up and then they remove themselves from the group.
