Engaging Students in the Classroom
All teachers want students to be engaged in class discussions. Class sessions are more interesting and rewarding for everyone involved. When students do not seem to be engaged and don't participate, we tend to blame it on their lack of preparedness. Reluctance to talk in class may be due to other reasons, however. Probably the most important factor is probably unease about a fear of failure in front of their peers as well as the instructor.
The manner in which you ask for student participation is also important. Be sure you ask a question instead of demanding an answer. When you ask for student response, be sure to allow enough time for them to formulate an answer-count to 10 slowly in your head. Don't do what I have seen some instructors do–answer their own question. Students will quickly learn that they can wait you out and that you will answer your own questions.
I think it is better to call on nonvolunteers at least some of the time because that encourages more students to stay alert and engaged. Most students do not want to appear unprepared or unknowledgeable, and the possibility of being called on is strong motivation to come to class prepared and pay attention to class discussion.
If you find it awkward to pick out students who do not raise their hand, a couple of techniques might work. Keep a couple of tennis balls with you, and throw a ball toward the class after asking a question. The student who catches it has to answer the question. Students can not avoid a ball coming directly at them, so, they stay alert and actualy seem to enjoy this technique.
In many situations, you can pose a question and encourage students to jot down possible answers before you call on one or more of them. ("Take time to think about this question and jot down an answer. I will call on some of you to talk about your answer.")
Small-group assignments in class are also effective because students are willing to discuss possible answers with their peers without fear of failure. In addition, such assignments help students learn better because they must apply knowledge to new situations. A simple way to do this is to have the student with the next birthday be the leader. This sometimes results in discovering that a student has a birthday that day.
What are some methods that you educators are using to generate student engagement in class?
Of course, you will have that one person who is a bump-on-the-log that doesn't want to do anything, but when it is their turn to go, they don't have a choice! Especially if you're counting the game as their quiz grade for the day!
We always try to have a little fun in the classroom every couple of weeks, because I remember sitting in that same chair and having to listen to lecture after lecture with no break in-between! I am a queen of the powerpoint, but sometimes, we just have to break-away!
We use "clickers" alot in our classroom. They are a Classroom Performance System, and each student has one device used to select their answer to the question. It is similar to Funniest Videos where they put in their choice and send it via a "clicker". Then the answer graph comes up on the smartboard with correct and incorrect responses, but not by participant, though I can check that privately. It does tell me if only 14 out of 16 clickers have responded yet, so I do know that all are participating as it won't bring up the graph until all activated clickers have responded. Students love it and it is a GREAT interactive tool. Good for reviews, or during lectures to see who is getting it. And not an expensive system.