How can I energize my classes and better understand what the students are learning?

Dear Aggie,

As I teach, I find myself wondering what the students are understanding. Is there any way I can better engage them in my class?

~What Are They Thinking

Dear What Are They Thinking,

To engage students and better understand what they know, there are two easy strategies you can start with: think-pair-share and write-pair-share. When you engage your students in a think-pair-share activity, students are asked to think about a problem or question (“think”), then talk in a pair or a group for one or more minutes (“pair”), then talk to you and the rest of the class (“share”). Unfortunately, during the “think” portion much checking of phones can occur, and talking, if you allow it.

Instead, you might try write-pair-share, in which, not surprisingly, students are first asked to write or attempt to solve a problem. This step usually takes a mere one or two minutes, during which time you insist on silence. I think write-pair-share is the superior choice because, as the saying goes, “one dull pencil is worth two sharp minds.” Writing helps every student advance their thinking before sharing, which is especially helpful to introverts who like to think before talking rather than thinking out loud.

Write-Pair-Share

Here’s a breakdown describing the three elements of Write-Pair-Share:

Write

During the “write” portion, students spend one or more minutes solving a quantitative problem or jotting down notes on an endless variety of qualitative questions such as:

• What was the most important thing I just said?
• What question remains unanswered for you?
• What was the muddiest point I made?
• What assumptions did I make and what other assumptions might be made instead?
• What is your point of view and what kind of evidence would be required to change it?

Pair

During the pairs portion of the exercise, students solve the problem or answer the question in pairs or trios in the classroom or in breakout rooms online. For simpler questions, you may want to use pairs; for harder questions, trios.

Share

You have options on how to have students share their answers with the larger group. You could tell students from the very beginning of the exercise that you will call on them individually or as groups. With this approach, you will find that more students and groups will write intensely and discuss vigorously. This takes some pressure off students because they are not sharing their own ideas, but that of a pair or trio.

You might ask students to volunteer. This leads to a more relaxed classroom atmosphere, but it might also lead to uneven participation, and not solve the problem of too few students participating or too little happening in groups.

Hope you’ll engage everyone and learn what they are thinking!

~Aggie