Class Participation
Encouraging class participation enhances the learning experience.
Class participation should be assigned 20-40% of the overall grade, with flexibility for you to choose the exact percentage within this range.
The Class Participation Rubric in the table below evaluates participation on several dimensions, with the first two being the most critical.
Student Profiles & Participation Notes will be provided to you prior to class to help you track and record individual student participation throughout the course.
It serves as a personal tool to help you recall details about student engagement when you later complete the Grading Sheet.
These notes are for your own use only to ensure accurate and fair assessment of class participation.
In the Grading Sheet you will enter a single overall score for each student’s engagement level (e.g., 35 out of 40 points).
You are not required to provide subscores for each dimension, but the rubric allows for more nuanced tracking.
Students will see the Class Participation Rubric in their Student Guide as an example of how class participation might be graded.
How you implement grading is up to you, but please clearly communicate your grading criteria to students, using our suggested rubric or your own.
| Criteria | Description | ||
| LOW | MEDIUM | HIGH | |
| Frequency of Participation | Rarely engages in discussions or activities. | Participates in discussions or activities sporadically. | Consistently engages in discussions or activities. |
| Quality of Contributions | Contributions lack depth, relevance, or critical thinking. | Contributions are somewhat relevant and demonstrate basic understanding. | Contributions are insightful, well-reasoned, and add significant value to discussions. |
| Engagement with Content | Demonstrates little understanding or interest in course material. | Shows some understanding and interest in course material. | Demonstrates a strong understanding and interest in course material. |
| Interaction with Peers | Rarely interacts with classmates or responds to their contributions. | Interacts with classmates occasionally but does not actively engage in peer discussions. | Actively participates in peer discussions, provides constructive feedback, and fosters a collaborative learning environment. |
| Respectful Communication | Engages in disruptive behavior, interrupts others, or uses inappropriate language. | Communicates respectfully but may occasionally interrupt or talk over others. | Listens attentively, waits for others to finish speaking, and communicates ideas respectfully. |
| Initiative and Leadership | Listens attentively, waits for others to finish speaking, and communicates ideas respectfully. | Shows some initiative in group activities or discussions. | Demonstrates leadership qualities, initiates discussions, and motivates peers to participate. |