Active Learning Tools
Think about YOUR favorite college class....was it the one where the teacher did all of the talking and you just sat..........OR was it one in which you participated and felt a part of the learning experience? These are just suggestions on how to make your classroom and students more active in their own learning...........
Minute Paper - at the end of class, ask students to answer a question or reflect on something from that day's class to turn in.
Useful Minute Paper Questions:
• What was the most important idea, concept, or point you are taking away from today's class (this week's class)? This can be very illuminating for both you and the students.
• What do you understand now that you didn't before today?
• What was the most difficult or confusing thing in today's class (this week's class)?
• Give an example of how _______ can be used to explain _________.
• What's one question about today's course material you want answered?
The Fish Bowl - ask each student to write one issue or concept they want clarified on a card and place it in a fish bowl (cardboard box, hat, etc.) as they enter class. During class, you can select cards from the bowl to clarify these issues or concepts. This gives students who are hesitant to participate an opportunity to ask questions you can also do this activity at the end of the class. Reviewing the feedback from the class as a whole gives you insight on the distribution of questions and concerns across the students in your class. At the next class, you can clarify the issues that were shared by the greatest number of students.
Interactive Lectures with Clarification Pauses - after 10 -15 minutes of lecture, circulate around the room for two minutes while students review their notes alone and then in pairs. Then follow up with oral or written questions from students. If you prefer, you might use "clicker" technology to create interactive opportunities with your students.
Promoting Active Listening - After student A has given an answer, ask student B to summarize in their own words the points made by student A. You can also ask a student to rephrase a difficult point you have made.
Response to Demonstration - oral or in writing. Student may complete the following sentences: I was surprised that ... I learned that ... I wonder about ...
Writing Discussion Questions - Students, at some point during the class, are asked to write a question that will solicit thoughtful discussion on the issues at hand. Or ask them to think about what you've just discussed, and write a suitable quiz question.
Think, Pair, Share - Ask question or pose situation, have students write 1 or two lines about the question, then talk to partner for 1-2 minutes. The professor should circulate in the room to hear the discussions and help encourage student to stay on task.
Critical Reading - Have students read a paragraph or short piece. They write down the most important point. Or have students cite an example of inference, or good analysis, or an unanswered question from the text, then compare their thoughts with a peer. Poll the class.
On-Line Writing Partners - Assign students into pairs or groups of 3. Have each student write weekly (bi-weekly) about class readings, discussions, and related current events. This assignment can involve analytical writing, asking questions, integrating ideas across texts and discussions, etc. Students then share their writing with their partners who respond with their ideas, responses, and perspectives. This works well on blogs. Ask students to periodically share their learning with the larger class.
Pass a Problem - Ask students a complex question which requires higher order thinking. Groups get 10 minutes to think about the problem and write a paragraph about the problem. This is put it in a folder and passed to another group. Groups get another 5 minutes to rethink the question, and write again. These thoughts are put in the folder with the original entry. Repeat. Groups then report out their solutions and how seeing others' ideas and approaches helped them.
Peer Teaching / Student-led Reviews - Assign students topics to research and then prepare a presentation about their topic to share with the class, either formally, informally, or electronically.
Icebreaker Review - Write a set of 15-30 questions reflecting knowledge you expect students to bring into your class. In first class, give every student all the questions. Give each student a 3x5 card with one question and its answer. Give the students 20 minutes to find someone with the answer to each question, get the answer and have it "signed off". Students meet each other and they review necessary material.
Final Thought:
Lab activities and assignments such as oral presentations, interviews, working with case studies, simulations and games, role plays and dramatizations, and debates can each engage students in active learning as well.
