Remember back in school when class participation made up 10 percent of your grade? For some people this was the easiest 10 percent of the semester. You know the types–the ones who loved to hear the sounds of their own voices. They commented on everything, whether or not they had something to say.
For others, though, this 10 percent was the hardest part. Getting up the nerve to say something took half the class period, and sometimes the whole class period, and then it was too late.
Introvert Shona Maher described her experiences with class participation requirements like this:
In high school and college, the pressure to participate intensified. Now my GPA depended on it, because in many classes, there was a participation grade. This grade was the bane of my existence. Even though I did well on tests and papers, my final grade was lower because of my dismal participation scores. In my senior year of high school, my English teacher did these Socratic Seminars in which there was a circle of people on the inside and a circle of people on the outside. If you were on the inside, you had to say something at least three times during the discussion, and someone on the outside kept track of when you talked and what you said. For a shy introvert, this was a living hell. As much as I tried, I could not be the outgoing, talkative person all my teachers wanted me to be.
To keep reading, click here: Please Stop Punishing Your Employees For Being Introverted
It’s the question of what you value more – quantity or quality. Sure, I can find something to say so that the person keeping the “tally” can check my name of…but if what I’m saying contributes nothing to the conversation, then it’s just wasted time.
I remember crying after my mom gave me a copy of The Introvert Advantage. I wish I had that resource growing up, in school and when I first started working! I highly recommend the book–you can just skip around, you don’t need to read it in order. Also, it’s a great resource for you extroverts, especially if you have an introverted child (as my mother did–in fact, all 3 of us are very introverted and she’s very extroverted!).
When I taught at university our department head insisted that we factor class participation into our grading. In my classroom, if you showed up, turned in your homework and didn’t fall asleep in class you got full points! I taught writing and we wrote everyday in class so if you turned something in you got the points.
I remember crying after my mom gave me a copy of The Introvert Advantage. I wish I had that resource growing up, in school and when I first started working! I highly recommend the book–you can just skip around, you don’t need to read it in order. Also, it’s a great resource for you extroverts, especially if you have an introverted child (as my mother did–in fact, all 3 of us are very introverted and she’s very extroverted!).
When I taught at university our department head insisted that we factor class participation into our grading. In my classroom, if you showed up, turned in your homework and didn’t fall asleep in class you got full points! I taught writing and we wrote everyday in class so if you turned something in you got the points.
They don’t have to punish us if they weed us out during pre-employment screens or interviews.
Thanks Awasome blog comment site.
I help from your blog comment site