Active Learning Activities

Group Work Project Contracting

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

Put Your Theory on Trial

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

Running on Water: Activating Prior Knowledge of Static Equilibrium

Students watch, discuss, then analyze the veracity of a video in which hydrophobic shoes allow people to run on water.

From Bauhaus to Britney: A Catchall Timeline

Students map key movements in Architecture and Design alongside social, political, artistic, economic, and tech milestones.

Silent Discussion

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

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.

Mechanics in Motion: Iterative GIF Creation

In groups, students create GIFs to demonstrate and explain how mechanic principles apply in real-life scenarios.

Nature of Science Ice-Breaker

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

Card Sorting Activities for Mechanics

Can I Use the Internet?

Categorizing for Review

Connotation Exercise: Interview and Presentation

Solving World Issues One Smartphone at a Time

Cercles de Lecture (Reading Circles)

Rhetorical Strategies

Forget the Math! Draw Pictures to Learn the Wave Theory of Light

Concept Map: Furniture Design Time Ripple

Kinematics Concept Mapping

Circus Launch Clicker Questions

Forces Scavenger Hunt

Momentum Photoproject

Home Wiring

Problem Sorting

Photo Concept Maps: Parts 1, 2 & 3