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

52 Results

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Education STEM

Drawing to Learn: Doing Science is more Complex that You Think

Students draw a diagram of how they think scientists "do science." These are improved then compared with an expert diagram.

Photo by Mira Kireeva from Unsplash
Languages and Literature

Peer Review for Beginners

This peer-review activity for English 101 aims to help students improve their essays, but also to develop evaluation skills.

Chemistry STEM

Keeping Up With the Trends

This activity is aimed at getting students to write sound, scientific rationales for observed phenomena.

Humanities Social sciences

Group Work Project Contracting

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

Mathematics STEM

Two-stage Testing for Second-year Math Students

Students are given four 2-stage tests throughout a semester; 1st stage written individually, 2nd students work in groups.

Health science

Navigating the Grey: Ethics in Nursing

In this card sorting activity, students create categories with words related to ethics in nursing.

Languages and Literature

Reimagining the Reading Quiz: Peer Instruction in English

Students do a reading quiz in class and revise their answers after developing and sharing a rationale for their choice.

Physics

Nature of Science Ice-Breaker

A first class ice-breaker activity introducing the nature of science.

Health science

Rough Draft Workshop: Group Peer Assessment Jigsaw Activity for Case Study or Procedural Writing

Students bring a rough draft of a written group project for peer evaluation and feedback

Chemistry Biology

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.

Physics STEM

Controversy in the Science Classroom: Nature of Science Quiz

Mathematics STEM

An Abundance of Bells

STEM Biology Social sciences

Peerwise Assignment: Human Body

Humanities Interdisciplinary

Peer Review, Assessment & Feedback

Health science STEM

Harvard Implicit Bias Test

Environmental science

Sustainability Development Plan (Part 1 and Part 2)

In this activity, students learn to define sustainability and apply this to a single Montreal neighbourhood. 

Biology STEM

Mouse Coat Colour

Languages and Literature

Pratique d’écriture

Biology STEM

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

Biology STEM

The Sailing Iguanas: A Mini Case in Speciation

Biology STEM

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

Biology STEM

Now you see me, Now you don’t: Fluorescent Tagging Membranes

Biology STEM

What Numbers Tell us about Enzyme Inhibition

Biology STEM

PCR CAG HUNTING’ton