Tip Sheets: Learning activities

Active learning is based on constructivism, a learning theory that asserts that learners construct their own understanding of a topic by building…

Questions are the simplest form of interactive teaching tool, particularly in large classes, and are useful in any discipline.

Both asking and answering questions are important parts of effective learning and teaching.

The Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, known as Bloom's Taxonomy (Bloom, Engelhart, Furst, & Krathwohl, 1956) is one of the most recognized…

For more information related to Bloom's Taxonomy, refer to the Bloom's Taxonomy Teaching Tip.

Community-based learning is a high impact practice which can improve student retention and engagement, and help students better absorb, retain, and…

Concept mapping tools allow you and your students to visually depict a system of relationships by creating a map

Critical reflection is a “meaning-making process” that helps us set goals, use what we’ve learned in the past to inform future action and consider…

Data visualization is the process of presenting large amounts of data in a visual form that helps to reveal meaningful patterns in the data.

Active learning in the classroom can increase student engagement and promote learning

While ePortfolios might be described as digital collections of artifacts, a good academic ePortfolio also represents a process

This game can be played in tutorials, lectures, or study groups outside class, and it helps to produce the lateral thinking, critical negotiations

Initiating and sustaining a lively, productive discussion are among the most challenging activities for an instructor

Games can introduce goals, interaction, feedback, problem solving, competition, narrative, and fun learning environments, elements that can increase…

A three-way game of rock-paper-scissorsAudio version of "Group decision making" tip sheet (MP3)

Having a diversity of skills and ideas within a group often enriches the group process and can improve the final product. 

Assigning tasks to small groups during class can have many benefits, such as involving students in their own learning,

One way to change the pace in your classroom is to do a small group activity.

Group work can be an effective method to motivate students, encourage active learning, and develop key critical-thinking, communication, and decision…

In a flipped classroom students engage with lectures or other materials outside of class to prepare for an active learning experience in the…

Service-learning is a form of experiential learning that combines relevant community service experiences with reflective exercises for a powerful…

The following questions are meant to guide you through the process of designing a “course” or unit of study

As a learning tool, writing can help students achieve a number of learning goals.

Working in groups can be both rewarding and challenging. 

Students should be made aware of assessment before starting the project

As long as class sizes continue to increase, it is likely that lecturing will be a dominant teaching method in university class rooms

Fostering an effective discussion can be challenging in a face-to-face situation and even more so in an online environment.

Online outliners such as WorkFlowy allow you to create lists with an infinite number of hierarchical levels: items, sub items, sub sub items, and so…

Hypothesis is an online tool that allows students to collaboratively annotate course readings and other internet resources.

Padlet is an online platform that describes itself as “somewhere between a doc and a full-fledged website builder

Peer instruction is a form of collaborative learning where students engage with core course concepts and then explain those concepts to one another.

Clickers are stand-alone handheld devices or apps installed on a smartphone or laptop that allow students to respond to an instructor's multiple-…

Piazza is a online question-and-answer platform that blends the functionality of a discussion forum with that of a wiki

There are three main points to consider when preparing to deliver a lecture or lead a tutorial:

Prezi is a “pan and zoom” tool, which means that it allows you to create a multi-item presentation that your audience can explore either according to…

Classroom participation is a feature of many course designs

Effective question strategies capture students' attention, foster student involvement, and facilitate a positive, active learning environment

A screencast is a narrated video recording of your computer screen. 

Metacognition has been defined as “one’s knowledge concerning one’s own cognitive processes or anything related to them

Many instructors in engineering, math and science have students solve “problems”

Including well-designed library-based assignments in your courses can help build students’ research and thinking skills.

Audio version of "Teamwork skills: Being an effective group member" tip sheet (MP3)

Types of Assignments and Tests

Peer review, also called peer editing, peer feedback, and formative peer assessment, allows students to provide and receive feedback on an assignment…

As learning tools, writing exercises are valuable because they help students think critically about course material while encouraging them to grasp,…

Virtual reality (VR) involves the use of technology to enter an alternate, three-dimensional view of the real world, a fantasy world,