Active Learning Activities

Group Work Project Contracting

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

From Bauhaus to Britney: A Catchall Timeline

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

Evolution of Sexual Reproduction: Construct a Species

Students construct a fictional animal species by selecting traits related to sexual reproduction.

Snowball Starter: Goals of Science Education

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

The Heart of the Matter: Exploring Exercise in Cardiac Disease

Before class, students read an article and gather 5 elements. In class, they "pool" findings and sort into categories.

Nature of Science Ice-Breaker

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

Family Matters : Inclusive Genetics Pedigree

In teams, students will build a pedigree chart and determine inheritance patterns using inclusive pedigree practices.

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

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

Real-World Physics: Mini Video Projects

Don’t go NUTS: A Case Study on the Physiology of Stress

An Abundance of Bells

Blended Learning

Yeas and Nays: Using Smartphones for Gathering Data

Building Effective Teams

Projects on Junot Diaz: “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”

Having Students Read and Apply Essay Feedback

Who am I: (Mis)conceptions of Self

Organic Chemistry Flipped Classroom

Concept Map: Furniture Design Time Ripple

Peer Review Calibration and Constructive Feedback Workshop

Cycles of Matter

Muscle Snowballs

Problem Sorting Review