The Biology Hot Line: Use of a Telephone Answering Device in Large Classes

Two common challenges in teaching large lecture courses are student anonymity a d student heter ogeneity. Citing Thomas and Fink (6), McKeachie (4) reports that a group's use of resources is constrained because in a large group a smaller proportion of people can participate orally; and the larger the group, the less likely an individual feels free to volunteer. As the size of the class increases, the number and variety of student needs also increase. It is unlikely that the instructor's ability to meet differing expectations increases propor tionately, since class time is not expandable. Research studies conducted at three universities indi