Learning Activities v5 1

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
Articulate
reasoning
Authentic project
Description
The process by which an instructional "performer (possibly
a student) models the thought process(es) necessary to
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.
A project completed either individually or in a group in which
students apply, illustrate, or supplement classroom lessons
with real-world situations.
Behavioral
modeling
An instructional activity that demonstrates how to perform

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

generating possible solutions, establishing criteria by which
to evaluate them, and then applying the criteria to select the
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.
Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005
Citation
Instructional-Design Theories and Models: A
New Paradigm of Instructional Theory, p. 232.
http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/pbl.htm
Schunk, Dale H. Learning Theories: An

Educational Perspective. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. 2004.
Activity
Description
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 /
sculpture
Illustrating concepts through the use of images/likenesses.
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.
Citation
Nilson, Linda. Teaching at Its Best: A ResearchBased Resource for College Instructors. 2nd
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 205.
Activity
Description
Citation
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.).
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.
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).
Salen, Katie and Eric Zimmerman. Rules of

Play: Game Design Fundamentals. MA: MIT
Press. 2004.
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.
Chiseri-Strater, Elizabeth and Bonnie Stone

Sunstein. Field Working: Reading and Writing
Research. Upper Saddle River New Jersey:
Prentice Hall Blair Press. 1997. p15.
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).
Activity
Description
Citation
Lecture
Conveying material verbally, sometimes with visual aids, to

a group of learners.
Literature review
One-minute paper
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).
Learners summarize the "most important" or "most useful"
point(s) from a lecture, assignment, experiment, etc. Helps
students "process" an activity from short-term to mid-term
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
questioning
The instructor asks a question about learning material and

randomly calls on specific students for answers.
Panel discussion
A group of students (e.g., 4-5 people) give presentations on

the same topic but from different points of view. Another
option is for each panelist to take the role of a different
historical figure.
Peer exchange
Students swap their work, motivating them to think more

about the material and discuss it among themselves.
Brown, D. (ed.) (2000) Teaching with

Technology. Massachusetts: Anker Publishing
Co.
Performance
modeling
Demonstration of an activity by a skilled performer via live

performance or video; may be recorded so the learner can
access the performance/presented material later.
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 93-95.
Ed., MA: Anchor Pub Co. 2003, p. 143
Activity
Description
Citation
Puzzles
A question, problem, or tool designed to test ingenuity or

recall.

Press. 2004. P 80-81.
Research paper/
report
A written document that includes a review of literature and

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.
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
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.
Jacoby, Barbara and Associates. ServiceLearning in Higher-Education: Concepts and

Practices. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
1996.
Simulation
A replica or representation of a real-world phenomenon that

enables relationships, contexts, and concepts to be studied.

Press. 2004. P 423.
Socratic instruction
Also called teaching by questioning; questions and

answers are used to build a logical argument or reveal flaws
in reasoning.
Perelman, Ch. And L. Olbrechts-Tyteca. The

New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation.
Notre Dame, IN: U of Notre Dame Press. 1969.
Activity
Description
Citation
Student
presentation
Typically taking the form of an oral report, the 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-toone or small group, designed to help a student learn
material. They can be computer-mediated or face-to-face.
http://lester.rice.edu/Browse/lstprojectbrowse.as
px?ord=591&Mid=0&tabIndex=7&tabid=43
Web search
Students are assigned a topic to be researched on the Web,

which provides an opportunity to reinforce research
standards and source validity.
Faigley, Lester. The Longman Guide to the

Web. New York: Longman. 2000. P 135.
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.

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Potential Learning Activities

An instructional activity that demonstrates how to perform

A synopsis, analysis, or thematic description of a literary

A collaborative problem-solving strategy that involves

A specific case (i.e., a detailed story, either true or fictional)

Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005

Schunk, Dale H. Learning Theories: An

Creation of graphs, tables, images, etc., to represent and/or

Peers analyze, provide feedback and encouragement on

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

A graphical representation of related information in which

A verbal activity in which two or more differing viewpoints on

A formal or informal conversation on a given topic. Also

Acting a play, novel, or situation.

Illustrating concepts through the use of images/likenesses.

Drill and practice

A learning activity in which students are presented with a

A brief, written thesis on a specific issue or topic.

Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005

A learning strategy by which a study is designed so that the

Someone (e.g., a faculty member or student) who uses

An excursion that explores an authentic setting (e.g., a

Chiseri-Strater, Elizabeth and Bonnie Stone

Undirected play or playing around (informal play), or a

Salen, Katie and Eric Zimmerman. Rules of

An invited presenter who shares feelings, thoughts, and

Schunk, Dale H. Learning Theories: An

Research conducted by questioning individuals in order to

Chiseri-Strater, Elizabeth and Bonnie Stone

Learners keep written records of their intellectual and

Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005

Conveying material verbally, sometimes with visual aids, to

A survey and summary of the literature on a specific topic.

The instructor asks a question about learning material and

A group of students (e.g., 4-5 people) give presentations on

Students swap their work, motivating them to think more

Brown, D. (ed.) (2000) Teaching with

Demonstration of an activity by a skilled performer via live

Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005

A question, problem, or tool designed to test ingenuity or

Salen, Katie and Eric Zimmerman. Rules of

A written document that includes a review of literature and

Temporary support that allows a learner to perform a

Leedy, Paul and Jeanne Ellis Ormrod. Practical

Learners working in pairs or groups must search to answer

A form of experiential education in which students engage in

Jacoby, Barbara and Associates. ServiceLearning in Higher-Education: Concepts and

A replica or representation of a real-world phenomenon that

Salen, Katie and Eric Zimmerman. Rules of

Also called teaching by questioning; questions and

Perelman, Ch. And L. Olbrechts-Tyteca. The

Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005

Typically taking the form of an oral report, the presentation

Students work together to compare and discuss class notes,

An exercise to determine the level of a students

Students are assigned a topic to be researched on the Web,

Faigley, Lester. The Longman Guide to the

Time during class when learners are given a specific

Based on research conducted by 2004 NLII Fellow Jean Kreis.

Copyright EDUCAUSE 2005

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