Teaching Tip: ‘hot seat’ to foster communication and confidence
Associate Professor Eileen Lueders’ innovative activity boosts student engagement and eases anxiety.
Do your students struggle with feeling disconnected or anxious during seminars?
In a fourth-year psychology seminar, Eileen Lueders introduced a ‘hot seat’ activity to encourage interaction, improve communication skills, and foster a supportive learning community. Adaptable for any course where oral communication and human connection are key.
Try this!
Introduce a ‘hot seat’ where one student voluntarily takes centre stage to answer light-hearted, spontaneous questions from peers. This creates a relaxed yet professional environment, helping students practise impromptu communication and interpersonal skills.
Addresses these teaching challenges:
- Enhancing classroom dynamics
- Building student confidence
- Fostering a collaborative learning environment
- Reducing anxiety associated with formal assignments
- Encouraging active participation
Implementation
- Designate time before or after formal assignments.
- Invite one student to take the ‘hot seat’ and answer questions.
- Ensure questions are light-hearted and spontaneous.
- Rotate the ‘hot seat’ among students each session.
Pro tips
- Keep it optional.
- Encourage fun and creative questions.
- Ensure questions are respectful and appropriate.
Benefits
- More interactive and engaging
- Practise impromptu speaking and quick thinking.
- Reduces feelings of disconnection.
- Eases stress of formal assignments.
Teacher’s voice
“It was inspiring to see students step out of their comfort zones and embrace this playful exercise with enthusiasm.” – Eileen Lueders
Accessibility considerations
- If there are students with disabilities, ensure they can participate fully. Provide alternative ways to ask and answer questions, such as text-based responses or using assistive technology.
- Set clear guidelines for respectful and appropriate questions to create a safe and supportive environment.
- Actively moderate the activity to ensure inclusivity and address any issues that arise.
Try this variation
- Conduct the ‘hot seat’ activity online via video conferencing tools. Use breakout rooms for smaller groups.
- Adapt the activity for practising course-related discussions or building rapport in group projects.
Faculty: Science
Suitable for
Shared by
Eileen Lueders
Faculty of Science