An Example of Reconceptualizing One Portion of Your Syllabus
Think of all the different ways there are to evaluate "participation" in a class.
We sometimes fall into the trap of judging class "participation" through attendance and/or speaking up in the whole class setting. This list is meant to broaden that notion by including more and different kinds of ways to evaluate "participation". These ideas were taken from many places and not all sources are cited or noted.
- Attendance.
- Speaking in large group.
- Speaking in small group.
- Sending the instructor an email about the class: summary, questions, etc.
- Writing something in class: a summary, questions still to be answered, etc.
- Peer review of another student's paper.
- Visiting instructor or GTF during office hours.
- Being prepared for class.
- Written homework.
- Assigned reading.
- Reaction papers.
- Answering questions posed by the instructor--verbally and/or in writing.
- Active listening.
- Having done the preparation for class that day.
- Written summaries of class work.
- Written summaries of group work.
- Self-assessments by students.
- Assessment of other students by students.
- Participation in online discussions.
- Bringing questions to class from the reading assignment (sometimes a set minimum number).
- Student asking instructor questions. (KU)
- Student answering instructor's questions. (KU)
- Student responding to other students' questions. (KU)
- Student initiating discussion. (KU)
- Lab participation. (KU)
- External requirements: field trips, lecture/concert attendance, etc. (KU)
- Discussion group participation. (KU)
- Leading class discussion.
- The idea that class participation will improve your grade but cannot lower it. (UW)
- In class quizzes.
- Consider using class participation only when a student is on the borderline for a grade. (Macalester)
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Last Modified:
01/09/07
