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Wide-angle photo of a large, modern lecture hall with tiered seating where students are seated with laptops while an instructor teaches at the front beneath multiple projected slides. A translucent banner across the center reads “Classroom Strategies.”

Classroom Activities

Classroom activities can help students engage more actively with course content and with one another. The strategies below are designed to be flexible, low-stakes, and adaptable across disciplines and class sizes.

These activities encourage discussion, movement, and collaboration while reinforcing key course concepts.

Looking for new ways to engage students?
Explore the activities below and adapt them to fit your course goals, class size, and teaching style.

On This Page

Course Content Bingo

Course Content Bingo is an interactive activity that helps students review or apply key concepts while engaging with classmates.

Overview

Students circulate through the classroom asking classmates questions from a customized bingo card. When a peer answers correctly, they sign the square. The goal is to complete a row, column, or diagonal while reviewing course material.

How It Works

  1. Create bingo cards.
    Prepare one bingo card for each student. Include questions or prompts related to course concepts, definitions, examples, or applications.
  2. Introduce the activity.
    Explain that students should ask classmates the questions listed on their cards and collect signatures when a peer answers correctly.
  3. Invite students to move around the room.
    Students ask questions, share answers, and collect signatures as they work toward completing a bingo pattern.
  4. Play until a pattern is complete.
    Students continue until someone completes a row, column, or diagonal. Multiple students may complete bingo depending on how long the activity runs.
  5. Debrief the activity.
    Discuss which questions were easiest or most challenging and clarify any misconceptions.

Why Use This Activity?

  • Encourages peer-to-peer learning
  • Reinforces key concepts in a low-stakes format
  • Increases energy and movement in the classroom

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Shift and Share: Mini Conference Presentations

Shift and Share is a presentation format that encourages interaction by allowing students to present in small groups while classmates rotate between presentation stations.

Overview

Instead of presenting sequentially to the entire class, students present at stations while audience members rotate between groups. This format increases engagement and creates opportunities for discussion.

How It Works

  1. Assign group projects.
    Divide students into small groups and assign each group a presentation topic.
  2. Prepare students to ask questions.
    Ask students to prepare thoughtful questions for each presentation. Model examples of effective questions.
  3. Set up presentation stations.
    Arrange the classroom so each group has a space to present their work.
  4. Rotate the audience.
    Students move between stations in small groups, listen to presentations, ask questions, and take notes.
  5. Switch roles.
    Halfway through the activity, presenters and audience members switch roles so all students have an opportunity to present.
  6. Debrief the activity.
    Discuss key insights from the presentations and collect notes if participation credit is assigned.

Why Use This Activity?

  • Encourages active participation during presentations
  • Allows students to present multiple times to different audiences
  • Simulates a professional conference format
  • Strengthens discussion and questioning skills

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Need Support?

Teaching & Learning Innovation offers consultations and resources to help faculty incorporate classroom activities into their courses.

Interested in using these activities in your course?
Request a teaching consultation

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