Active Learning Strategies

Active learning strategies help students engage directly with scientific ideas, increasing retention, conceptual understanding, and confidence. These strategies create opportunities for students to practice thinking like scientists through discussion, problem solving, and application. Find adaptable, low-prep strategies science instructors can immediately integrate into their immersion classes here.

Quick Low Prep Active Learning Strategies

These strategies take 1-5 minutes and can be added to any lecture without major redesign.

Retrieval and Check-For-Understanding Techniques

These activities help students reinforce learning and reveal misconceptions.

• Think-Pair-Share: Students respond individually, discuss with a partner, then share with the class.
• Polling Questions: Use conceptual questions (with or without tech) to check understanding.
• Predict-Observe-Explain: Ask students to predict an outcome before you show results.
• One-Minute Paper: ‘Summarize today’s key idea” or “What question remains?”
• Muddiest Point: Students identify what they found most confusing.

Collaborative Problem Solving

Students deepen understanding by explaining reasoning and working through scientific challenges.

• Case Study Mini-Discussions: Students analyze a short scenario or data set.
• Group Worksheets: Small groups complete a guided problem or set of questions.
• Figure Interpretation Rounds: Groups interpret different data figures, then teach the class.
• Concept Mapping: Groups connect key terms to visualize relationships.
• Board Work: Groups write or draw explanations on whiteboards for a gallery walk.

Strategies for Deepening Conceptual Understanding

These activities encourage reasoning, argumentation, and connection-making

Application and Transfer Activities

These strategies help students apply knowledge to new contexts.

• What’s the Mechanism?: Students explain a process step by step.
• Model-Building: Use diagrams or manipulatives to construct biological or chemical models.
• Error Analysis: Students diagnose incorrect reasoning in a sample answer.
• Compare and Contrast: Students analyze differences between two pathways, structures, or interpretations.
• Data-Based Questioning: Provide a figure and ask students to draw conclusions or critique methods.

Movement-Based or Role-Based Activities

Use “Stand if you agree,” line-up continuums, four-corners prompts, or role-playing scientific stakeholders to get students physically engaged while exploring ideas. These techniques increase energy and help students justify their thinking using evidence.

Additional Resources

• Cornell University Center for Teaching Innovation: Active Learning
• Cornell University Center for Teaching Innovation: Getting started with active learning techniques
• MIT Teaching + Learning Lab: How active learning can improve inequities in STEM