IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 24, Issue 11, Series. 9 (November. 2019) 04-12 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-2411090412 www.iosrjournals.org 4 |Page Analysis of the Determinants of Classroom Participation of Students’: Perceptions of University Student Eshetu Mandefro Abstract: This study was aimed to analyze determinants of the classroom participation of students’ at Hawassa University. In conducting the study, qualitative method with detailed description was used. To collect data in- depth interviews participating eighteen students from first year undergraduate educational planning and management department were used. The findings of the study disclosed that; there were different institutional and individual determinants affecting the classroom participation of the student’s at Hawassa University. The institutional determinants from the university side includes; large class size and block teaching schedule; the individuals determinants from instructors side includes, improper allocation and utilization of course materials, lack of connecting classroom participation with performance evaluation of the students; poor teaching methods and absence of proper feedbacks. Likewise the individuals’ determinant from student side includes poor English language proficiency; poor reading skill and lack of confidence were major determinants of affecting the classroom participation of students at Hawassa University. Based on findings it is suggested that university should give intensive speaking, listening and writing courses for student; avoid block teaching schedules; encourage students to read books, and provide detailed reading materials and assignments to students’ before the class start, organize and apply different teaching methods that encourage students’ participation in a class; connect classroom participation with evaluation; reduce number of students in a class, engage students with different self-learn activities and provide immediate feedback for their activities. Key words: Analysis, Determinants, Classroom, Participation, Students --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission:16-11-2019 Date of Acceptance:02-12-2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. INTRODUCTION In the era of globalization, inquiry-based, reflective and collaborative learning at all level of education has been recognized. As literatures indicated, participation of students in a classroom has direct effect on instructional improvement and academic achievement of students. In the educational organizations where formal education is delivered, most of teaching and learning activities take place in a classroom. So that; classroom is an important place where both students and teachers interact to share information and achieve instructional objectives. In a classroom when the teaching-learning process carried out, students are expected to be actively involved to receive and search information and apply it in specific context and real life situations. In supporting these ideas, Rocca (2010) stated that, the more the student participate in a class, the more they engage in higher levels of thinking, analysis, and synthesis. Dancer & Kamvounias, (2005) also added that, students who participate in a classroom instruction show sustainable improvement in their communication skills. The communication between student with student and student with teacher in a classroom will stimulate learning and makes both the teacher and students feel satisfied, which eventually leads to effective learning. According to Wade (1994), most students can obtain the benefits such as the enjoyment of sharing ideas with others and learn more if they are active to contribute in class discussion. One of the advantages of student to participation in a teaching-learning process is that it provides the opportunities to generate the variety of novel ideas on content of instruction and facilitate the students’ learning in different dimensions which leads to attain instructional goals in optimal level. It is believed that, successful participation of students in a classroom provides an opportunity to explore ideas and share experience with other students and teachers. To this end, this study is aimed to analyze the determinants of classroom participation of undergraduate Educational Planning and Management department students at Hawassa University. This is because; since 2016 I have been taught different courses for undergraduate students and I have observed serious problems of classroom participation of students during the lessons. In conducting this study, first I have reviewed relevant literatures to see the opinion of different scholars about the conceptual background and determinants of classroom participation of students from different perspectives. Then I outline and describe the materials and method used in conducting the current study. Subsequently, I have analyzed and presented data and draw the findings from different points of view.