Active Learning Activities

Active learning activities are tailored to specific learning outcomes and content. They incorporate one or more of the evidence-based strategies. Structured to expose their theoretical underpinnings, the activities can be used by practitioners and researchers alike.

Active Learning Activities

32 Results

100 years of work (Public Domain)
Applied arts

100 Years of Work

This is a jigsaw activity where students map key developments in workplace design over 100 years.

Social sciences Humanities

Group Work Project Contracting

For instructors planning student group work projects over many weeks or months.

Photo by Conny Schneider from Unsplash
Social sciences Humanities

Put Your Theory on Trial

Scaffolded debate that explores the nuances of a belief that the teacher has introduced.

Photo by Priscilla du Preez from Unsplash
STEM Physics

Running on Water: Activating Prior Knowledge of Static Equilibrium

Students watch, discuss, then analyze the veracity of a video in which hydrophobic shoes allow people to run on water.

Social sciences Psychology

More Than One Way to Cook an Egg: Exploring Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Teams explore Gardner's Theory, present one component, summarize presentation content, and conduct a self-assessment.

Social sciences Humanities

Can I Use the Internet?

STEM Physics

Physics Worksheet Based Activity

The aim of the activity is the application of concepts and math to solve complex problems.

Interdisciplinary Humanities

Peer Review, Assessment & Feedback

STEM Engineering

Interrupted Case Study in Material Engineering

This activity uses real life case study examples to give students a more in-depth look at analytics.

General STEM Physics

Group Problem Solving with Show and Tell

Students learn to build a conceptual model describing a Mechanics-based situation and practice mathematical problem-solving.

STEM Physics

Model Building

Students learn to build a conceptual model describing a situation involving an accelerating charged particle.

Social sciences

Gender Socialization throughout the Life Course

Students complete a grid that illustrates different life periods that reinforce gender narratives.

Social sciences Applied arts Health science

Solving World Issues: One Smartphone at a Time

The purpose of this activity is to familiarize students with the potential of online tools for problem-solving.

STEM Biology Chemistry Engineering

Building Effective Teams

History

Let’s Role Play the French Revolution!

Social sciences

Action-Learning Sets

Social sciences

Understanding Terminology Using Jigsaw

STEM Physics

Forget the Math! Draw Pictures to Learn the Wave Theory of Light

Social sciences

Teacher for a Day: Defining a Definition

Social sciences

Defining a Definition

In this single-class activity, students practice problem-solving related to definitions.

Applied arts

Interior Design – Library Design

STEM Engineering

Engineering Poster Presentations with Peer Assessment

STEM Engineering

Peer Review Calibration and Constructive Feedback Workshop

This activity's goal is to familiarize students with the peer review process and teach them how to accept peer criticism.

STEM Engineering

Talk to Your Neighbour

The aim of this activity is to grab student attention and have them work on problems related to material just presented.