There Is No Such Thing As a DUMB Question:
BY: Elise Johnson
Get Involved in Class Discussions:
Standing out in a way separate from your ethnicity is an integral part in being successful in and out of the classroom. Whether a class is designated as “lecture” or “discussion”, it is imperative for students to make their voices and opinions heard. Since lecture classes often have a large number of students, it may be more difficult for discussions to take place, but whenever the possibility presents itself, you should go for it. Professors may not always be able to remember every student they encounter, so by speaking up in class, you are making them remember who you are. Every professor has a different way of breaking down how to grade their classes. In classes that are discussion based, some professors will make class participation a major factor in a student’s grade.
Three easy ways to engage in class discussion:
1.) Ask the professor to provide further information about a topic he or she is discussing. This will show the professor that you are engaged and interested in learning more information. If you are confused or lack knowledge about a topic or vocabulary word, other students in the classroom probably are in your position as well. The only difference is that they may be afraid to speak out for fear of looking “dumb”. Imani Conrad says she did not ask a single question in the first half of her freshmen Algebra class and did poorly because of it. “Looking back on it, I didn’t ask any questions because I thought everyone around me knew the material perfectly since no one else was asking questions. I was afraid that the professor and other students would think I did not belong in that class. I struggled for the first part of that class simply because I did not ask questions. When I expressed my thoughts to a friend, she I would have helped others out too because half of the class was just as confused as I was. Instead, I was afraid of what others would think about me. Once I started asking questions everything became much easier”.
2.) While completing reading or homework assignments, write down questions you can ask the professor or your peers. This is a great way to show you have done the assignment while initiating discussion topics. For example, “In last night’s reading the author said… What does this exactly mean?” According to Tony Johnson*, a student from Kent State, “Jotting down questions or bullet points was simple and a great way for me to not only remember what I read, but gain participation points by using them in class discussions”.
3. ) Speak with your professor after or before class about a topic being discussed. Many professors have office hours where students can either walk-in or set up a time to talk. These office hours are an excellent time to ask for advice, ask questions about homework, writing papers, and tests, or to talk about any other topic that comes to mind. These simple discussions outside of class are an excellent way for professors to learn about a student. Since professors have sometimes hundreds of students in a given semester, office hours are more personal and allow some real one-on-one time that simply cannot be had during class. The more students talk to professors in and out of class, the easier it is to develop relationships with professors that can be used for future reference. For example, letters of recommendation are a main way student-professor relationships come in handy. It is much easier for a professor to write a standout recommendation if they know you, versus a recommendation that falls by the wayside simply because a professor does not know you well enough.