Susan Cain on Helping Introverts Thrive in the Classroom

Summary

The script discusses the drawbacks of grading based on classroom participation, which often favors extroverts and can lead to superficial contributions. It suggests a shift from 'class participation' to 'classroom engagement' to better accommodate introverts. The ideal learning environment for introverts includes independent work, one-on-one discussions with professors, and structured group roles to ensure everyone's voice is heard.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Introverts often misidentify as extroverts due to social stigma.
• 📚 Historically, introverted students have been encouraged to speak up more in class, which can be counterproductive.
• 🏆 Grading systems that reward direct classroom participation can penalize introverts and promote unnecessary talk.
• 🌐 Classroom participation is considered more important in Western cultures compared to Far Eastern ones.
• 🔄 The concept of 'classroom engagement' should replace 'class participation' to recognize diverse forms of engagement.
• 👥 Group discussions should be structured to ensure all voices are heard, not just the most dominant.
• 🧠 Introverts thrive in learning environments that allow for independent work and deep thought.
• 🎓 The Oxford model of one-on-one professor-student interaction is suggested as beneficial for introverts.
• 🤝 Engaging with classmates or professors outside of class can be a form of participation that suits introverts.
• 📈 There's a cultural bias towards valuing quantity over quality of participation in Western education systems.

Q & A

What is the issue with attributing grades to direct classroom participation?

Attributing grades to direct classroom participation can be problematic because it not only penalizes introverts but also encourages superficial contributions rather than thoughtful engagement. It may lead to 'blather' and does not necessarily respect other people's time.

Why does the cultural background play a role in classroom participation?

Cultural background influences classroom participation because different cultures have different values and expectations regarding communication and interaction. Far Eastern cultures, for example, place less emphasis on constant speaking in class, which contrasts with Western ideals that often reward such behavior.

What is the perspective of an individual from Shanghai on American university classrooms?

The individual from Shanghai was surprised by the emphasis on raising hands and speaking frequently in American classrooms, even if the contributions were not substantial, feeling that it wasted everyone's time.

What is the suggested alternative to 'class participation'?

Instead of 'class participation,' the concept of 'classroom engagement' is suggested. This term recognizes the various ways students can engage with material and classmates, such as through deep conversations after class or during office hours.

Are people generally accurate in self-identifying as introvert or extrovert?

People's self-identification as introvert or extrovert can be inaccurate, especially during college years, with many introverts incorrectly identifying as extroverts due to social stigma.

What is the best learning environment for introverts according to the transcript?

The best learning environment for introverts would include more independent work, one-on-one discussions with professors, and structured group discussions with clear roles for each participant to ensure everyone's voice is heard.

Why is independent work important for introverts?

Independent work allows introverts to process information deeply and thoughtfully, either in solitude or in small, focused groups, which is more conducive to their learning style than large, performance-oriented group settings.

What is the role of structured group discussions in creating an inclusive learning environment?

Structured group discussions with defined roles for each participant ensure that all voices are heard and that the discussion is inclusive, preventing dominance by a few and allowing introverts to contribute effectively.

How does the current college curriculum trend affect introverts?

The current trend in college curriculums is moving away from independent work, which can be detrimental to introverts who thrive on solitary study and deep thought.

What is the intellectual model mentioned for introvert-friendly learning?

The intellectual model mentioned is the Oxford model, where students engage in one-on-one discussions with professors to think through ideas deeply, which is more suitable for introverts.

What is the impact of performance-oriented classrooms on the learning process?

Performance-oriented classrooms can overshadow the learning process by focusing on who is speaking the most rather than on the quality of the ideas being presented, which may not be conducive to deep learning.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Classroom Participation and Introversion

The paragraph discusses the issue of introverted students being encouraged to participate more in class, which can be counterproductive as it may lead to superficial contributions rather than thoughtful engagement. The speaker points out that this approach can be particularly challenging for introverts and suggests that the concept of 'classroom participation' should be replaced with 'classroom engagement' to better accommodate different learning styles. The speaker also highlights cultural differences in classroom participation expectations, using the example of a woman from Shanghai who was surprised by the emphasis on speaking up in American universities, even when the contributions were not necessarily valuable.

Keywords

💡Introvert

An introvert is someone who tends to be more reflective and energized by spending time alone. In the video, the speaker discusses how introverted students may be penalized in classroom settings that prioritize speaking up and participation. The woman from Shanghai's perspective on American universities exemplifies this, as she observes that students who speak up frequently may not always contribute meaningfully, which can be particularly challenging for introverts who prefer to think deeply before speaking.

💡Extrovert

An extrovert is someone who gains energy from social interactions and tends to be more outgoing. The script points out that some introverted individuals might misidentify as extroverts due to social stigma, which can lead them to participate in social situations that they do not actually enjoy. This highlights a flaw in educational systems that reward extroverted behaviors, potentially overlooking the value of introverted contributions.

💡Classroom Participation

Classroom participation refers to the active involvement of students in class discussions or activities. The video script critiques the practice of attributing grades to classroom participation, suggesting it can lead to 'blather' and does not necessarily encourage thoughtful or respectful engagement. It implies that this method may not be the best way to evaluate a student's understanding or contribution to the class.

💡Classroom Engagement

Classroom engagement encompasses a broader range of student involvement beyond just speaking up in class. It includes various forms of interaction and investment in the learning process. The speaker in the video advocates for a shift from rewarding mere participation to fostering deeper engagement, which could involve activities like one-on-one discussions with professors or independent work.

