Elliott West, history professor at the University of Arkansas, is on the short list for best college teacher in America.

There are tricks and devices that can help. For instance: "Never underestimate the power of dead air." Prof. West advises "asking a question and simply waiting for the answer." He has noticed that "people will get very uncomfortable and start squirming, until someone will try." For the really tough crowds, he says, he will surprise them. They think that he is carrying around a cup of coffee, but actually he has candy inside and when someone finally answers a question correctly, he will throw a piece to that student. He smiles slyly: "It's like training seals."

That last part is correct.