In life, we are all in the business of impressing people to make a living. It is either you are impressing your organization as an employee, or your customer or client, as an entrepreneur. So, whether you are a pastor, a driver, a doctor, a teacher, a faculty or a president, you are obligated to impress people to earn a living. If this statement is true, then why do I need to impress someone or a system to spend my money? This is my problem with class participation at the Lagos Business School.
In educational environments like the Lagos Business School, class participation often serves as a measure of involvement or understanding. While this is true to an extent, we can not deny the fact that there are different styles of learning and one can still achieve the goal without class interaction. Some students find it difficult to interact in a competitive environment. Does class interaction constitute one hundred per cent of class participation?
There seems to be some form of ambiguity regarding class participation. Some unconfirmed report states that class interaction is participation. Other schools of thought opined that attendance is class participation. To clear the air of doubt, effort has been made to reach out to some faculties regarding what constitutes class participation. The responses obtained leave one lost in the cloud.
One source of ambiguity regarding class participation is the inconsistencies among different faculties. During the introduction to Corporate Financial Accounting, Dr Patrick Akinwuntan provided some form of succour. The faculty thinks that class participation includes among other things: interaction, asking questions, attendance, listening in class and punctuality, all culminating in participation.
If this is true, why do some faculties take a list of names of only the students who ask questions in the class? What becomes of those who do not know the thoughts being shared? For instance, an engineering student with zero knowledge of accounting.
While class participation is intended to foster a dynamic learning environment and encourage engagement, I strongly believe this might inadvertently cause discomfort for some students or create a feeling of pressure for those who prefer alternative means of learning or expression.
In an ideal scenario, the Lagos Business School should aim to accommodate various learning styles and individual preferences, fostering an environment where contributions are valued but not mandated as a condition for utilizing the educational opportunity.
But come to think of this, is class participation, not an easy way for students to ace their courses? While this is undeniably a fact, the school authority should clearly define what constitutes participation and apportion grades to each component. I am certain that the result will shed more light on how each student has fared compared to the learning style adopted. Should students adopt the Ambrose style: – ‘When in Rome act as the Romans do?’
Here is my final take: the Lagos Business School should clearly define what constitutes class participation. Conversely, if participation is equivalent to interaction, it should reconsider its stance.
Perhaps, in reconsidering the importance of class participation, there could be an exploration of alternative evaluation methods or a more nuanced approach that accommodates diverse learning styles. This could create a more inclusive educational experience that acknowledges individual differences and reduces the undue pressure associated with the need to constantly impress or conform.
FROM IT ANALYST TO A FINANCIAL ANALYST