Active Learning Activities

Active learning activities are tailored to specific learning outcomes and content. They incorporate one or more of the evidence-based strategies. Structured to expose their theoretical underpinnings, the activities can be used by practitioners and researchers alike.

Active Learning Activities

46 Results

Photo by Ramon Salinero from unsplash
Languages and Literature

Constructive Commentary

This activity guides students through set steps and strategies to comment on their peers' creative writing.

Photo by Mira Kireeva from Unsplash
Languages and Literature

Peer Review for Beginners

This peer-review activity for English 101 aims to help students improve their essays, but also to develop evaluation skills.

Biology STEM

Hemoglobin Hustle: An Adaptation of Race for the Hat

Used the Race for the Hat activity to create a Jeopardy-style session on blood & blood disorders for a pathophysiology class.

Humanities Social sciences

Group Work Project Contracting

For instructors planning student group work projects over many weeks or months.

Photo by Conny Schneider from Unsplash
Humanities Social sciences

Put Your Theory on Trial

Scaffolded debate that explores the nuances of a belief that the teacher has introduced.

Languages and Literature

Silent Discussion

Conduct a discussion in your class without students ever speaking a word!

Languages and Literature

Reimagining the Reading Quiz: Peer Instruction in English

Students do a reading quiz in class and revise their answers after developing and sharing a rationale for their choice.

Interdisciplinary Languages and Literature

It’s All in the Delivery: 6 Rounds to Effective Presentation

Groups of students orally present a poem six times, focusing on six key aspect of effective oral presentations

Chemistry Biology

To Pass or Not to Pass: Acting out Membrane Transport

Aim of the activity is to increase students’ understanding of molecules’ movement through the cell membrane.

Biology STEM

Don’t go NUTS: A Case Study on the Physiology of Stress

STEM Biology Social sciences

Peerwise Assignment: Human Body

Languages and Literature

Les Ateliers de Creation

In this multiple-class activity, students write three 250 texts, then learn to revise their writing based on peer feedback.

Humanities Interdisciplinary

Peer Review, Assessment & Feedback

Languages and Literature

Connotation Exercise: Interview and Presentation

This activity introduces basic concepts of literary analysis and interpretation.

Interdisciplinary Languages and Literature

Who are We? Class Demographics

In this icebreaker activity, students answer questions about themselves, which is included in a anonymous class profile.

Languages and Literature

Projet Specific: Webzine

Biology Chemistry Engineering STEM

Building Effective Teams

Biology STEM

Mouse Coat Colour

Languages and Literature

Activité sur les Homophones

Students pick a homophone out of a hat and are asked to first analyze and prepare a short 2 minute teaching lesson.

History Social sciences

Family HiStories of Migration

Students interview two members of their family to collect information about their family history and present it in class.

History Social sciences

Reflective Reading on Islam

Students use homework questions to prompt a deeper engagement with the reading material to generate better class discussion.

Biology STEM

Fireweed and Seals, oh my! Mini Cases in Population Ecology

Biology STEM

The Sailing Iguanas: A Mini Case in Speciation

Biology STEM

AR’e You Talking to Me? Mini Case Study in Cell Signalling