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

39 Results

STEM Chemistry

Keeping Up With the Trends

This activity is aimed at getting students to write sound, scientific rationales for observed phenomena.

Photo by Noom Peerapong from Unsplash
Social sciences Humanities

Finding Catharsis in Film and Media

Students analyze a film or piece of media watched in the course using two concepts: climax and catharsis.

Social sciences Humanities

Group Work Project Contracting

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

Photo by Priscilla du Preez from Unsplash
STEM Physics

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.

Physics

Nature of Science Ice-Breaker

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

Biology Chemistry

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.

STEM Physics

Card Sorting Activities for Mechanics

STEM Physics

Physics Worksheet Based Activity

The aim of the activity is the application of concepts and math to solve complex problems.

STEM Physics

Preparation for Future Learning: Electric Flux

Social sciences STEM Biology

Peerwise Assignment: Human Body

STEM Engineering

Interrupted Case Study in Material Engineering

This activity uses real life case study examples to give students a more in-depth look at analytics.

General STEM Physics

Group Problem Solving with Show and Tell

Students learn to build a conceptual model describing a Mechanics-based situation and practice mathematical problem-solving.

STEM Physics

Model Building

Students learn to build a conceptual model describing a situation involving an accelerating charged particle.

Social sciences

Gender Socialization throughout the Life Course

Students complete a grid that illustrates different life periods that reinforce gender narratives.

Social sciences Applied arts Health science

Solving World Issues: One Smartphone at a Time

The purpose of this activity is to familiarize students with the potential of online tools for problem-solving.

Social sciences

Summative Assessment: My Diagnosis Assignment

In this activity, students analyze 5 characters from a film in order to diagnose them using techniques learned in the course.

STEM Chemistry

The Matching Game

Students use a matching game to pair chemical compounds and their characteristics using a set of question cards.

STEM Chemistry

The Right Tool for the Right Job

This activity encourages students to consider the nature of a chemistry problem and to identify the tools to solve it.

Social sciences

Durkheim Suicide: Functionalist and Conflict Theory

In this activity, students compare 4 psychological perceptive of suicide (anomic, fatalistic, egoistic, and altruistic).

Social sciences History

Family HiStories of Migration

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

Social sciences History

Reflective Reading on Islam

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

Social sciences

Identity Dot Exercise

STEM Physics

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

Social sciences

Holding Your Seat: A Mindfulness Exercise