"Anybody? Anybody?" The monotone teacher's voice reaches out to the students. They slump in their desks, cover their faces, and do absolutely anything as to not make direct eye contact with the teacher.

If this resonates at all with any of you, then you have experienced a class either as a teacher of passive students or as a passive student yourself. To become an active rather than passive student it requires dedication and a desire to change the behavior.

1) Prepare for class. One the most common reasons students are passive rather than active participants in class is that they just do not invest enough time studying and preparing for class. If you haven't read the assignment, you definitely do not want the teacher to call on you and certainly there will not be any volunteering going on. Class is so much more interesting if the student invests the time, energy and concern that will be required to successfully participate in class.

2) Overcome self doubt. Another reason students do not actively participate in class is that they just are not confident enough in themselves and their knowledge. There may be fear of embarrassment or humilation by the teacher if the answer is not up to the teacher's standards. In some schools students believe that it is uncool to actively participate in class and give correct answers. As a result student find it less of a risk to sit quietly. The key is to step out of the box, be brave and take a risk because that is usually where real learning takes place.

3) Volunteer. Don't wait for the teacher to call on you to participate in class. It is important to take the initiative and volunteer to complete a task, serve on a committee, take a leadership role, or share an answer. Passive student wait to be instructed in what to do.

4) Help other students. Involvement and activity are contagious. When other students in the class see that you are willing to take the risk and share your thoughts and effort in class, other students will too. As a result everyone benefits from the conscious decision you make to be an active student.

5) Exhibit curiosity. Curiosity to discover new knowledge is essential to being an active student. Ask questions of the teacher. Think about classroom activities in new and exciting ways. Be curious.

6) Attendance. Active students attend class and arrive at class on time. Passive students think that showing up late for class or attending class irregularly is acceptable. Active students do not want to miss class because they do not want to miss the learning opportunity.

All of the steps to becoming an active student instead of a passive student come down taking responsibility for your own education. Think of it this way. Do you expect your parents to brush teeth and comb your hair for you in high school? Think about how much time is spend on the outer body. Does your mind really deserve less effort?

Learn more about this author, MJ Suttor.
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