Active Learning Strategy Menu
Explore a range of active learning strategies you can adapt for your course. Use these ideas to engage students, increase interaction, and support deeper learning.
Low-Lift Strategies (1–5 minutes, minimal prep)
🧠 Think–Pair–Share
- Arizona State University: Think–Pair–Share (Active Learning Strategy)
- Kent State University: Think–Pair–Share (PDF Guide)
📝 Minute Paper
- Arizona State University: Minute Papers (Active Learning Strategy)
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln: Minute Paper | Center for Transformative Teaching
📊 Polling
- Washington University in St. Louis: Polling: Overview – Center for Teaching and Learning
- University of Georgia: Polling – Active Learning at UGA
😕 Muddiest Point
- Purdue University: Muddiest Point (PDF Handout)
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln: Muddiest Point | Center for Transformative Teaching
🖼 Gallery Walk
- Penn State: Gallery Walk – Sites at Penn State
- Carleton College (SERC): Gallery Walk – Active Learning Spectrum
Mid-Range Strategies (5–20 minutes, some prep)
🧩 Concept Mapping
- Cornell University: Concept Mapping – Learning Strategies Center
- Kent State University: Active Learning – Concept Maps
- Arizona State University: Concept Maps (Active Learning Technique)
🧑🏫 Case Study Discussion
- University of South Carolina: Examples of Active Learning Strategies – Case Studies
- Boston University: Using Case Studies to Teach
- Santa Clara University: Case Studies – Instructional Strategies
- Columbia University: Case Method Teaching and Learning
🧩 Jigsaw
- Arizona State University: Jigsaw (Active Learning Strategy)
- Kent State University (PDF): Jigsaw – Teaching Tools in a Flash
- Penn State Schreyer Institute (PDF): Jigsaw Strategy Guide
- University of San Francisco: The Jigsaw Method
🗣 Structured Debate
- Northern Illinois University: Classroom Debates – Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning
- Oakland University: Structured Debates and Other Activities for Cultivating Curiosity and Open-mindedness
- University of Minnesota: Online Structured Debate Template
- Article on the Impact of Structured Debate
✅ Peer Review
- Cornell University: Peer Assessment – Center for Teaching Innovation
- Washington University in St. Louis: Planning and Guiding In-Class Peer Review
- Cornell University: Teaching Students to Evaluate Each Other
High-Lift Strategies (1+ class sessions, more prep)
Implementation Guides and Use Cases
🎭 Simulations / Role Plays
- University of Miami: Role Play and Simulations – Academic Technologies
- Northern Illinois University: Role Playing – CITL Guide
- University of Illinois: Role Play and Skits – IOPN Pressbook
- Use Case: Kent State University–Simulation as a Teaching Strategy
🛠 Design Projects
- Loyola University Chicago: Student Projects – Engineering Design
- Harvard University: Active Learning Labs – Harvard SEAS
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Project-Based Learning Explainer
- Use Case: University of Colorado Boulder–Active Learning in Engineering Curriculum
🔍 Collaborative Research
- Dartmouth College: Collaborative Learning and Peer Research
- Bentley University: In-Class Collaborative Research Strategies (PDF)
- Penn State University: Active Statistical Learning Projects
- Use Case: Florida International University–NSF Collaborative Research in STEM Lectures
🎤 Student-Led Sessions
- University of Georgia: Student-Led Discussions – Instructor Resources
- Harvard University: Facilitating Student-Led Discussions
- Florida Institute of Technology: Active Learning Strategies Catalog (PDF)
- Use Case: University of South Carolina–Student Study Groups – Structured Participation
🌍 Community-Based Assignments
- Polk State College: Curricular Design for Community-Based Learning (PDF)
- Utah Valley University: Journal Article on Community-Based Assignments (PDF)
- University of San Francisco: Profiles in Community-Engaged Learning
- Use Case: Central Michigan University–MD Program – Community & Clinical Assignments