I am always looking for new ways to review material before a test. Lots of stuff gets old really fast with as many tests as we give. Fortunately, this is a new activity I like and the students like it too. It is fast-paced and requires 100% engagement for it to work, so students that usually don't contribute are forced to on a smaller scale.
It is more of a "speed-networking" exercise, which is becoming more and more popular in the business world as a way for clients to meet a lot of prospective businesses at once.
Here's how its done:
- Beforehand, use a bracket-generating site like challonge.com and create a round-robin tournament for your students.
- Go here and download the accompanying sheet for students to use.
- Come up with enough terms/information for students to research (1 per student)
- Assign each student one term. Give them around 8-10 minutes to create a 30-second description.
- Make sure they focus on putting their term in context of what you are studying. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT just provide a definition.
- Find a way to time each round. I use online-stopwatch.com. Set the timer for 1-minute rounds.
- Project the bracket on a screen or find another way so each student can see the schedule.
- Have students gather with their partner, and each of them have 30 seconds to "introduce themselves" to their "date". I usually call out after 30 seconds so they know when to switch.
- Student A describes themselves while Student B writes lists them on their sheet. When Student A finishes describing themselves, Student B will circle "yes" or "no", as in "Do you understand this material?" Then, they flip after 30 seconds.
- After the minute is over, repeat step 7 for the next rounds (however many you have).
It will get loud. Students will be engaged. It will be awesome. :-)
