By Amelia Kibbe
Features Assignment Editor
St. Bonaventure is known for its small class sizes. One of the aspects the school considers most appealing is the student-to-professor ratio. Because of this, students need to participate more often in class.
Many of the classes I currently take are largely discussion-based. Professors assign reading for homework and expect students to discuss it in the next class.
However, it seems as if I am sitting in classes full of statues. Students are present, but many contribute nothing to the discussion and instead stare blankly ahead. The instructors are not asking difficult questions involving complex answers.
Class participation is crucial to gaining the full benefits of classes. For some classes, it is part of the student’s final grade. But class participation is more than just talking in order to earn a good grade. It has benefits that help students beyond college in both their professional and personal lives.
Participating in class discussions can help students better understand the material. Most of the time, professors are more than willing to help. Brother Jeffrey Jordon, O.F.M., professor of Clare College, explained that class discussion helps both students and professors alike.
“Class discussion is beneficial to the students,” Br. Jeffrey said. “I understand that it is a better fit for some classes over others, but it helps me know if students really understand. It gives me a sense of how well I am teaching the material. Even if students offer a couple of words, it lets me know they have made some connection.”
Class discussion is a student’s responsibility. If students do not take part in all aspects of a class, whether reading, writing or speaking, they are missing out on part of the course. As sophomore English and education double major Rachel Dorogi explained, class participation ensures students are actively engaged in class conversations.
“I believe one of the benefits of attending a small school, such as St. Bonaventure, is the ability to have a professional relationship with every professor,” Dorogi said. “With the ability to have this relationship, comes the responsibility of the student to be more than just a passive listener.”
During class discussion, students have the chance to hear the opinions of fellow classmates. This is beneficial because students learn more than just one perspective, and they too can offer their own ideas.
Another benefit of class discussion is it tends to keep students following along in class. When a professor lectures for 50 or 75 minutes straight, it is easy for students to lose focus. But if a student is actively taking part in the class, he or she is constantly thinking of ideas or answers to questions.
Of course, class discussion is easier for some students than it is for others. Extreme shyness and lack of confidence can discourage some students from taking part. However, we are at Bonaventure to learn, and we should not be afraid of making mistakes.
There is no reason why we shouldn’t take every chance we have to make our learning experience more beneficial. Participation counts—not only in the classroom, but in the real-world as well.
Amelia Kibbe is the features assignment editor for The Bona Venture. Her email is kibbeaa13@bonaventure.edu
