Dialogue Journals

Description: In this activity, students keep a journal to capture their thinking about course readings, assignments, lectures, and class activities. They then exchange their journal with a peer to create an ongoing dialogue of questions, answers, insights and ideas. The students can develop their journal in a digital or analog format. The instructor can prompt […]

Note-Taking Pairs

Description: In this activity student partners work together to improve their note-taking skills. Over time, each student improves her individual note-taking skills. By working in pairs, students can compare notes on a class lecture, reading or other activity. They help each other to fill in the gaps in their notes, correct inaccuracies, and add detail […]

Learning Teams

Description: For this type of group, students are divided into groups at the beginning of the term. When you want to incorporate small group discussion or teamwork into your class, you direct the students to get into these term-long learning groups. Groups of four work well, because each foursome can be subdivided into pairs, depending […]

Fishbowl

Description: This method involves one group observing another group. The first group forms a circle and either discusses an issue or topic, does a role play, or performs a brief drama. The second group forms a circle around the inner group. Depending on the inner group’s task and the context of your course, the outer […]

Rotating Trios

Description: This strategy involves students discussing issues with many of their fellow classmates in turn. Beforehand, prepare discussion questions. In class, students form trios, with the groups arranged in a large circle or square formation. Give the students a question and suggest that each person take a turn answering. After a suitable time period, ask […]

Think Pair-Share

Description: This strategy has three steps. First, students think individually about a particular question or scenario. Then they pair up to discuss and compare their ideas. Finally, they are given the chance to share their ideas in a large class discussion. Class size: any Time frame: 5-10 minutes Setting: No limitations Modality: Face-to-face, hybrid Comments: […]