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Turning Participation Grades into Self-Directed Learning Opportunities

Students engaged in small group discussion in a lecture hall
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We all want students to come to class prepared, having done the readings, and ready to actively participate in discussions and activities. Although the practice is debated, many of us use participation grades to encourage the types of behavior we want to see in class. Typically, it works, but it’s a very extrinsically focused form of motivation.

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