Faculty-Generated Strategies for "Cold Calling" Use: A Comparative Analysis with Student Recommendations

Authors

  • Elise J. Dallimore Northeastern University Author
  • Julie H. Hertenstein Northeastern University Author
  • Marjorie B. Platt Northeastern University Author

Abstract

Educators interested in maximizing student learning have recommended strategies to engage students actively in the teaching- and-learning process. Classroom discussion is one of the most frequently used and more often embraced active learning strategies. When attempting to enhance both students' participation and discussion effectiveness, the question arises: What should we do about students who are less inclined to participate voluntarily? "Cold calling" is a strategy that has been found to enhance students' comfort level, preparation, and participation frequency. It is, however, viewed negatively by many instructors. The authors assembled faculty expert panels to identify those qualities that make a cold call more or less intimidating to students in order to identify strategies for "warming up" a cold call. What emerged is a typology that demonstrates consistency between two factors: (a) behaviors identified by the panelists for warming up a cold call and (b) previously reported behaviors identified by students as increasing both the quality of student participation in and the effectiveness of classroom discussion.

Published

2024-03-22