One broad theme that has emerged in the topics so far addressed in the Teaching Workshop is student engagement. Student engagement can make or break a class, and no matter how engaged students are, teachers always want to increase engagement. Below, I have highlighted some of the Teaching Workshop posts that have approached this issue, and I want to encourage everyone to consider adding their own experiences, suggestions, and questions to the discussion.
Perhaps the most direct take on this topic addressed what to do about students that are totally disengaged: skipping class, not completing assignments, etc. What can you do when students totally disengage?
The Teaching Workshop: Preventing and Coping with Student Disengagement
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Even with engaged students, classes can drag on a bit long for short attention spans. What can you do to make sure students stay with you through the whole class?
The Teaching Workshop: Engaging Students during the Last Few Minutes of Class
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Many teachers find it easier to connect with students in smaller groups. Larger lecture groups can seem to discourage getting to know your students or having them participate at all. If students feel that they aren’t active participants, they might disengage. How can you encourage participation in a large lecture?
The Teaching Workshop: Encouraging Participation in Large Lectures
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Another challenge with student engagement can emerge if you have a combination of beginning and advanced students in a class. The advanced students might check out if the class covers material that they feel like they already know. Pitching the class toward those advanced students runs the risk of leaving the beginners confused or lacking in confidence to ask questions. Rather than hunting for a balance, the Teaching Workshop contributors suggest differentiating your teaching.
The Teaching Workshop: Teaching a Mixed-Level Class
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One tried and true way to engage students is to have them talk to each other. However, there can be challenges to group work, and there may be more things students can do in groups than occur to most teachers. How can you employ group work so that your students get the most out of it and stay engaged?
The Teaching Workshop: Making Group Work “Work” for Your Philosophy Students
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The Teaching Workshop will return in the fall to address new topics. In the meantime, you can join the conversation in the comments section of each post. If you have questions for the Teaching Workshop to address, or if you might like to participate in future workshop posts you can email Jennifer Morton and Michelle Saint, at PhilTeacherWorkshop@gmail.com, or engage with the APA Teaching Workshop on Facebook.
