Teaching Activities

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Application Cards

Application Cards

Following their learning about an important theory, concept or process, students write down one or more real-world applications for what they have just learned.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Apply | Remember | Understand

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Background Knowledge

Background Knowledge & Misconception Check

The background knowledge checks are assessment activities focused on a few concepts that students will need to know to succeed in the course. Background knowledge checks can be used at the beginning of a course, at the start of a new unit or lesson, or prior to introducing an important new topic. Once collected and analyzed, the data can be extremely useful when planning subsequent sessions or units of the course. Discovering that your students’ background and preparation are at odds with your expectations can throw even the best-planned lesson or syllabus off-track. However, knowing is certainly better than not knowing. At the very least, such data help you guide students to the appropriate resources for any supplementary assistance they may need.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Remember | Understand

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Directed Paraphrasing

Directed Paraphrasing

Directed Paraphrasing is an exercise in which students provide their own definition or explanation of a concept covered in class. This activity assesses student understanding of a course topic by their ability to translate into their own words.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Evaluate | Remember | Understand

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Exam Wrapper

The Exam Wrapper is a tool to facilitate student reflection after an exam and to promote metacognition as students prepare for the next exam. Students complete the exam wrapper (which is a series of reflective questions) after the exam has been taken and a grade has been received in order to create a new study plan. (See image representation of the process below.)

timer Class Time Requirements: 10 Minutes to 1 Hour

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Analyze | Evaluate

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Ice Breaker Questions

Icebreaker Questions

As a class, in small groups, or pairs, students discuss a question designed to get them to learn about others and consider each others’ perspectives.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

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Memory Matrix

Memory Matrix

The Memory Matrix is a table divided into rows and columns used to organize information and illustrate relationships. The completed matrix can be used to help student identify areas that they don’t understand. The instructor can use them to identify areas where students are having problems and they can then provide additional instruction or resources as needed. Students can also use blank versions of the matrix for studying later.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Medium

Bloom's: Analyze | Remember

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Muddiest Point

Muddiest Point

The Muddiest Point strategy is a quick way to hear what ideas are still unclear to your students. Determine what information you want to get from students and ask them specifically about that topic. Then give students a few minutes to jot down what is still unclear at the end of a lesson. Review their responses live or after class and address the misunderstandings and reinforce the understandings of your students. This can be collected with names on the papers to provide individualized feedback or without names to allow for more anonymity.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Evaluate | Remember | Understand

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One Minute Paper

One Minute Paper

The One Minute Paper is a timed writing activity that can be used to gauge where students are at the end of a lesson. In this activity, students will write in as much detail as possible where they stand with a given topic. This tool will provide a snapshot of where students are with course content and allow you address any misconceptions in the next class session. Ideally this activity is completed without identifying information so that students are more honest with their thoughts. After completing this task, review your students’ responses before your next class session and make a plan to address any common misconceptions and to reinforce common understandings.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Medium

Bloom's: Remember | Understand

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One Sentence Summary

One Sentence Summary

The One Sentence Summary is a writing activity that can be used to gauge student understanding of a course topic. In this activity, students will write a one sentence summary of the given topic in order to answer the questions “Who/What? Does what? Where? When? How? Why?” in one comprehensive sentence. This tool will provide a snapshot of where students are with course content and allow you address any misconceptions in the next class session. After completing this task, review your students’ responses before your next class session and make a plan to address any common misconceptions and to reinforce common understandings.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Remember | Understand

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Personal Artifact

Personal Artifacts

In this activity, students bring in artifacts that they feel represent them. They will show these items to the class or small group of peers and explain why they chose these items. This can be tailored to allow students to discuss their individual cultural differences and gain an appreciation for others’ backgrounds. This activity can be done at any point in the semester but would be more effective in the first half of the semester.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

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Polling

Polling

Polling can be used to assess previous knowledge, check for understanding, gather opinions, start a discussion, or ask a question where students would be more comfortable responding anonymously (in lieu of raising hands).

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Medium

Bloom's: Analyze | Apply | Evaluate | Remember | Understand

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Student Generated Questions

Student Generated Test Questions

Student generated test questions provide an opportunity for students to think more deeply about course content. The act of creating a test question about information recently read, discussed in class, or viewed via video requires students to recall and process content. Ideally, students will create a question and answer that can be used on an exam, within the guidelines required by the instructor.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Analyze | Remember | Understand

Learn more about Student Generated Test Questions
Think Pair Share

Think-Pair-Share

Think Pair Share is a strategy that can be used to get students to collaborate to answer a question or solve a problem. Students begin by compiling their own understandings in relation to the prompt (Think). They then discuss those thoughts with a partner and talk about their common understandings and misunderstandings (Pair). Finally, they provide a synopsis of their duo’s response to the question (Share). This strategy gives students a chance to reflect on big course concepts, encourages students to engage with course concepts, and gives less outgoing students the opportunity to have a voice in class.

timer Class Time Requirements: 10 Minutes to 1 Hour

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Medium

Bloom's: Analyze | Apply | Understand

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Ticket Out Door

Ticket Out the Door

The Ticket Out the Door is sometimes also referred to as an “Exit Ticket” because students are asked to complete this short assessment in the final minutes of class and turn it in as they leave. The goal is to gauge where students are at the end of a lesson as a formative assessment, which can be graded or ungraded. The Ticket Out the Door can be an open-ended question or a few multiple-choice questions based on the lesson content. Once collected, the instructor should read the student responses to determine what topics may need further review in the next lesson.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Analyze | Apply | Remember

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To Tell the Truth

To Tell the Truth

In this activity, 3-4 students (“truth tellers”) will talk about a unique fact or life experience that is true for only one of them (the “central character”). The remainder of the class will ask follow-up questions to each of the truth tellers. The central character will always tell the truth in this activity, while the other students may lie about their experiences. The audience’s goal is to try to deduce who the central character is within a time limit.

Varies depending upon how many rounds; ~10 minutes per round.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

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Wavelength

Wavelength

In Wavelength, students attempt to find the similarities between two random words and say it at the same time as their partner. This activity allows students to get to know how their classmates think. It can also lead to further conversation about the choices that they made in trying to find the similarities between their words.

timer Class Time Requirements: < 10 Minutes

timer Preparation Time Requirements: Low

Bloom's: Analyze

Learn more about Wavelength