Participation

Treat Students as Individuals

I cannot understate the power of knowing students' names! At the beginning of the quarter, my students decorate paper name tents that we use until I have learned their names. And while it is important to embrace our students' diverse perspectives, which can be informed by a social and cultural factors, we also cannot expect students to be representatives for any social group (Lovett, et al, 2023).

Be comfortable with silence.

Wait a few seconds for more hands to raise after asking questions, rather than calling on the first person with their hand up or answering your question yourself. Some students need more time to gather their thoughts or to translate ideas from one language to another (Brookfield, 2006).

Increase structure.

Use structured discussions as a means of encouraging more students to participate. Have students engage in a think-pair-share activity, in which they can think of their answers on their own for a minute, discuss them with one person, and (in pairs) share their joint responses with the whole class. Ask students to write "minute papers," or short, one-to-two-minute written responses to check student understanding and thinking (Brookfield & Preskill, 2005). 

Provide Multiple Means of Engagement

There may be several reasons why students are not prepared cognitively, emotionally, or socially to effectively participate in discussion on a given day. Providing students with the opportunity to have a few low-participation days as well as other means of engagement such as writing an entry, will ensure that they are well prepared to contribute to discussion on the days they feel prepared to do so. 

Model Productive Discussions

Show them how to complicate or refute an idea. Teach students to listen to one other and to avoid restating a contribution made previously (Brookfield, 2006). You can do this by thinking carefully about your students' contributions and engaging them in dialogue yourself.

Frame Participation as a Skill, Not a Personality Trait

Communicate that meaningful participation in discussions is a learning objective for your course (Gooblar, 2013). Explain to your students how you will provide them with opportunity to practice and develop their participation skills over the term.