Active Learning Activities

Group Work Project Contracting

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

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.

Snowball Starter: Goals of Science Education

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

Nature of Science Ice-Breaker

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

Role Reveal 201: Exploring Interdisciplinary Collaboration

In teams, students from each discipline complete a patient interview then contrast their approaches.

Team Dynamics Rx (Part 2): Motivating Change For Better Health

In teams, students learn through role play to effectively motivate a client to want to change

Team Dynamics Rx (Part 1): Building Trust for Better Patient Outcomes

In teams, students learn through role play to effectively work together as a team and to build trust with a patient

Collaborative VeinVentures: Mastering Blood Draws Together

In teams, students read through a script, role play drawing blood, and discuss issues that arise between professions

Card Sorting Activities for Mechanics

Preparation for Future Learning: Electric Flux

Categorizing for Review

Peer Review, Assessment & Feedback

Connotation Exercise: Interview and Presentation

Yeas and Nays: Using Smartphones for Gathering Data

Three-Tiered Writing

Homophones Talent Show

Bringing Context to Life: Annotating Research for Reading Novels

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

Kinematics Concept Mapping

Circus Launch Clicker Questions

Momentum Photoproject

Interacting Objects

Problem Sorting