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

23 Results

STEM Chemistry

Keeping Up With the Trends

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

Social sciences Humanities

Group Work Project Contracting

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

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.

Photo by NASA on Unsplash
Applied arts

From Bauhaus to Britney: A Catchall Timeline

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

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.

Social sciences STEM Biology

Peerwise Assignment: Human Body

Humanities

Categorizing for Review

STEM Chemistry

Acid Base Equilibrium

Students learn how to problem solve and review their peers in a low stakes situation (no grades).

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.

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.

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 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

Social sciences

Who am I: (Mis)conceptions of Self

Social sciences

Holding Your Seat: A Mindfulness Exercise

Social sciences

Teacher for a Day: Defining a Definition

Social sciences

Defining a Definition

In this single-class activity, students practice problem-solving related to definitions.

STEM Chemistry

Do You Know Your Stereochemistry?

Social sciences

Presentation skills: Conveying emotion

Applied arts

Concept Map: Furniture Design Time Ripple

STEM Engineering

Problem Set Using Lightboard Video Recordings

STEM Engineering

Talk to Your Neighbour

The aim of this activity is to grab student attention and have them work on problems related to material just presented.