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.

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52 Activities

Photo by Conny Schneider from Unsplash
Social sciences Humanities

Put Your Theory on Trial

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

Collaborative Meeting - Photo by Redd F from
Social sciences Psychology

Learning in Everyday Life

In this integrative assignment, students analyze their everyday activities through the lens of various learning theories.

Mathematics

Crossing Dimensions: A Math Odyssey into Cross Products

In groups, students learn about orthogonality and cross products by creating geometrical shapes.

Elementary school science teacher in biology class
Interdisciplinary

Snowball Starter: Goals of Science Education

In this activity, the snowball strategy links students' prior beliefs to a deeper inquiry of science education goals.

Young university students studying with computer in cafe. Group of people in campus library. College teenager using laptop at table. Group study for school assignment.
Psychology

Sensation and Perception Lab

The lab explores the senses of taste, smell, touch, proprioception and vision.

Two people in a conversation
Social sciences Psychology

Who Are You? A Multidimensional Examination of Self-Concept

Students investigate their self-concept, compare it to a classmate, assess differences between self- and social perception.

Physics

Nature of Science Ice-Breaker

A first class ice-breaker activity introducing the nature of science.

Social sciences Psychology

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in the Workplace

In groups, students explore Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in its application to workplace scenarios

Interdisciplinary Health science

Cross-Disciplinary Synergy 101: Uniting Expertise for Success

In teams, students interact, share information on their profession, and create cases where each discipline is needed

Languages and Literature Interdisciplinary

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

Crash Course: Collision Theory

Students use PhET simulation to learn how factors affect reaction rate (collision theory) through hands-on activities

Health science

Rough Draft Workshop: Group Peer Assessment Jigsaw Activity for Case Study or Procedural Writing

Students bring a rough draft of a written group project for peer evaluation and feedback

STEM Physics

Real-World Physics: Mini Video Projects

STEM Physics

Controversy in the Science Classroom: Nature of Science Quiz

STEM Mathematics

An Abundance of Bells

Humanities

Low Stakes Debate

Interdisciplinary Humanities

Peer Review, Assessment & Feedback

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Crystallization of Borax

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Organic Chemistry Introduction to Solubility

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Spectrophotometry Using Gatorade

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Volumetric Analysis of Household Acid with Cabbage Juice

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Paper Chromatography of Food Dyes and Ink

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Colligative Properties

STEM Chemistry

CLAW At-Home Experiment: Activation Energy in Chemical Kinetics