Google "cooperative learning" or "team building" - there are a lot of resources available.
When I teach my graduate level classes we do a lot of "out of the seat "or working with a group activities. One that they really enjoy is "Selling ____". I used it in my Foundations class to summarize philosophies of education. They had to create a commercial selling their philosophy - very creative, very effective because the other students could now visualize the main points. Another is to create a bumper sticker expressing some aspect of the discussion. Have them take sections of the policies and procedures and recreate them using only visuals (pictures) and words and phrases, no sentences. Create news broadcasts that summarize and give the main points. If you have access to computers, have different groups create powerpoint presentations that must include an audience participation activity. Talk to some teachers or librarians, you'd be surprised at how you can tie children's literature into a lot of adult topics. I always read the section in "To Kill a Mockingbird" where Scout goes to school the first day and comes home shattered my Classroom Management students . It makes a very good point, without having to lecture!
Sharon Bowman and Eric Jensen have some excellent books on presenting in interesting, fun ways.
Last Edited on: 8/23/07 6:57 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
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