Engaging with Quiet or Disengaged Students

[avisuj]

I hope you're all doing well! Today, I want to open a discussion about a challenge many of us face: engaging with quiet groups of students or those who seem to have checked out of our circle. It's important to ensure that everyone feels included and valued, so let's share our experiences and strategies.

Discussion Points

1. Identifying the Signs:

   • How do you recognize when a student is disengaged or quiet?
   • What are some subtle signs that a student might be struggling to participate?

2. Creating a Welcoming Environment:

   • What techniques have you found effective in making students feel more comfortable and willing to participate?
   • How can we create a safe space where students feel their contributions are valued?

3. Encouraging Participation:

   • What are some activities or exercises that have successfully encouraged quiet students to engage?
   • How do you balance encouraging participation without putting too much pressure on students?

4. Building Trust:

   • How do you build trust with students who are hesitant to open up?
   • What role does vulnerability play in fostering a trusting environment?

5. Supporting Individual Needs:

   • How can we tailor our approach to meet the individual needs of each student?
   • What are some ways to check in with students who might need extra support?

Share Your Thoughts

Please share your experiences, tips, and any resources you have found helpful in engaging with quiet or disengaged students. Your insights can make a big difference in helping us create a more inclusive and supportive community.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

[SueJ2025]

When students are off camera, clearly have a phone in front of them, don't make eye contact - I assume they are disconnected from the conversation. I try to encourage them to participate by asking them a direct question, with follow ups. I do make notes so week from week I can check back in to ask direct questions on their individual progress. Additionally, I try to provide personal antidotes to try to connect with students directly. Lastly, connecting one on one through LI is a way to make sure students feel seen.

If students struggle to participate in a friendly small group scenario, I am concerned for their success in the work world. While I understand and agree with the need to provide positive feedback and support, I don't think we should worry that asking direct questions is putting undue pressure on students. If it is too much, then I think we need to understand if there are other ways we can provide support.

I am interested to understand what % of students we believe felt unseen/unheard versus were bored with the content and chose to disengage.

Thanks,
Sue

[avisuj]

I love:
-encouraging them to participate by asking them a direction question
-check in to ask direct questions on individual progress
-connecting one on one through LI to make students feel seen

I don't have good feedback around unseen/unheard verse bored. to your point, I think we lose people in videos because they aren't personal and can be hard to relate too.

I appreciate the feedback and can't wait for more - I think it's probably the best way to get consensus view.