Active Learning Planning Active Learning Sessions

Planning is key to running an effective active learning session. Make sure you reserve time in your schedule to plan each session you lead.

Guiding Questions

When planning an active learning session, consider the following questions:

What is the most difficult content? Remember, important is not the same as difficult. There will always be important concepts that you will not have time to address in the sessions. If you try to cover everything, you will create students who are dependent on you for their knowledge. Instead, we would like to create independent students who can take the study skills they learned in SI and apply them to their future courses.
What CTLs AND learning strategies will work well with these concepts? i.e. think-pair-share, group discussion, turn to a partner, AND note review, informal quiz, boardwork model, matrix. etc.
How much time do you expect to spend on each activity? It is critical to anticipate the amount of time an activity will take so that they can appropriately manage time in a session. While you don’t want to cut activities short if students need more time, you will need to know as the time keeper if you are on time or not so that you can adjust your plan as needed.
How many students do you expect? What will you need to adjust in the strategies you’ve chosen depending on how many students actually attend? How can you be ready for students who are not prepared? (no book, no notes, haven’t read book etc.) Make those plans now.
What do you need to prepare to make your session successful? (ie. Review your own lecture notes for a note review; write an informal quiz; divide a reading assignment for divide and conquer; select problems representative of important types to use for think pair share or boardwork model; form your own complete matrix, etc.)

Source: The International Center for Supplemental Instruction at the University of Missouri-Kansas City

The Structure of an Active Learning Session

Session Opening

Build relationships - start with a brief, engaging icebreaker activity
- Example 1: Initiate with an age-appropriate icebreaker question
- Example 2: Conduct a quick poll or have students response to a prompt in the chat

Create and agree upon group norms to ensure a productive and respectful learning environment. Suggested norms:
- Mute upon entry in the Zoom video room
- Cameras on
- Punctuality expected for all sessions
- Maintain respectful chat interactions
Do a quick check for understanding of material from a previous session (if applicable)

Introduce the topics or material that will be covered in the session

Active Learning Activities

The majority of time in an active learning session will be spent in one or more activities
Activities should include a CTL AND an active learning strategy
Remember to use facilitation strategies throughout the session

Check for Understanding

The active learning activities should include checks for understanding, but it's also a good idea to have some sort of "exit ticket" or final check for understanding to close out the session

Closing and Support

Draw students' attention to learning strategies used throughout the session as well as any study skills they might use to reinforce their understanding of course content
Make students aware of future sessions, study hall, 1:1 tutoring, etc.

Sample Active Learning Session Plans

Active Learning Session Planning Form_Example 1.pdf

Active Learning Session Planning Form_Example 2.pdf

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