Boost class presentations with student-led retrieval practice
It’s time for class presentations! Make them memorable and engaging with student-led retrieval practice. I added this quick activity to final presentations this semester and students loved it. (Of course, they learned more, too.)
How do you make student presentations memorable? Share your ideas in our Powerful Teaching Facebook group.
Got student presentations? Add retrieval practice!
Student presentations are valuable. Students can demonstrate what they have learned and share it with others. But often, student presentations go in one ear and out the other. The presenters are retrieving, but everyone else in the room is simply getting information "in," just like re-reading or cramming.
Instead, have students lead a retrieval activity during their presentations.
Here are activity guidelines for students:
Focus on retrieval practice as a learning strategy, not an assessment strategy.
Keep it no-stakes. Don't give students grades or points, and avoid competitive games that increase anxiety.
Keep it brief. The retrieval activity can be 5 minutes or less.
Use a variety of formats. The retrieval activity can include oral questions, a writing prompt, multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, using a tech tool or app, etc.
Use spacing. Ask questions about information from earlier in the semester that's related to your presentation. And aim to increase retrieval throughout your presentation, not just at the end.
If your students look at you dumbfounded, remind them that you've been using retrieval practice the entire semester. Is there a particular retrieval activity they enjoy that you (the teacher) created? They can model and build from it. Besides, when everyone retrieves, everyone succeeds.
As one example, Retrieval Tic-Tac-Toe is a fantastic activity created by college students from Indiana. Put students in the driver's seat when presenting and retrieving.
What are five words about learning?
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