The method I have used here is “Snowball method”. It is an active learning strategy where students initially work individually, then progressively form larger groups to discuss and build upon ideas, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Here, the students were informed beforehand, to read the topics. On the day of class, the students were divided into 6 small groups. Each group was given a topic for discussion and summarization. Allotted time was 15 min. Out of two groups, every 2 group shared the same topic. The team members chose a team leader. After 15 minutes, the team leaders who shared the topic were asked to make a 10 point note of their topics after discussion with each other. They were again allotted another 10 minutes for this.
Finally, the team leaders presented a short summarization of the topic. Lastly, I gave a synopses of the topics they had presented at the same time corrected the wrong points.
At the end of class, I took a feedback of the students. Some students said that they could hold their attention till the last of the class, while others said they could easily and better understand the concept as they had read it ahead in time.
Benefits of this method of teaching:
- Encourages Participation: Students are more likely to share their ideas in smaller groups, leading to greater participation and engagement.
- Promotes Collaboration: Students learn from each other by sharing and building upon their ideas.
- Facilitates Critical Thinking: Students are encouraged to analyse and refine their understanding of the topic.
- Effective for Diverse Learning Styles: The method accommodates various learning styles by offering opportunities for individual, small group, and large group interaction.