Hello instructors. As usual, I have been reading/researching for interesting and valuable information to share with you.
Today, I have stumbled upon Faculty Focus which poses questions you must consider
in order to encourage student participation.
How often do you ask a question and
when do you ask it?
How often depends on the
teacher, but there’s evidence from more than one study that a lot of us
over
estimate how often we ask questions. Do not wait to ask all your
questions at the end of class, students are hoping nobody says anything
so they can get out a couple of minutes early. Ask questions occasionally throughout the class to engage the students.
How long do you wait?
Most faculty wait between two and
three seconds before asking the question again, calling on
somebody, rephrasing the question, answering the question themselves, or
decideing
nobody has anything to say and moving on. Instead, try waiting ten to
twelve seconds. Time passes slowly when you’ve asked a question and
there’s no sign of a response. It’s an awkward, uncomfortable time for the
teacher and the students, however, waiting longer has its rewards.
Do you encourage reflection before
response? Student
input improves if you give them the opportunity to pull their thoughts
together, jot down some ideas, talk with the person sitting next to
them, look
something up in the text, or just think about the question and how they
might respond.
Do you move around?
Faculty should move around the room into the student's space, forcing
students to be present in the lecture. Do not stand behind the podium
for the entire class period.
Are you inviting engagement? As you move, establish direct eye contact with
students. Many students will not look at you, but some will and you can
encourage them to speak with your facial expressions. If you’re smiling and look relaxed, that kind of contact is none threatening.
How intently do you listen? It’s hard enough to get students
to talk in class, so give them your full attention. Don’t try
to listen and sneak a peek at the clock or look
down at your notes. Attentive listening can be confirmed by what you say after
the student has finished: “Thank you. Let me see if I understand your
response.” Follow up by rephrasing what the student said, not what you
hoped the student would say.
How are you showing that you value
student contributions? Refer to the content of a good answer later in the class period, during a
subsequent class, or in online exchanges. Point out why an
answer is good and write them on the board. Mention something you learned from a student
contribution.
How often do you solicit feedback
from students about interaction in your classroom? Ask for feedback on your responses to their
contributions. Determine if they have learned from what other students said.
I hope you found this as informative as I have! To
see this article and more you can find it at http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/encouraging-student-participation-why-it-pays-to-sweat-the-small-stuff/.
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