Potential Learning Activities

Many activities can be used to engage learners. Below is a list of potential learning activities along with a brief description and
suggestion of where to learn more.

Activity Description Citation

Articulate The process by which an instructional "performer (possibly Instructional-Design Theories and Models: A
reasoning a student) models the thought process(es) necessary to New Paradigm of Instructional Theory, p. 232.
solve a problem. S/he does this by thinking aloud, i.e.,
providing cues to learners in the class regarding the
important actions and processes involved in the problems
solution.
Authentic project A project completed either individually or in a group in which http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/pbl.htm
students apply, illustrate, or supplement classroom lessons
with real-world situations.
Behavioral An instructional activity that demonstrates how to perform
modeling an action or set of actions in a specific environment.

Book report A synopsis, analysis, or thematic description of a literary

work, either in part or as a whole.

Brainstorming A collaborative problem-solving strategy that involves Schunk, Dale H. Learning Theories: An
generating possible solutions, establishing criteria by which Educational Perspective. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle
to evaluate them, and then applying the criteria to select the River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. 2004.
best solution. Ideas can be generated using either a
structured or unstructured method.
Case study A specific case (i.e., a detailed story, either true or fictional)
that students analyze in detail to identify the underlying
principles, practices, or lessons it contains.

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 Activity Description Citation
Charting Creation of graphs, tables, images, etc., to represent and/or
organize data.
Coaching Peers analyze, provide feedback and encouragement on
each others' performance.

Cognitive modeling "Reflection-in-action, i.e., a demonstration of the reasoning

behind what is happening in a given activity.

Concept mapping A graphical representation of related information in which

common or shared concepts are linked together.

Debate A verbal activity in which two or more differing viewpoints on

a subject are presented and argued.

Discussion A formal or informal conversation on a given topic. Also

called dialogue.

Dramatization Acting a play, novel, or situation.

Drawing /art / Illustrating concepts through the use of images/likenesses.
sculpture
Drill and practice A learning activity in which students are presented with a
problem/task and asked to provide the answer; may be
timed or untimed.
Essay A brief, written thesis on a specific issue or topic. Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-
Based Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 205.

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 Activity Description
Experiment A learning strategy by which a study is designed so that the
learner becomes the investigator who systematically varies
conditions (independent variables) and observes changes in
outcomes (dependent variables).
Facilitator Someone (e.g., a faculty member or student) who uses
structured inquiries and activities to help learners
collaboratively identify/attain the desired learning outcomes.
Field trip An excursion that explores an authentic setting (e.g., a
museum, farm, different culture, etc.).
Game Undirected play or playing around (informal play), or a
contest to achieve an objective using an agreed-upon set of
equipment and procedural rules (formal play).
Guest speaker An invited presenter who shares feelings, thoughts, and
ideas.
Interview Research conducted by questioning individuals in order to
answer a question, highlight an issue, or develop a
perspective.
Journaling Learners keep written records of their intellectual and
emotional reactions to assignments and material on a
regular basis (e.g., weekly, after each class).
Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005
Citation
Schunk, Dale H. Learning Theories: An
Educational Perspective. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. 2004.
Chiseri-Strater, Elizabeth and Bonnie Stone
Sunstein. Field Working: Reading and Writing
Research. Upper Saddle River New Jersey:
Prentice Hall Blair Press. 1997. P 43.
Salen, Katie and Eric Zimmerman. Rules of
Play: Game Design Fundamentals. MA: MIT
Press. 2004.
Schunk, Dale H. Learning Theories: An
Educational Perspective. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. 2004.
Chiseri-Strater, Elizabeth and Bonnie Stone
Sunstein. Field Working: Reading and Writing
Research. Upper Saddle River New Jersey:
Prentice Hall Blair Press. 1997. p15.
Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-
Based Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 143.
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 Activity Description Citation
Lecture Conveying material verbally, sometimes with visual aids, to Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-
a group of learners. Based Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 93-95.
Literature review A survey and summary of the literature on a specific topic.
Could be brief (only citations and brief synopses) or global
(including contexts, authors major purposes, and opposing
author viewpoints).
One-minute paper Learners summarize the "most important" or "most useful" Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-
point(s) from a lecture, assignment, experiment, etc. Helps Based Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
students "process" an activity from short-term to mid-term Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 143
memory. Students could be assigned a "five minute paper"
to summarize a weeks lessons or identify the one item that
remains confusing.
On the spot The instructor asks a question about learning material and
questioning randomly calls on specific students for answers.

