Activity aim: To understand the concept of the “national character” in Lu Xun’s short stories Materials: Pen and paper Time: 15-20 minutes Activity description: Post a question on slide: What constitutes the Chinese national character Lu Xun criticizes and tries … Continue reading Think, Pair, Share in Chinese Literature
Activity aim: To get students to apply course material to a real-life scenario Materials: Printed worksheets, Plickers/Top Hat (learn more about Plickers here; learn more about Top Hat here) Time estimated: 20 minutes Prep for teacher: Set up Plicker questions, set up … Continue reading Think / Pair / Share with Clickers (Library Science)
Activity aim: To provide students with an opportunity to gain exposure to multiple readings; to encourage students to review / synthesize / draw connections between multiple texts; to review reading in preparation for a discussion Materials needed: An article questionnaire … Continue reading Jigsaw Reading
Activity aim: Spot common error in SQL statements, fix errors by writing correct SQL Materials: Printed worksheets Time estimated: 60 minutes Prep for teacher: Set up worksheets. Break students into pairs or groups (no more than 4) Note: Designed for … Continue reading Fix “Broken” SQL Statement (CIS)
Activity aim: To prompt discussion; to develop synthesis skills; to build classroom community Materials needed: Sticky notes, poster paper (you can also just write topics on the board), pens Time: 10-15 minutes (or more), depending on the group size Activity Description … Continue reading Sticky note check in
Activity aim: To review; to provide an authentic task for repetitive practice; to encourage class discussion without putting students on the spot; to help students formulate questions Materials: It can be helpful to have a printed worksheet or slide with … Continue reading Pyramid
Activity aim: To prompt discussion; to facilitate peer teaching, content review, or practice Materials needed: Sticky notes, pieces of tape, or shipping labels. This is also possible to do without any of these things (students can hold up their cards … Continue reading What’s Your Number?
Activity aim: Four Corners can be used in a wide variety of ways: to facilitate class discussion, to help create a classroom culture at the beginning of the year, or to shake up the energy in the room and confirm … Continue reading Four Corners
Activity aim: To review reading material; to get students to review / synthesize / draw connections between multiple texts; to review reading in preparation for a discussion Materials needed: Each students needs a pen and paper. Time: 20-30 minutes (or … Continue reading Cadavre Exquis
Activity aim: To get students to review / synthesize / draw connections between multiple texts; to review reading in preparation for a discussion; Materials needed: Each students needs a pen and paper. Time: 20-30 minutes (or more), depending on the … Continue reading Ink Shedding
Activity aim: to model classroom discussion; to encourage more class participation; Materials needed: Nothing! Time estimated: 45-60 minutes (it can be shorter than this) Activity description: Using the fishbowl technique (and its many variations!) to facilitate class discussions can … Continue reading Fishbowl Discussion
Activity aim: to provide a more clear structure for group discussion; to allow students to have a chance to assimilate and “digest” information Materials needed: Nothing! Time estimated: This can take <10 minutes, but it could also be extended … Continue reading Roundtable Discussion
Activity aim: to encourage peer teaching; to catch students up who have missed key content; to check student progress and generate questions Materials needed: Two sets of instructor-generated questions (set A and set B) Time estimated: This can … Continue reading Jigsaw Interview or Three Step Interview
Activity aim: promote discussion and public speaking skills; keep students on task during group work; encouraged engagement with course material prior to class; cover several related topics in one class period; Materials needed: Nothing Time: 20+ minutes Activity description: … Continue reading Pinwheel Discussion
Activity aim: to encourage class discussion without putting students on the spot; to help students formulate questions; to break up a dying whole class discussion; to introduce students to active learning (this is an easy way to introduce the … Continue reading Value Line
Activity aim: get students actively involved in discussion; promote critical thinking and reasoning; encourage students to form opinions about course materials/topics Materials needed: whiteboard or projector (ability to display statements that the whole class can view) Time estimated: variable … Continue reading This or That (Debate)