Document Type
Conference Paper
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
Soon after last semester began, I found myself in a classroom where students seemed disengaged and often unwilling to participate in open class discussion. I decided to ask students for feedback on how I could do better. What I heard was something I had not fully considered before. Many students, primarily Gen Z, asked that I use more examples centered on roommates. Several shared that they did not have experience with romantic relationships or professional work environments, but there was one common thread among them - they all had roommates. Talking about a roommate felt much lower stakes than talking about a romantic partner or family member, and students expressed feeling more comfortable engaging with that topic in class. Using roommate scenarios in small-group discussions, paired with clear prompts to begin the conversation, significantly lowered the pressure to participate.
Recommended Citation
Morris-Neuberger, A. L. (2026). Not Dating, Just Doing the Dishes: Reducing Anxiety and Increasing Participation Through Low-Risk Interpersonal Role-Plays. In Proceedings of the 2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference at West Virginia University (pp. 1-3).