Cooperative learning Break up a lecture by having students divide themselves into groups of three or four and answer specific questions or solve specific problems. Have each group appoint a spokesperson who may have to report on the group s progress once the larger class reconvenes. A general sense of the class s understanding can be gained by quickly polling several groups for their questions or comments. On a more formal scale, students can be divided into groups early in the semester to work on projects that require meeting outside of class. Groups might be responsible for starting discussion, presenting important concepts or reporting on research.
Groups can present a specific position to generate an impromptu debate.
Role Plays and Case Studies Students might become role players in a historical event requiring that they research positions and argue for certain actions or decisions. In scientific fields, students can become actual representatives of physical processes, acting them out to make them more concrete. Case studies place students in the roles of decision makers in stories often based on real world examples. Students must make sense of data and come to appropriate conclusions regarding actions or information they need. Case studies test students analytic and problem solving approaches while making them conscious of how to use the skills they ve been developing in class.