Make it fun to participate. Create scenarios that mimic real life situations.
Participation can take many forms. I used to count as participation if a student would come to office hours and talk to me. Also, questions via email counted as well.
Sometimes merely calling on the student brings them out. So, the degree of shyness is not ascertainable until it is tested.
Involve them in group activities.
I have the quiet students practice talking with other students patients during their checkoffs so this will help them be more comfortable in the dental office setiing during externship where it is not as comfortable of an environment as the classroom.
This is continued challange while I try to create a rapport or find what peaks the students main intrest or goal, it doesnt always work. I try to work with them one on one especially since I work with career success and I go over things like interviewing and professionalism.
Hi Linda,
I am totally opposite, but I can imagine how this student feels. I try to make small talk with these type of students daily until they become somewhat comfortable with me. Once they are comfortable with you, they will open up.
Patricia
I know how this student feels, since I was always the silent one. I usually speak to the student privately just in a social way after class for the first few times we meet, to attempt to ease his/her shyness in class.
I take the time to speak with them outside of the classroom. At the start of each term I have students write a bio of themselves and hand it in, it allows me to get an idea of who they are and opens the door for discussions later. I have found that quiet most quiet students want to be involved, they just don't feel comfortable. The more I speak with them outside of the class, the more comfortable they feel speaking in the class.
I do use the small group idea and try to place students who are total opposites and this helps to bring the silent student around some and makes them feel more comfortable.
I believe everyone has the ability to share and in order to do well in a job interview, they need to be able to answer questions and speak up in a classroom. I attempt to keep the classroom a safe environment to share experiences and ideas. I give every student a chance to answer each day to summarize the learning for the day. What was the most valuable or best thing that you learned today in class? I also call on students to answer and they have been informed that you should be ready to answer questions and I also have team and group activities where every one needs to participate in order to get their points for the activity. This has been very successful in the classroom and the shy student usually is able to make the transition and is supported by others in the room too.
Hi John,
I call on all of my students, including the silent ones, and the silent ones play right along. I do not treat the silent students any different, and before you know it they are feeling comfortable and fitting right in.
Patricia
What I usually try to do is engage them in one on one conversation in a very small group setting first, to try and build their confidence and comfort level. Usually after a few sessions like this, they are more comfortable contributing to the general class.
Call on the randomly and equally like you do the other students. Have them explain more fully their answer and give examples and give them encouragement after they finish speaking
Hi Erika,
Small groups are definitely the place for silent students. Silent students tend to come out of their shell in a small group environment. I like how you have your students share, and the silent student generally takes lead. What a great way to build confidence for the silent student.
Patricia
Small group work often helps these students to feel more comfortable. Then, I have the students share their work to the rest of the class, and many times the quieter students will talk because they now after participating in the smaller group they have been encouraged by their teammates.
i will put them n groups so they can interact with the other students
I find that getting a student engaged in the class requires finding how the material is personally relevant to the student. Sometimes helping them to understand how the material relates to their chosen career field isn't as effective if they have not yet entirely committed to this career. If you can make the material relevant to something that is currently happening with them personally or their life then you will be more likely to capture their interest. All of my students enjoy working out. I need to make my class material relevant to their own personal health and fitness goals so that they may become inspired.
Hi Fortuna,
Small talk helps with shy students as well.
Patricia
As a clinical instructor, the class is already broken down into smaller clinical groups of 6-8 students. I recently had a "silent" student who happened to be very shy and soft-spoken. One of the things I like to do in my clinical rotations is to assign a "team leader" for the day. Aside from prioritization and time management, the team leader role reinforces the need for communication among other students and as well as the instructor. By the end of the rotation, this student was more comfortable with her clincal group and participated more in post-conferences.