Panel discussion A group of students (e.g., 4-5 people) give presentations on Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-
the same topic but from different points of view. Another Based Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
option is for each panelist to take the role of a different Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 120.
historical figure.

Peer exchange Students swap their work, motivating them to think more Brown, D. (ed.) (2000) Teaching with
about the material and discuss it among themselves. Technology. Massachusetts: Anker Publishing
Co.
Performance Demonstration of an activity by a skilled performer via live
modeling performance or video; may be recorded so the learner can
access the performance/presented material later.

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 Activity Description
Puzzles A question, problem, or tool designed to test ingenuity or
recall.
Research paper/ A written document that includes a review of literature and
report provides one perspective of the subject. A research report
includes multiple perspectives.
Scaffolding Temporary support that allows a learner to perform a
complex task. As the learner becomes more proficient,
support is reduced until the student can stand on their own.
Scavenger hunt Learners working in pairs or groups must search to answer
a series of questions, collect material, etc. Learners may
bring back answers to the group, enabling the group to
answer a larger contextual question that requires answers
to the individual questions.
Service learning A form of experiential education in which students engage in
activities intentionally designed to address community and
human needs while promoting student learning and
development.
Simulation A replica or representation of a real-world phenomenon that
enables relationships, contexts, and concepts to be studied.
Socratic instruction Also called teaching by questioning; questions and
answers are used to build a logical argument or reveal flaws
in reasoning.
Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005
Citation
Salen, Katie and Eric Zimmerman. Rules of
Play: Game Design Fundamentals. MA: MIT
Press. 2004. P 80-81.
Leedy, Paul and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod. Practical
Research: Planning and Design. 8th Ed. Upper
Saddle River NJ: Prentic Hall Press. 2005. P.
36.
http://lester.rice.edu/browse/lstkeywordbrowse.a
spx?ord=181&Mid=61&tabIndex=0&tabid=1
Jacoby, Barbara and Associates. Service-
Learning in Higher-Education: Concepts and
Practices. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
1996.
Salen, Katie and Eric Zimmerman. Rules of
Play: Game Design Fundamentals. MA: MIT
Press. 2004. P 423.
Perelman, Ch. And L. Olbrechts-Tyteca. The
New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation.
Notre Dame, IN: U of Notre Dame Press. 1969.
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 Activity Description
Student Typically taking the form of an oral report, the presentation
presentation involves researching a topic, taking a position and/or a role,
and studying a school of thought on the topic.
Study session Students work together to compare and discuss class notes,
diagrams, equations, etc., to improve understanding.
Test/quiz An exercise to determine the level of a students
understanding. Questions can take multiple forms (multiple
choice, essay, etc.).
Tutorial Tutorials are secondary learning sessions, usually one-to-
one or small group, designed to help a student learn
material. They can be computer-mediated or face-to-face.
Web search Students are assigned a topic to be researched on the Web,
which provides an opportunity to reinforce research
standards and source validity.
Working session Time during class when learners are given a specific
project; resources are made available and the instructor
provides assistance, as needed.
Based on research conducted by 2004 NLII Fellow Jean Kreis.
Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005
Citation
Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-
Based Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 199-121.
Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-
Based Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 199-121.
Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A Research-
Based Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 199-121.
http://lester.rice.edu/Browse/lstprojectbrowse.as
px?ord=591&Mid=0&tabIndex=7&tabid=43
Faigley, Lester. The Longman Guide to the
Web. New York: Longman. 2000. P 135.
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