Encouraging Student Participation in Discussion Sections
CATE TA Workshops
September 15, 2026
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Location
Teaching Excellence Building (TEB), Room 201
Address
924 South Morgan Street, Chicago, IL
Calendar
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Overview
Discussion sections offer an important opportunity to deepen student comprehension of course concepts through active learning approaches. But how do you get students to talk? What do you do if your students aren’t prepared? How can you create a classroom environment where all students feel comfortable participating? In this workshop, participants will learn strategies for facilitating engaging, inclusive class discussions and diverse learning activities that will help promote active participation and enrich their students' learning.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe meaningful participation and its importance to student learning
- Identify common barriers to participation
- Employ a selection of strategies and activities for encouraging participation in a variety of situations
WORKSHOP FORMAT: This workshop will be held in the Teaching Excellence Building Room 201 (924 S. Morgan St)
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR: Jacki Putnam, jputna4@uic.edu
WORKSHOP CONTACT: teaching@uic.edu
Inclusivity & Accessibility Information: CATE is committed to making events as accessible as possible. CATE’s in-person events typically involve a combination of presentation and discussion-based activities. We welcome ASL interpreters, note-takers, and accompanying assistants to all CATE events. The TEB is wheelchair accessible with an elevator to the second floor space. The TEB space is equipped with fixed-height tables that are moveable and can be reconfigured. There are single-occupancy, all-gender, accessible bathrooms on the second and basement levels of TEB. If you have any accessibility questions, requests, or to coordinate accommodations, please contact the CATE team at teaching@uic.edu.
Date posted
Aug 3, 2026
Date updated
Aug 3, 2026