Active Learning Activities

Finding Catharsis in Film and Media

Students analyze a film or piece of media watched in the course using two concepts: climax and catharsis.

The Heart of the Matter: Exploring Exercise in Cardiac Disease

Before class, students read an article and gather 5 elements. In class, they "pool" findings and sort into categories.

Data Mining and Sorting: Scaffolding the Exploration of Scientific Articles

The purpose of this activity is to deepen students' understanding of cardiac pathophysiology.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in the Workplace

In groups, students explore Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in its application to workplace scenarios

To Pass or Not to Pass: Acting out Membrane Transport

Aim of the activity is to increase students’ understanding of molecules’ movement through the cell membrane.

Low Stakes Debate

Categorizing for Review

Live Demonstrations of Beats and Interference of Sound

In this activity, students learn to apply the principal of superposition to two new sound contexts.

Gender Socialization throughout the Life Course

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

Schools of Thought in Psychology

Gender and Job Inequality

Fireweed and Seals, oh my! Mini Cases in Population Ecology

The Index of Hydrogen Deficiency

In this activity, students review chemical bond concepts, determine structures & calculate Hydrogen Deficiency (IHD).

The Sailing Iguanas: A Mini Case in Speciation

AR’e You Talking to Me? Mini Case Study in Cell Signalling

What Numbers Tell us about Enzyme Inhibition

PCR CAG HUNTING’ton

Photosynthesis: Light Dependent Reactions

From “Yum” to “Yuk”: A Case in Point… Mutation

It’s All Hormonal: A Class Activity on Cushing’s Syndrome

Brazil Nut Tree

Students take on the role of ecologists, tasked with saving the Brazil nut tree from the effects of deforestation.

The Genetics of PTC Sensitivity and Tongue Rolling

Cloning of the Human Insulin Gene

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