10 Engaging Exercises to Promote Active Learning in the Classroom

Active learning engages students in the learning process through activities and exercises that require them to think critically, solve problems, and apply concepts in practical ways. Here are ten exercises to promote active learning in your classroom:

1. Think-Pair-Share

• Ask students to think about a question or prompt, discuss their thoughts with a partner, and then share their ideas with the class. This encourages collaboration and helps students articulate their thoughts.

2. Concept Mapping

• Have students create concept maps to visually represent relationships between ideas and concepts. This helps them organize information and see the bigger picture. Use ThinkHub's digital whiteboard or ThinkHub Education's student stations to facilitate the exercise digitally. Students can brainstorm ideas, discuss them with their partners, and then share them with the class.

3. Role-Playing

• Assign roles to students and have them act out scenarios related to the course material. This helps them understand concepts from different perspectives and encourages creativity. This can be particularly helpful in subjects where understanding human behavior, historical contexts, and/or interpersonal interactions is crucial.

4. Problem-Based Learning

• Present students with real-world problems or scenarios that require them to apply course concepts to find solutions. This promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

5. Jigsaw

• Divide students into groups and assign each group a different part of a topic or concept to research. Then, have them teach their findings to the rest of the class. This encourages collaboration and peer teaching. The jigsaw method is frequently used in social studies, history, and literature classes, where students can delve into different aspects of a topic or text, but it can apply to almost any subject. 

6. Peer Teaching

• Have students teach a concept or topic to their peers. This not only reinforces their own understanding but also encourages collaboration and active participation. In ThinkHub classrooms, students can use the digital whiteboard to teach concepts to their peers, adding notes, drawings, and web-based content to enhance their presentations.

7. Interactive Quizzes

• Use online quiz tools or ThinkHub Education to conduct interactive quizzes during class. This keeps students engaged and allows for immediate feedback. 

8. Gallery Walk

• Display student work around the classroom and have students walk around to view and discuss each other's work. This promotes peer feedback and discussion. In ThinkHub Education classrooms, students can display their work on their student stations.

9. Simulation Games

• Use simulation games related to the course material to immerse students in real-world scenarios. This helps them apply concepts in a practical context and enhances engagement.

10. Reflection and Discussion

• At the end of a lesson or activity, have students reflect on what they've learned and discuss their thoughts with their peers. This promotes metacognition and deepens understanding.

By incorporating these exercises into your teaching, you can create a more engaging and interactive learning environment that promotes active learning and enhances student learning outcomes. Check out more ThinkHub Education use cases here.