Why do students come to class? We may hope it’s for the love of learning, because of our inspirational teaching, or because they know it will help them get jobs or live happier lives in the long run. Of course, these are not the common first answers when you talk to the average student. As we move deeper into each academic term, we may start noticing the growing numbers of empty chairs. You may already be bemoaning low attendance rates. When I teach research methods, one of my favorite exercises is to ask students to try and generate all the reasons that students do come to class. One of the first responses I hear may surprise you. My students say they’re much more likely to come to class if they know someone in class. Makes sense, right? So how do we help them know their classmates better? This challenge provides a great opportunity for a classroom intervention.
