Carnegie Mellon University

Eberly Center

Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation

Step 3: Explore Strategies

Explore potential strategies.

My students don’t participate in discussion.

Students did not complete the assignment.

Students didn’t complete the reading in advance of class, and hence they cannot effectively participate in the discussion because they can’t provide factual information, analysis, or evaluation of the argument, or an alternative perspective. While reading is necessary but not sufficient to assure participation in discussions, students who do not read cannot provide meaningful contributions to the discussion.

For a more complete discussion of why students don’t keep up with the readings and strategies to address this problem, see the lament “My students don’t keep up with the reading”.


This site supplements our 1-on-1 teaching consultations.
CONTACT US to talk with an Eberly colleague in person!