Ways to Boost Student Participation

Some educators refer to it as classroom participation, while others call it active learning. Regardless of what you call it, educators are constantly searching for ways to increase participation in their classes. All teachers want to work in a classroom where all students are engaged and involved in every lesson. The ideas below will help any teacher increase student participation in his or her classroom.

• Assess Prior Knowledge – Before even teaching a concept, allow students to share what they already know (or think they may know) about a topic. You can help organize information shared by using a “K” (what I already know), “W” (what I want to know), “L” (what I want to learn) chart. Teachers that use KWL charts on a regular basis say they see increased participation because students aren’t being asked to discuss or share what they learned through a lesson. Students are only sharing what they want to learn about something or what they already know. Teachers are then able to tailor their lesson to the information the students are interested in and haven't learned, which will further boost participation.

• Make and Share Participation Goals – To help students work towards participating more in class, make them responsible for meeting goals. Work with each student and set a realistic objective for them based on their previous participation in your class. You can then use classroom management systems that allow students to track their involvement online. When students are able to easily see how much they are participating, they are more likely to step up their efforts if they are not meeting their goals. Students love interacting with online classroom management systems because it lets them see how they’re performing in class as they work.

• Give Your Students a Voice – For students to be comfortable sharing in your class, you need to make sure that you’ve created an environment that welcomes openness. Obviously, as the teacher, you will make most of the decisions; however, there are some things that can be left up to them. When students feel that their ideas and opinions matter, they’re more likely to pay attention and speak up in class. Take time at the beginning of each school year to create an environment in your classroom where students can feel comfortable participating. Teach them early on that you value their input.

By incorporating the above ideas into your classroom, you will see more active learning going on in your classroom.