Activate students in class

Close contact between students and their teachers has long been highly appreciated as part of teaching at CBS. Even with the introduction of blended learning, CBS will continue to be an on-campus university where students come to engage with teachers. Where online learning offers flexibility in time and space, opportunities to support diversity in students’ learning preferences as well as new opportunities in the form of activities that engage students outside the classroom, face-to-face teaching provides the social setting for discussion, questioning and collaborative analysis and reflection.

Below you may find some inspiration for in-class activities  – all of them suitable for both smaller and large classes. The following eleven learning activities (among others) appear in Kim Jesper Herrman and Anna Bager-Elsborgs book “Effektiv Holdundervisning – en håndbog for nye undervisere på universitetsniveau“, from 2014. Feel free to borrow a copy from Educational Development and Quality.

For inspiration about asking questions and enabling a dialogue in class, read Jakob Ravn and Jens Tofteskovs publication Questions and Dialogue here.

Buzz groups
Think-pair-share
One-minute-paper
Clear/unclear
Brainstorm
Test
Plenary Discussion
Student presentations
Peer Review
Matrix groups
Interview round
WHAT AND HOW?

In an interview-round students interview each other. First, students are provided with a paper that has a question on it. Every paper has a color and the same question will appear on the same colored paper. To begin this exercise, let the students do the interviews mixed. A student with a red paper question must do an interview with a student who has another colored paper than red. The students interview each other and write down the answers that they have been given by their respondents. When the students have completed two-three interviews, they team up with other students with the same color question and synthesize their notes from all the interviews. Afterward, the students present their most relevant points in the plenary.

BENEFITS

In this activity students learn from answering questions from their peers, getting answers from their peers, and trying to negotiate one final conclusion within the group of students with the same interview question. Also, students practice their presentation skills when entering the plenary discussion at the end of the activity.

BE AWARE OF…

The interview-round may be very time-consuming. Make sure to adjust the number of questions and make them concrete and yet challenging enough to work as a foundation for a group discussion.