Tips for Increasing Class Participation

Many classes are based on student discussion because it's thought that students learn more effectively when they have to think about how to communicate what they've learned with others and when they're able to receive feedback about their thoughts from a professor and their classmates.

But this doesn't mean that you necessarily enjoy participating in class. For many of us, it's something that we do begrudgingly. But there's no getting around the fact that participation is usually a substantial part of your final grade. Besides that, students who have high participation will appear prepared and intelligent to their teachers who then in turn feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation or passing along great opportunities related to the student's interests.

These tips about classroom participation are going to be especially useful for those classes and those days where you maybe didn't do all of the assigned reading or homework or you're tired and sluggish or you're just not confident in the topic that you'll be expected to discuss.

But also, these tips will be useful if you're not a fan of public speaking and you're not sure where to start when looking for a way that you can add your voice to the classroom.

1. Focus on what you have read and what you do understand.

Nobody will be able to speak on everything covered in a class (except the professor who has trained for years on the topic being taught!). Take the opportunity to interject and share your ideas when what you are confident about is being discussed instead of trying to find something to say about the stuff that you didn't understand.

Internally, you may be panicking when you hear a conversation going on that you don't know much about but if you're able to pick out what you do understand and you speak confidently and authentically on that topic you'll look prepared and engaged to your classmates and your professor.

Remember that one thoughtful and intelligent comment is better than many comments that aren't related to the material you're covering or are just a misunderstanding of the topic at hand.

2. Minimize electronic devices.

There's no easier way to appear disengaged than to stare at a laptop or peek a look on your phone. And trust me, unless you're in a large auditorium-style classroom, your professor will notice when you peek a look at your phone.

When there's no screen between you and your classmates and your professor you automatically look more engaged than the student next to you who is doing the opposite. The funny thing is that this holds true even if the student glued to the laptop is listening intently to the classroom discussion.

If you need to use electronic devices for accessibility reasons then don't be shy to let your professor know. If you don't alert them then they may make assumptions that aren't in your favor.

3. Respond to your classmates' ideas.

This requires that you actively listen to what your classmates say. This is always a good way to find a way to participate in the classroom because usually your classmates will discuss the easiest to understand topics out of what you were assigned to learn because everybody is a student and most people are at the same level when it comes to understanding the class material.

Because of this, it'll be easier to piggy-back off of what they're saying than always trying to directly respond to the ideas that the professor presents.

4. Ask specific questions.

The common saying made by teachers is that no questions is a stupid question. And that's absolutely true!

However, it's easier for people to respond to you when you posit specific questions. Instead of saying: "I didn't understand the material" point to a specific passage that confused you and ask the professor to go over it. Or latch onto a specific idea or theory presented in the reading and ask your professor to further explain it.

This lets your professor know that you've done your due diligence and you've done your best to understand the material before arriving to class. It also shows that even though you don't understand the specific details of something that you're at least beginning to grasp the overall ideas.

These are a few tips and strategies for appearing engaged and prepared for seminar-style classes where participation is expected and a large portion of your grade.

It is challenging to participate in classes when you feel like you're not proficient at the topic being discussed or if you're shy and not that into public speaking but by focusing on the material you know, minimizing electronic devices, responding to your classmates, and asking specific questions you'll be on the right track and gradually you'll find that participation will feel more natural to you.

Also, never hesitate to reach out to your professor and let them know if you're struggling with finding ways to respond during class or if you have any anxiety around public speaking and sharing your ideas with your classmates. Hopefully, your professor will be accommodating to your needs and they may share specific tips geared towards their class.