How to Get All Students Involved in the Discussion:

• First: Create an atmosphere conducive to lively discussions:
  -- make sure students and teacher know each other (to the degree class size permits).
  -- make sure students feel comfortable to voice even half-baked ideas.
  -- give the class time to think about a question before you expect any answers (practice silence).
  -- vary the degree of difficulty of your questions, so that everyone has a chance of answering some of them.
  
  
• Keep your questions brief and clear;
  -- rephrasing them often mudies them up more, and distracts and confuses the students.
  
  
• Ask questions where you can get answers by taking a poll, 
  e.g., how many DOF are associated with a rigid object in 3D space ?
  -- then ask for a showing of hands as you go through plausible numbers: 3, 4, 5, 6, more than 6, ...
  
  
• Ask a question and encourage everybody to write down an answer;
-- then ask for volunteers to read their answers.
 
• Address individual students by name (may be intimidating);
-- thus, give them some ways to gracefully decline to answer right then).
 
• Let them work in small groups for a few minutes to try to formulate an answer to a particular question;
-- walk through class an listen to their argumentations.
 
• Let groups work out individual problems (e.g., potential exam questions);
-- then have a representative of the group explain it to the class.


• Give special attention and encouragement to timid/quiet students;
  perhaps be first involving them in a personal discussion just before or after class.