Why the students feel afraid uneasy and uncomfortable in class?
Students are a diverse group of people, so they have a variety
of reasons that they are hesitant to ask questions in class. Some
possible reasons: * They understand the concept and don't feel the
need to ask any questions. * They are too embarrassed to ask the
question in front of their classmates since they feel it is a
"stupid question." This is probably the most likely reason since
classrooms are often a source of peer pressure. * They don't want
to ask too many questions and slow down the class. If the lecture
goes over, then they will not have as much time for homework. *
Students are not paying attention, so they have no idea what is
going on. If they have no idea what is going on, then they can't
questions about the lecture Try these:
* Start a conversation with the class about the subject, rather
than just asking for questions. It is less threatening. Wait a full
60 seconds before moving on.
* There should be a worksheet for everyone to complete before
leaving class. Let them work on it for a few minutes and then ask
for the first answer. Ask for the process they used to get the
answer, not just the answer.
* Announce that they may have private help at your desk. But,
this is only if the class will behave while this is going on.
Otherwise, walking around and checking each student's progress or
asking a specific question about an error you see on their paper
may get them started.