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Active Learning Tips

Below are a collection of active learning tips to use for teaching in whatever classroom you have. There are tips that can be used in lecture halls, small, medium and large room, and even online.

Group Work Tools

  • Breakout rooms during class using the web conferencing platform you have selected (note: students need to bring laptops and headsets to class to interact with each. Use chat feature to limit noise levels in classroom)
  • Blackboard Learn Original groups for live and after class activities. Groups can include :
    • Class Collaborate Ultra for students to web conference. Or students can create their own Zoom group meetings
    • Blogs, Discussion, email, file exchange, journals, tasks, wikis and VoiceThread

Interactive & Collaborative Activities

  • VoiceThread activities during and outside of class
  • Polling questions
  • Case studies to read prior to class and discuss in groups
  • FAQ Discussion Forum
  • Short online video lectures to supplement the class lecture and prepare students for activities during class. 
  • Discussion forum
    • Students post questions answered by other students and instructor
    • Assign discussion leader(s) bi-weekly asking leader(s) for the week to share a reflection for everyone during class
    • Instructor provides feedback on student responses during class and outside for a few posts
  • Bb Learn journals – helps students to retain lecture concepts, reflect on their learning, share only with instructor or include peers
  • Bb Learn Group assignments, working together to submit one assignment
  • Peer review of student’s work, anonymously – Bb Learn Self and Peer Assessment
  • Think-Pair-Share with small groups (more activity ideas included in Additional Resources below)

Additional Resources



Keywordsactive learning, group work, LMS, Blackboard, polling, HyFlex, pedagogy   Doc ID104831
OwnerSharley K.GroupIT Knowledge Base
Created2020-08-10 15:57:35Updated2023-11-20 10:17:51
SitesIT Knowledge Base
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