💡Cultural Differences

Cultural differences refer to the varying norms and values across different societies. The script uses the example of a woman from Shanghai to illustrate how cultural backgrounds can influence attitudes towards classroom participation. In some Far Eastern cultures, there is less emphasis on speaking up frequently in class, which contrasts with Western practices where such behavior is often rewarded.

💡Independent Work

Independent work refers to tasks or projects that students complete on their own, without direct interaction with others. The video suggests that introverts may thrive in educational environments that allow for more independent work, as it provides space for introspection and deep thought, which aligns with their preference for solitary reflection.

💡Stigma

Stigma is a social concept that refers to a mark of disgrace or discredit. In the context of the video, the stigma associated with being an introvert can lead individuals to mislabel themselves as extroverts to avoid negative social judgments. This highlights the social pressures that can influence self-perception and behavior.

💡Thoughtful Engagement

Thoughtful engagement implies a considered and meaningful approach to participation in class discussions or activities. The video argues that educational systems should value thoughtful engagement over mere quantity of participation, as it encourages students to respect others' time and contribute more substantively to the learning environment.

💡Oxford Model

The Oxford model mentioned in the video refers to a tutorial system where students engage in one-on-one discussions with professors. This model is presented as an ideal environment for introverts, as it allows for in-depth, individualized thought and discussion, which contrasts with larger, more performance-oriented classroom settings.

💡Group Dynamics

Group dynamics refer to the behaviors and psychological processes occurring within a social group. The script suggests structuring group work carefully to ensure that each member has a defined role and opportunity to contribute, which can help include introverted students who might otherwise be overshadowed by more dominant voices.

💡Self-Identification

Self-identification is the process by which individuals recognize and label their own personality traits or characteristics. The video raises questions about the accuracy of self-identification, particularly in the context of introversion and extroversion, suggesting that some students may misidentify due to social pressures or a lack of understanding of their own tendencies.

Highlights

Introverted students are often told to speak up more in class, which may not be their natural inclination.

There's a flaw in grading systems that reward direct classroom participation, as it can penalize introverts.

Such systems may encourage 'blather' rather than thoughtful contributions.

In Far Eastern cultures, there's less emphasis on constant classroom participation.

A student from Shanghai found the American university system surprising due to its reward for talking, even if it's nonsensical.

Classroom engagement should be considered over class participation to recognize different forms of engagement.

Introverts may engage more deeply with material or classmates outside of the classroom.

Introverts and extroverts may not always accurately self-identify due to social stigma.

Introverts often grit their teeth through social situations that are not to their taste.

The best learning environment for introverts includes more independent work.

The Oxford model of one-on-one professor-student interaction is beneficial for introverts.

Introverts prefer deep, thoughtful processing in solitude or small groups over performance-based settings.

Group work should be structured with clear roles for each person to ensure everyone's voice is heard.

Dominant voices should not overshadow quieter students in classroom discussions.

Transcripts

I see a lot of people who are clearly introverts who describe themselves as extroverts

Historically introverted students have simply been told that they need to speak up more in class.

Do you think there's a flaw in attributing grades to that direct classroom participation?

I do and not only because it penalizes introverts, but

really in some ways more fundamentally because a

system where you're just rewarding people for

doing this or just speaking out

It's a system that's encouraging a lot of blather

You know, it's not a system that's encouraging people to be thoughtful or to be respectful of other people's time

This is kind of a cultural thing.

So in many Far Eastern cultures

there's much less of an emphasis placed on this and I was talking with a woman who had come to this country from Shanghai and

she had been raised in that system and she told me that she kind of couldn't believe it when she got to

American university - the way she put it she said, you know

everybody just raises their hand and the more they do that the professor nods respectfully, and she said and they're all talking nonsense

and there's this feeling that she had that they're taking up everybody else's time.

But the more you do that the more you're actually rewarded.

So it's a western ideal?

In many ways it is a Western ideal. Yeah, and so I think that

we often recommend

getting rid of the phrase class participation and thinking instead of classroom engagement,

which is kind of a deeper way of looking at it and it recognizes that there's a lot of different ways of being

engaged with material and of being engaged with your fellow classmates. You know for some people

they might do it by by talking deeply with a classmate when class is done or by engaging with a professor at office hours or whatever.

There's a lot of different ways to kind of get in there.

And are people good at self-identifying as introvert or extrovert?

Should we assume it's accurate when a student tells me that she is one or the other.

Oh, that's a good question. I would say sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Probably the biggest inaccuracy that I see people

making, especially during the college years,

I see a lot of people who are clearly introverts who describe themselves as extroverts.

And I think that's because of the social stigma that they might feel about being an introvert.

And so they they'll kind of grit their teeth through a lot of situations that they actually find not to their taste.

So building on that then what do you think is

the best learning environment that in particular introverts can thrive in?

Well for introverts I would say, you know, first of all making much more space for independent work. I would really bring that back

more centrally into the college curriculum. From what I understand we're moving farther and farther away from that

so I think, you know, having students present and write individual papers and do deep thought on their own.

I think of the model that existed, which isn't necessarily

financially practical, but I'm gonna talk about it anyway.

I think it's intellectually useful.

You know, a model at Oxford where the student would sit one-on-one with a professor and really think through ideas.

Those are the way introverts want to process things. They want to do it kind of either in solitude or in

one-on-one or in very small groups in a really deep and thoughtful way, as opposed to

a setting where you're more like jockeying for position and it feels more like the

advancing ideas is more about performance and about

who's taking over when and I think we want to kind of get away from that.

So I would say too that when we're structuring groups

we should be thinking about okay, what role is each person going to play, make sure each person knows what their role is and

really structure discussions carefully so you're making sure that you're inviting everyone into the situation instead of getting into

you know, hearing from only the most dominant voices