For integrating conceptual knowledge Pose an engaging question, problem or display a provocative picture for students to consider. Give students a few minutes to think about their response. Ask students to pair up with another student and share, compare and contrast their ideas.

For gaining specialized knowledge, and development of research skills Have students brainstorm potentialtopics. Select topics for investigation from the list that students generated. Form teams based on topic interest. Give teams time to formulate their research questions, choose their method of investigation, divide up and assign tasks etc. Have groups prepare and present their final…

For critical reflection & developing analysis, synthesis and decision making skills Form student groups and distribute identical or different case studies. Use research in your field or current events as stimulus ideas for your case study. Allow time for students to ask questions about the process they are to use to clarify the problem presented…

For deeper understanding of course material, while maintaining individual accountability Organize students into teams of four. Provide time in class for teams to meet and determine how they will study for an upcoming test. Administer the test for students to complete individually and to submit for instructor grading. Before returning the graded individual tests, ask…

For connecting course work to real-life, individual reflection & peer feedback Ask students to maintain a record of their thoughts in a journal, while they are completing required reading. Provide questions to guide reflection. Several times through the term, ask students to exchange their journal with other students. Students are asked to provide comments and…

For promoting critical thinking, formulating and answering questions, giving and receiving feedback Outside of class, students reflect on course content from a previously covered learning activity (lecture, reading, film etc),then formulate and write an essay question. Students must also compose the answer for that essay question. Randomly pair students and ask them to exchange essay…

For promotion of logical, sequential thinking and planning Organize students into groups, set a time limit, and provide students with a scrambled list of items/events. Ask students to work togetherto arrange items into a sequence and explain the relationship between them. Ask students to draw their sequences on a flip-chart around the room. Close the…

For unique student perspective & context Post/distribute your course objectives. Assign pairs of students, responsibility for one course objective. Ask pairs to research and provide content for their objective. Content is assembled and becomes a unique, class specific text.

For developing and sharing knowledge Divide class into small groups. Provide each group with a topic relevant to the day’s lesson. Ask each group to develop knowledge about their topic and discuss creative ways of teaching that topic to others. Re-group students so that each group consists of students who have developed expertise in a…