Chalk Talk - Engaging All Learners

As a teacher, have you ever struggled to engage even the quietest of learners in a class discussion? Have you encountered the learner that is fearful of offering their opinion? Or how about the learner that constantly blurts out every answer before giving others time to answer? Being a teacher requires a great deal of balancing different learning styles and learner personalities. How do you engage all of these learners and measure their level of understanding?

Imagine for a moment a Discussion Board utilized in an online course or a blended format course. Students are posed a question, asked to respond to that question, and respond to classmates' responses. This format usually allows for a better discussion to take place as students are more free with their words and reflections. A unique tool that involves all learners in the discussion process.

For those classes that meet only face-to-face, discussion boards are not as popular. Enter the Chalk Talk Activity. The instructor assigns a particular reading, case-study, problem, or difficult topic for students to complete prior to class. The instructor then poses 5 - 7 questions that address the key elements of the assignment, and writes those questions on poster board paper and tapes them around the room.

Students are then asked to roam about the room, reading each question and provide their answer on the paper board provided - SILENTLY. To start, students may only answer the initial question posted. This anonymity provides those quiet and shy learners to have a voice in your classroom. Similarly, those rude students that answer every question are still able to provide their thoughts, but in a more appropriate and timely manner.

As students continue to answer the initial questions, the instructor then walks around to the different questions and circles any answer that could lead to further discussion, write down any questions the instructor still has, or circle answers that need more clarification. Once an item has been circled, this indicates to students that they may respond and pose their own questions in regard to the circled item - hence the similarity to a discussion board format.

The instructor continues to monitor student responses and circles more text to continue enhancing the topic of discussion. After a set amount of time (determined by instructor), it is imperative that the instructor close the activity with a discussion around each initial question posed. What was the instructor trying to obtain from the question, did the students answer the question sufficiently, and clear any misconceptions brought about by the discussion?

The Chalk Talk Activity reaches many types of learning styles - Somatic Learners (body-kinethestic), Visual Learners, and Intellectual Learners. This activity provides students a voice that usually don't like participating in class discussions. While it may be difficult to monitor which students have responded and how many times they have responded, you open the door to an engagement activity that requires students to move and read others ideas on a topic.