Creating a Classroom Environment That Fosters Participation

After 15 years teaching #entrepreneurship I discovered something game-changing: Our traditional grading system contradicts everything we teach about entrepreneurial thinking. We tell students to “fail fast and iterate” then penalize them with one-shot assignments. We preach “progress over perfection” then grade final products instead of journey. We champion “feedback loops” then give grades instead of actionable insights. Aome tips to change this nonsense: 1️⃣ The 60/40 Split → 60% traditional assessments (keeps academic rigor) → 40% effort-based completion (rewards entrepreneurial hustle) Result: Students take more risks without fear of failure 2️⃣ Unlimited Pitch Revisions Just like real startups iterate: • Week 1: Submit pitch deck • Week 2: Get detailed feedback • Week 3: Resubmit improved version • Repeat until mastery achieved 3️⃣ Practice Runs Count Break down that 30% “Final Pitch” grade: • 10% Practice pitch • 10% Final pitch • 10% Reflection + improvements Students learn that preparation IS the process. 4️⃣ Redefine “Participation” Instead of just showing up: ✓ Customer interview completions ✓ Market research worksheets ✓ Prototype iterations ✓ Peer feedback given Track effort, not just outcomes. The results? • More students complete multiple iterations • Students feel more entrepreneurial • Class engagement skyrockets • Final project quality improved Remember: If we want to create entrepreneurs, we need to grade like entrepreneurs think: ✓ Progress over perfection ✓ Iteration over isolation ✓ Effort over outcomes What grading experiments have transformed YOUR classroom? Drop a comment below. Let’s dlearn from each other 👇

A blend is usually best. My approach to designing class sessions centers on designing for the learning, not the learner. Though this may be an unpopular instructional philosophy, I find it yields strong, lasting gains. Of course, learners must have adequate prior knowledge, which you can ensure through thoughtful placement and pre-training. This approach combines direct instruction with emotional, cognitive, and reinforcement strategies to maximize learning and retention. Each phase—from preparation to reinforcement—uses proven methods that reduce anxiety, build confidence, and sustain motivation while grounding knowledge in ways that lead to deeper understanding and real-world application. Direct instruction methods (such as Rosenshine and Gagné) offer a structured framework to capture attention, clarify objectives, and reduce initial anxiety. Emotional engagement—connecting material on a personal level—makes learning memorable and supports long-term retention. Reinforcement strategies like spaced repetition, interleaving, and retrieval practice transform new information into long-term memory. These methods help learners revisit and reinforce what they know, making retention easier and confidence stronger, with automaticity as the ultimate goal. Grounding learning in multiple contexts enhances recall and transfer. Teaching concepts across varied situations allows learners to apply knowledge beyond the classroom. Using multimedia principles also reduces cognitive load, supporting efficient encoding and schema-building for faster recall. Active engagement remains critical to meaningful learning. Learners need to “do” something significant with the information provided. Starting with concrete tasks and moving to abstract concepts strengthens understanding. Progressing from simple questions to complex, experience-rooted problems allows learners to apply their knowledge creatively. Reflection provides crucial insights. Requiring reflection in multiple forms—whether writing, discussion, or visual work—deepens understanding and broadens perspectives. Feedback, feedforward, and feedback cycles offer constructive guidance, equipping learners for future challenges and connecting immediate understanding with long-term growth. As learners build skills, gradually reduce guidance to foster independence. When ready, they practice in more unpredictable or “chaotic” scenarios, which strengthens their ability to apply knowledge under pressure. Controlled chaos builds resilience and adaptability—then we can apply more discovery-based methods. Apply: ✅Direct instruction ✅Emotional engagement ✅Reinforcement strategies ✅Multiple contexts ✅Multimedia learning principles ✅Active, meaningful tasks ✅Reflection in varied forms ✅Concrete-to-abstract ✅Questions-to-Problems ✅Feedback cycles ✅Decreasing guidance ✅Practice in chaos ✅Discovery-based methods (advanced learners) Hope this is helpful :) #instructionaldesign #teachingandlearning

“Engagement is the key to unlocking the full potential of your college experience. In the classroom, interaction and participation are not just requirements; they are pathways to deeper understanding, collaboration, and personal growth.” ✍️ Students (from other classes) often tell me that they have never had an interaction class in their life. Last week, I hosted a friendly competition in my Introduction to Computer Science I & II classes with 5 teams consisting 5-6 students competing against each other to write code on the whiteboard🤺 To my surprise, students ranging from the most boisterous to most shy all ran to the board to gain points for their team. Ties were settle in a 1 on 1 single round Rock, Paper Scissors match in front of the class which caused several uproars when the shyest of students bested their opponents 🪨📃✂️😂. Yelling switch every couple seconds forcing students to explain their thought process, existing code while reiterating the problem as quickly as possible to best other teams 🏆 It was absolutely amazing! 🤩 The laughs, the incentives, loopholes, etc., was so engrossing that students from other classes came in and wanted to participated (which I allowed) and it caused healthy chaos, rivalry, and fostered dire teamwork 🤝🥳 Now, you may ask why do this in college classes. Well, after 2.5 years of COVID-19 quarantining restrictions, the notions of active interaction and participation were taken away—crucial factors to develop necessary soft skills. Active participation fosters a dynamic learning environment where ideas are exchanged, perspectives are broadened, and critical thinking skills are honed. It allows you to connect with classmates and professors, building a network that can support you throughout your academic and professional journey. I hope to keep fostering inclusive and immersive environments for students moving forward ✨ Don’t underestimate the power of your voice in the classroom. Your insights and contributions are valuable, not just to your own learning but to the learning of others around you. So, raise your hand, ask questions, share your thoughts, and embrace the opportunity to engage fully in your college education. Your future self will thank you for it 💫 PS: I know you all said to tag you if I made a LinkedIn post but there were over 50 students that participated in this activity, and that’s a lot of tagging 😅 so maybe another time! #Engagement #ClassroomParticipation #CollegeExperience