22 November 2021

Learning activity

Brainwriting

You’ve probably tried brainstorming, but have you tried brainwriting? In this approach, students are given time to come up with their own ideas individually before sharing them out loud in (an online) class or with a votingtool. Building in space for individual reflection leads to better ideas and less groupthink. 

On-campus

The activity takes a couple of minutes and could be done with varying group sizes. It could be used as a blended learning activity. 

Manual

Supplies needed

  • A way to brainwrite (for example own device) 
  • Assignments/questions 
  • Optional: Wooclap

Set-up classroom

A simple set-up like a U-shape is sufficiënt.

Optionally: Using a Teaching & Learning Lab could be suggested, due to its flexibility in furniture. Students could use the Whiteboard walls to note down their ideas.

Step 1. (Preparation)

Compose questions or assignments for students. Try open ended questions, so students have to elaborate on their ideas.

Step 2. (During class)

Instruct students about the learning activity. 

Step 3. (During class)

Present the question to students. Give them a certain period of time to think for themself and write down their answers. Important is that students take time to write down their reasoning. 

Step 4. (During class)

Start a plenairy discussion about the topic or let students hand in their answers using Wooclap. 

Step 5. (Evaluation)

After the discussion, provide students with the right answers and key-findings to take home.

Tools

Source

https://www.nureva.com/blog/education/15-active-learning-activities-to-energize-your-next-college-class

Online

The activity takes couple of minutes and could and could be done with maximum of 60 students in an online setting. It could be used as a blended learning activity. 

Manual

Supplies needed

  • Microsoft Teams 
  • Assignments/questions 
  • Wooclap

Set-up classroom

Use Microsoft Teams to provide a classroom for students to attend their online class. All students should be in one call.  

Optionally: Using a Virtual Classroom could be suggested, due to its elaborate technical options.

Step 1. (Preparation)

Compose questions or assignments for students. Try open ended questions, so students have to elaborate on their ideas.

Step 2. (Preparation)

Set up Wooclap with an open-ended question slide.

Step 3. (During class)

Instruct students about the learning activity. 

Step 4. (During class)

Present the question to students. Give them a certain period of time to think for themself and write down their answers. Important is that students take time to write down their reasoning.

Step 5. (During class)

Let students send in their answer in Wooclap after a certain period of time. Students should not come up with new answers after their first respons, to prevent groupthinking 

Step 6. (Evaluation)

Start a plenairy discussion about the answers. After the discussion, provide students with the right answers and key-findings to take home. 

Source

https://www.nureva.com/blog/education/15-active-learning-activities-to-energize-your-next-college-class

Hybrid

The activity takes couple of minutes and could and could be done with maximum of 60 students in a hybrid setting. It could be used as a blended learning activity.

Manual

Supplies needed

  • Hybrid classroom 
  • Microsoft Teams 
  • Assignments/questions 
  • Wooclap

Set-up classroom

Use Microsoft Teams to provide a classroom for students to attend their online class. The students in the on-campus group could be seated in different classroom set-ups. Suggested is to book a hybrid classroom in advance, so the right facilities are available.

Step 1. (Preparation)

Compose questions or assignments for students. Try open ended questions, so students have to elaborate on their ideas.

Step 2. (Preparation)

Set up Wooclap with an open-ended question slide.

Step 3. (During class)

Instruct students about the learning activity. 

Step 4. (During class)

Present the question to students. Give them a certain period of time to think for themself and write down their answers. Important is that students take time to write down their reasoning.

Step 5. (During class)

Let students send in their answer in Wooclap after a certain period of time. Students should not come up with new answers after their first respons, to prevent groupthinking 

Step 6. (Evaluation)

Start a plenairy discussion about the answers. After the discussion, provide students with the right answers and key-findings to take home. Take into account some students are attending online.

Source

https://www.nureva.com/blog/education/15-active-learning-activities-to-energize-your-next-college-class

You are free to share and adapt, if you give appropriate credit and use it non-commercially. More on Creative Commons

 

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