Instructional Strategies

Instructional strategies are techniques used to invite students to actively engage in their own learning, including to connect with new knowledge, practice a skill, reflect on dispositions, exchange viewpoints, and correct and affirm their understanding.

Instructional strategies may include individual, group, and whole class activities. In large classes, it can seem challenging to be able to engage everyone, but there are techniques that are designed/adapted for such contexts.

Also keep in mind that ‘engagement’ can range from overt speaking and performing an action to silently solving problems and composing a written response. What is important is that learners are reflecting, analyzing, applying or otherwise making meaning and connections to the subject at hand.  

Active Learning and Engaging Learners

• Increasing Student Engagement (Stanford University): includes considerations such as background knowledge probes, peer review & other activities, Universal Design for Learning, and reflection
• Active Learning Modules including examples for large group, small group, and individual learners (Queens University)

Group Work and Team-Based Learning

• Evidence-based guide for group work (CBE-Life Sciences Education): Select “How to Use This Guide” for an overview
• Introduction to Teamwork (York University): distinguishes between “groups” and “teams,” includes tips for preparation, supports, and evaluations
• Team-Based Learning Collaborative: overview, resources, research, and training related to team-based learning
• Emotional Intelligence for Groups/Teams (University of Regina): video on developing emotionally intelligent teams

Teaching Large Classes

• Teaching Large Classes Guide (Vanderbilt University): includes considerations for promoting student engagement, handling grades, managing logistical issues, integrating technology

Strategies for Inclusion and Decolonization

• Iseke-Barnes, J. M. (2008). Pedagogies for decolonizing. Canadian Journal of Native Education, 31(1), 123-148

• Chaudhary, V. B., & Berhe, A. A. (2020). Ten simple rules for building an antiracist lab. PLOS Computational Biology, 16(10)

• Provost, M. (Jan. 21, 2022). Unpacking the Indigenous Student Experience | Matthew Provost | TEDxSFU

• Biship, K. (2023). Co-dreaming New Ways of Supervising: Reciprocal Mentorship and Allyship with Indigenous Students. In Active Learning for Real-World Inquiry by Doug Hamilton, Richard Kool, and Elizabeth Childs

• Oskineegish, M. (2020). Exploring Instructional Strategies in an Indigenous Education Course in Initial Teacher Education. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 66(3)

• Sinclair, N. (Apr. 13, 2016). What an Indigenous university could look like. TEDxUManitoba