Tests and polls
What is it? Tests, sometimes known as Quizzes, are usually no-stakes or low stakes opportunities for learning (i.e. students work with knowledge as well as recalling what they already know) which can take place within […]
All activities
Confidence to contribute
What is it? Some students tend to contribute disproportionately to discussions while others hardly ever speak. This guide offers some alternative ways to even out student participation in a group discussion. Why do it? Hearing […]
Jigsaw activity
What is it? Each student within a ‘home group’ focuses on a separate segment of a given concept or unit of learning. They convene into temporary ‘expert groups’ to develop their ideas before returning to […]
Concentric circles
What is it? A discussion prompt is given. Equal numbers of students in two concentric circles rotate every two minutes so they have the chance to meet and talk with everyone in the circle. Why […]
Concept maps
Students visually represent a concept in terms of its attributes and their connections, using pen and paper, software, or (in groups) post-its and string. Concept maps have similarities with some of the physical structures that […]
Minute paper
The minute paper, usually associated with physics professor Charles Schwartz, is a simple assessment form which elicits students’ knowledge about a topic or concept, or the contents of a lecture. It fosters deeper learning because […]
Fishbowl discussions
What is it? Fishbowl is a discussion among students in an inner circle surrounded by an outer circle of silent active listeners. The inner group is asked to contrasting perspectives or particular roles. For example, […]
Peer Instruction – Eric Mazur’s approach
What is it? Peer Instruction is an approach to teaching difficult concepts which students often misunderstand – bottlenecks in learning which students must pass through if they are to progress further. Students are assigned preparatory […]
Barometer walk
What is it? This activity is useful for exploring multiple perspectives – these could be values, approaches to solving a problem, or certainty about a given phenomenon. The educator poses a statement or question they […]
Think-Pair-Share
What is it? Think-Pair-Share is a cooperative learning approach where the whole group is given a single question or prompt to discuss. Students consider the question individually for a few minutes before forming pairs to […]