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Wait Wait Don't Tell Me

 

  

 

"Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" is not just a great NPR radio show it's also one of the most effective techniques ever to get more students involved in answering questions.  

 

And it's easy. Whenever you ask a question, wait at least three seconds before calling on someone to answer. Three seconds is longer than you think. Try it.  Count to yourself  "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi".   Did you know that after asking a question, most instructors will wait a second or less before either calling on a student to get an answer or telling students the answer?

 

For over 30 years, research has shown that increasing "wait time" (waiting three or

more seconds after asking a question) has a positive impact on student participation and response. Universities from Stanford to the University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill have recommended that faculty increase their wait time to increase participation by all students, especially those who have historically participated less.

 

Want to read the research? Check out:

  • Mansfield, J. B. (1996). The effects of wait-time on issues of gender equity, academic achievement, and attitude toward a course. Teacher Education and Practice, 12 (1), 86-93.
  • Rowe, M. B. (1974). Wait time and rewards as instructional variables: Their influence on language, logic and fate control. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 11, 81-94.
  • Tobin, K. (1980). The effect of extended wait-time on science teaching. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 17(5), 469-475.

 

 

 

 

    

NSF LogoThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0833076. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.