1. Read articles together
Encouraging active student participation in lectures starts with their preparation. They often have a lot to read, but do they actually read it? Many students feel isolated when reading articles alone. And what if they don’t understand something? Who do they ask for help?
The tool FeedbackFruits Interactive Document makes it easy for students to read and understand articles collaboratively, at their own pace. The lecturer uploads the article in this tool, which is available in Canvas. Students open the document, see that their peers are also reading it, and can add annotations directly in the text. For example: “I don’t fully understand what the author means here, can someone explain?” Peers who read the article later can see these annotations and respond. This helps students understand the material better and prevents them from feeling alone in their learning process.
A great added benefit is that you, as a lecturer, gain direct insight into which students have prepared and which concepts they struggle with. You can then adjust your lecture accordingly. FeedbackFruits is linked to Canvas Groups, so you can divide students into smaller groups to ensure a manageable number of annotations per article.
2. Ensure everyone feels safe to participate
Asking or answering a question in a crowded lecture hall is daunting for many students. Often, this results in silence, or the same few students speaking up repeatedly. Mentimeter is an inclusive tool that allows you to collect input from all students in the room. Using their mobile phones or laptops, students can respond to your question or ask their own. Since responses are anonymous, more students are likely to participate. Once they have positive experiences with this, they may feel more confident speaking up in class next time.
If you collect open-ended responses from a large group, Mentimeter can group similar answers, making it easy to see common themes at a glance. Want to test knowledge in a more engaging way? Try the quiz function in Mentimeter. This competitive element encourages students to answer quickly and correctly, with a leaderboard displaying top performers. This fosters enthusiasm and motivation while providing you with real-time insights into students' understanding. The quiz function remains anonymous, as students choose their own nicknames for the leaderboard, preserving the safe environment that Mentimeter offers.
3. Let students collaborate in small groups
Speaking up in front of a large group is intimidating for most students. That’s why it helps to first test their answers in a small group. Before discussing a question in class, have students exchange thoughts in pairs or trios.
Lectures can also be used to deepen students' understanding and encourage application of what they’ve learned. You can have them create a mind map, brainstorm, or solve a problem. Another useful technique is the index card pass: each student writes down a question, discusses it with their group, and together they choose one question to find an answer for together. Afterward, a few groups can briefly present their discussion points. Letting students know in advance that they will need to share their findings, encourages them to take the task more seriously.
To keep students on track, display a timer with an alarm when time is up. This gives them a clear sense of how long they have left and helps you quickly regain the class’s attention. If you still struggle to get their focus back, try flashing the lights in the room for a moment.
4. Help students see the value of participation
Let’s be honest, sometimes, it’s tempting to sit back and passively listen to a lecture. Especially if students were out late the night before, actively participating in a morning class can be a challenge. Moreover, passive listening is what most students are used to in lectures. If you suddenly expect them to engage in active learning, they might feel confused or even resistant. This may reflect in course evaluations.
That’s why it’s important to help students understand why you are using active learning methods and how it benefits them. Always explain your choices so they feel included in their own learning process. It also helps to have students set personal learning goals using a one-minute paper. Ask them: what do you hope to learn during this course? Encouraging them to reflect on this makes them more engaged, helps them understand your teaching approach, and increases their motivation to participate.
5. Break up the lecture with an energizer
Being active all the time isn’t realistic. Students also need to build a knowledge base before they can engage with the material more deeply. Sometimes, the best way to provide that foundation is through a traditional lecture. However, listening passively for 90 minutes is intense, most people struggle to maintain focus for that long.
A short intermission can be a great solution. Every 30 minutes, incorporate a brief movement break to boost energy, improve mood, and enhance focus. This ultimately leads to better learning and retention. Try alternating your lecture with an energizer. Professor Erik Scherder suggests the Scherdertje, where students move for three minutes during class. Additionally, VU Psychology lecturers have developed a booklet full of energizers designed to re-energize students during lessons.