Teaching Practice Bank

Increase your knowledge and strengthen student learning with our bank of research-supported teaching practices.

• Search the bank by using the category dropdown or enter a keyword.

Flipping the Classroom

Active Learning

Flipping the classroom is a teaching technique where instruction and course materials are introduced outside of class, and in-class time is used for assessment, inquiry, and applying knowledge.

Flipped, pedagogy, higher order thinking, activity

One minute paper

Active Learning; Assessment

Short writing activities during class is a powerful way to assess student learning.

periodic free recall, writing, activity, metacognition

Journaling

Active Learning; Assessment

Journaling as coursework is a less formal, more private than discussions, and reflective form of assessing learning through writing.

journaling, writing, activity

Exit tickets

Active Learning; Assessment

Exit tickets are a quick means of surveying student comprehension and promoting the synthesis of class content.

formative assessment, exit ticket, metacognition, activity

Tech Tools for Interactive Slideshows

Active Learning; Assessment, Ed Tech

There are several software add-ons available to make lecture slideshows interactive to promote student engagement.

formative assessment, ed tech, interactive activity, quiz, polling

Just-In-Time Teaching

Assessment, Student Motivation

The instructor changes or improvises lectures or activities to adjust to student confusion revealed by students' responses to a quiz or poll.

metacognition, formative assessment

Project-Based Learning

Student motivation, Active Learning

The instructor guides students through a problem solving process to solve a real world problem. It's a teaching method that allows for more autonomy and student-directed learning.

teaching strategy, pedagogy, PBL, activity, real world experience, higher order thinking

Self-evaluation

Active Learning, Assessment

Self-evaluation is a good way to help students develop metacognitive skills. In order to learn from mistakes, but we must first recognize and correct the mistakes.

metacognition, evaluation, higher order thinking

Peer Teaching

Active Learning, Assessment, Student Motivation

Peer teaching is when students are responsible for a portion, or all, of a lesson.

activity, higher order thinking

Think-Pair-Share

Active Learning, Assessment, Student Motivation, Classroom Management

This technique gets the whole class involved, and is an effective way to overcome student reluctance to answer questions from the instructor.

interactive activity, teaching technique, pedagogy, formative assessment

Role Play

Active Learning, Student Motivation

Assign students roles in a true-to-life problematic situation. Students get conversational practice, problem-solving, empathy, and the opportunity to simulate real-world situations of the profession.

interactive activity, teaching technique, pedagogy, higher order thinking

Debate

Active Learning, Student Motivation, Classroom Management

Debate can be a learning activity to strenghen critical thinking, listening, public speaking, and leadership skills.

interactive activity, teaching technique, pedagogy, higher order thinking

Appointment making online calendar

Ed tech

Use an appointment making calendar tool, such as Microsoft Bookings or Calendly, to make it easy for students or colleagues to make an appointment with you.

Bookings, appointments, engagement

Kahoot

Active Learning, Student motivation, Ed tech, Assessment

Kahoot is a freemium game-based education platform. You can create easily create a quiz game to review learning objectives with the free version.

Kahoot, formative assessment, activity, review, quiz, fun

Exam Autopsy

Study Strategy, Assessment

This self-assessment activity gives students a window into what they know, helps improve test-taking and study skills, and enhances self-awareness

Metacognition, reflection, study tool, test anxiety

Peer Review Guidance

Classroom management; Active Learning; Assessment; Inclusive classroom

Help your students understand how to respond to peer written work.

Modeling, engagement, activity, higher order thinking, peer review, writing

Specifications grading

Assessment

Instead of using points to assess student work, the work is graded on a two-level rubric --- that is, some variation on Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.

specs grading, assessment alternatives, feedback

Meditative or Mindful Reading

Active Learning, Community Building, Student Engagement, Well-being

Meditative or mindful reading is a subjective approach to reading that may compliment more objective approaches like the technical analysis of literature.

literature, reflection, analysis, assessment, higher order thinking

Review Roundup

Active learning, Student Engagement, Assessment

This activity gauges student's mastery of class content in an activity that they can do at their own pace. The activity not only lets the student recognize their learning gaps, but also gives the instructor information on what areas or topics students might be needing more materials or extra instruction.

metacognition, formative assessment

Case Study Group Review

Active Learning, Student Engagement, Student Motivation, Classroom Management

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Engaging students in effective study strategies

Active learning, Study Strategy, Assessment

Modeling effective study strategies in the classroom promotes greater learning comprehention, retention, and metacognition. Teachers can help students use their memory more effectively with spaced retrieval practice, elaboration, and interleaving topics.

metacognition, science of learning, reflection, calibration, interleaving, spaced practice, exam preparation

Whiteboard Mini-Case Studies

Active learning, Assessment, Student Engagement

Mini-Case Studies are a more engaging way for students to practice and review material either independently or in small groups. Students/groups answer questions about "real world" scenarios using small sections of whiteboard and dry erase marker. By holding up the board when they are finished, answers can be quickly and easily assessed.

interactive activity, review, real world scenarios

Rock, Paper, Scissor Review Game

Active learning, Assessment, Student Engagement, Community Building

This game is a fun, interactive activity that can be used as a quick end-of-class review or as a class-long test preparation game.

interactive activity, review, formative assessment, gamification