You know you should participate in class, but what does it mean to do so? Professors have differing ideas about what constitutes participation, but here are some aspects of it to consider.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?
ENGAGED ATTENDANCE. Regular, on-time attendance is key. When you’re in class, professors also expect you to keep your attention on class business, so resist the urge to focus your attention on personal matters, other classes, or other distractions. Professors also expect student engagement, including previewing material before class to be able to follow along during class, and showing curiosity in course content.
DISCUSSION CONTRIBUTION. Class discussions are intended to give you practice in talking through big ideas with others, collaborating to construct shared understanding, and exchanging differing points of view. It’s a good idea to link your discussion contributions to the course’s readings and main ideas.
TAKING NOTES. Take notes during class, jotting down ideas that arise in discussions, instructions for completing activities/assignments, key terms that are new to you, and anything that helps you understand the course’s content, skills, or methods being taught.
ASKING PROBING QUESTIONS. Come to class with questions based on course readings or on homework. If your questions help create a stronger understanding of course material, then those kinds of probing questions help show that you are participating.
LISTENING. Paying attention to your professor is important, so try your best to listen attentively to them. But it is also important to listen carefully when your classmates speak, so be sure to listen well to them, too.
IN-CLASS ACTIVITY. If your professor asks students to engage in small group discussions, peer responses, problem solving, or any other activity during class time, devote your full attention to it. This is not the time to check your email, get a snack, or otherwise be inattentive — active learning activities count as participation to most professors.
DISCUSSION BOARD POST/RESPONSE. Many courses have discussion boards on their Moodle site, and starting a discussion with a thoughtful analysis or question can contribute to others’ understanding of course material. Posting responses to others’ posts also allows you to participate in an unhurried way.
WHAT IF PARTICIPATION ISN’T GRADED?
Even if a professor doesn’t assign a participation grade, it’s still important for you to participate in class. Learning is an active enterprise, and if you aren’t engaged, attentive, curious, and questioning during class, you won’t learn as much or remember what you learn as well. You’re at college to develop your intellect, and that’s an activity that demands participation — in fact, that’s why so many professors grade participation!
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT MY PROFESSOR WANTS?
SYLLABUS. Many professors define what they mean by participation in their syllabus. If yours does, pay close attention to what they wrote in the syllabus. If you have a syllabus that does not define participation, follow the suggestions from the first part of this poster.
ASK! If you aren’t sure what “participation” means in a course, it’s likely that other students in the class are similarly unclear on the matter. So it will help everyone if you ask during class for the professor’s expectations about how students should participate in their class.
WHEN ISSUES ARISE. If you experience any barriers in being able to participate fully, be sure to talk to your professor in their office hours about that.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Petress, Ken. “An Operational Definition of Class Participation.” College Student Journal 40.4 (2006).
Millersville University. “Class Participation: More Than Just Raising Your Hand.”