Theresa Turner
tturner@shastacollege.edu
GIFTS Workshop
November 17, 2010
Connecting with Students: “The Roll Question”
Rationale:
Research indicates that students that feel connected to a college, to at least one faculty member, and to other
students, are more likely to stay in college, and ultimately to graduate. With our commuting students, who
zip out of class to go to work, there are limited times for them to connect with teachers, and with other
students.
Brad Turner developed a way to connect with every student in each and every class meeting. His technique
also allowed students to learn more about their classmates, and find points of commonality with each other.
He would take roll at the beginning of every class period, but as he called the student’s name, they would
answer the Roll Question of the day. Many times, in planning the lesson for the day, he would design a roll
question that would lead into or be the starting point of his lecture or the discussion of the course content for
that day. Certain questions can enhance critical thinking skills, or encourage goal setting or selfintrospection, all of which are useful skills for college students to practice and develop.
When I first learned of this process, I wasn’t sure I should spend the five to ten minutes of each class period
in “just taking roll”, especially in a 50 minute class! But as I tried out this process, I realized that it has many
benefits that more than justify the time! First, it allows the students time to mentally arrive in class. It also
gives the students racing from the other side of campus, or who needed a “comfort break” with a few extra
minutes to arrive, rather than have them disrupt class by coming in when the instructor is lecturing.
But there are even more important benefits. I’m connecting with each person every day. It helps me learn
their names. Finding common points of interest and experience builds more rapport in the classroom
(Another student says, “That’s my favorite, too!”), which makes the class itself a richer experience for all of
us. Students have the chance to start the class with a “right answer”, which is a wonderful psychological
benefit.
It can often serve as a great beginning for the lecture/discussion of that class. We can use the roll question as
a chance for feedback and/or a mini-review (e.g “What is the most important concept you’ve learned in this
class/unit so far this semester?”), and as a review for concepts taught in the last class or unit, where the
instructor can coach or clarify student answers (e.g. practicing Active Listening skills.) And, lastly,
depending on the question, it is a wonderful tool to encourage critical thinking (e.g. “What is the most
important issue facing college students today?”).
Time:
Between 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the complexity of the question, and the desired
objective of the instructor.
“What is your favorite topping on a pizza?” is a good “beginning of the semester” question.
“What is your favorite movie and why?” is more complex, as is “After you finish your
education, where would you like to live, and why?” (The “why” part is optional, of course.
Adding a “why” will take more time, but in certain classes, you may want to know the
student’s rationale for their answer.)
Materials:
the
Prepare a roll question for each day of your class. This can be done before each class, or at
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beginning of the semester for the whole semester. In some classes, as I first began asking
Roll Questions, I would ask students to turn in suggestions on a piece of paper, and would
often receive amazingly good ideas, and would use some of their ideas for roll questions.
Description: Roll Question Activity
I generally write the Roll Question on the board before class starts, so they can consider it. When class
begins,
I then take roll.
 If it’s early in the semester, and I don’t know names, I ask them when I call their name to say “here”
or wave at me until I’m looking at them. Once we have eye contact, Then they answer the Roll
Question.
 Later in the semester, I know them all by name, and they can skip that “making certain the instructor
is looking at me before answering” part.
As the students answer, I respond in several ways. I may restate or paraphrase what they said. I might
simply say “Thank you (insert student’s name)!”. I sometimes compliment their answer by statements with
comments such as “Thoughtful answer!” “Great Insight”, or I may build on what they said. For example, one
Roll Question I use is : “If you could receive any gift, what would it be?” Often students will say “Money for
college.” I might briefly tell/remind them that there are multiple scholarships at Shasta College. Since it’s
connected to what’s immediately on their mind, it appears they listen and remember better!
As you compose your roll questions, you might consider what question could tie to the lesson for the day,
e.g. for a unit on Listening Skills, “What is your favorite sound?”
Additional Tips:
If the question is very complex, or their faces look blank as I read the Roll Question aloud, I will ask them to
talk about their answer for a minute with another person or persons. Just that one minute gets them
focused and provides good answers. Sometimes I’ll let them know about an upcoming question, if I want
them to have a long time to consider a complex question, such as “What do you think is the greatest problem
facing college students today?”
Remember to consider your students. One semester I had a student with hearing impairment, so I gave two
questions, from which all students could choose. One choice was: “What is your favorite sound?”, the other
was “What is your favorite aspect of Fall?” or whatever season it happened to be. Another semester, I
planned to use “What is/was your favorite Halloween Costume?” and then, happily, remembered ahead of
time that not everyone celebrates the holidays! So I gave them two questions, from which they could pick
one – the Halloween costume OR Your favorite aspect of Fall. Worked very well!
One caution:
Brad could handle any student response well. I don’t have his facilitation gifts, so often, if the question has
the potential for an really inappropriate answer, I first will remind students to give an answer appropriate
to the audience, and thereby practice their work/social skills.
So, if the roll question is “What is your favorite morning beverage?” I want to avoid someone saying “wine”,
“beer”, etc. Therefore, before beginning roll, I first would say something like: “Any form of alcohol as an
answer will have me talking to you after class about alcoholism and AA! You don’t want that, and I don’t
want that, so no answers involving alcohol!” (If someone does say “alcohol” after this, then I do connect
with them quietly during or after class, and ask if there is any way I can be of assistance, and being sure they
know about our Psychological Counselor, Becky Bogener, and Debbie Goodman, our College Nurse, who are
both in the Wellness Office – to whom they can talk about Anything.)
Another option as you take roll of course, is just to ignore inappropriate answers, or give “the look” that
every child/parent knows for “inappropriate behavior”, say nothing, and go on to the next student. This
Rarely happens, but it’s nice to be prepared, just in case. Sometimes I’ll use humor, too. For example, if the
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Roll Question is “What is your favorite activity?” I’ll smile and say ahead of time, “Use good taste. You may
need to tell us your Second favorite activity!” They laugh, and the roll goes well.
Here are some sample roll questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What do you believe is the most important invention in the last 50 (or 100) years?
If you could travel through time, where would you go? (can add “and why”)
Who is the role model who inspires you to be your best?
Where is the farthest you have traveled from Redding?
If you could (or do) speak a language besides English, what would it be (is it)?
What is the greatest problem facing college students (our country, our environment,
etc.) today?
7. Who is your favorite author and why?
8. What is the most important quality in a friend?
9. If you could receive any gift, what would it be? (tangible or intangible)
10. If you could give any gift, what would it be?
Now, please write some of your ideas for your own Roll Questions, to share with other
participants: