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If you have a topic that is great for debate with valid points on both sides of an issue, you have an ideal setup for the devil’s advocate learning strategy. This activity requires dividing the class into two sections and asking each section to work on one side of the debate. This means that some students will be arguing for the side they don’t actually agree with, which can make this even more effective. Coming up with proposals to change the mind of the other side during a mock debate can lead to a broader understanding of how difficult it can be to come to a consensus, even when everyone has the same goal.

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Ask students a few simple questions. “What was difficult to understand?” or “What is the most complex part of this lesson for you?” The answers will lead to focused teaching that answers the questions and clears up the “muddy” areas for the whole class. The feedback for the educator is especially helpful if this is a class they will be teaching as they move forward in their career, as it can help them drill down to the more difficult parts and focus on teaching them more effectively.

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Hands-on learning is excellent for developing practical, everyday skills. But it can also lead to interest and curiosity about things that students might not be able to use in their every day – for instance, bringing in moon rocks and parts of space travel machines could spark a lifelong interest in space and solving the problems that come with travel through the galaxy. Look for ways to bring the outside world into the classroom and allow theory and reality to collide.

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When a student knows the material inside and out, they can then debate the merits of related viewpoints, critically analyze information from a variety of sources, form their own opinions, and then debate those ideas with their peers. Sometimes, these discussions can become heated, especially when touching on political and social issues. Learning to keep the antagonism out of the debate and instead keeping focus on the issues helps promote compassion and strong negotiating strategies.

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Assign a student a particular passage or topic and ask them to learn it inside and out, and then teach it to the rest of the class. Peer teaching builds confidence and forces students to consolidate and focus their learning to teach others. If they can come up with a “show and tell” scenario that ties something in their own lives into the lesson, that’s a significant extra that brings in empathy and real-world solutions to problems.

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Games can be immersive experiences that allow students to view a lesson's content in a whole new way. An interactive and competitive environment fosters motivation and thus can lead to better learning outcomes. Games might include quizzes, lightning-round trivia (bonus if there’s a prize!), and puzzles requiring teamwork to complete. This works well to enhance learning for those who have a competitive spirit.

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This strategy involves presenting a viable real-world problem to the students and asking them to use their critical thinking and decision-making skills to come up with solutions. You can pull the real-world problems from things that we are all facing today, such as the homelessness crisis, wars and the responses to refugees, immigration issues, and more. Working on solving certain situations can lead to better empathy, out-of-the-box thinking, and awareness of current issues.

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The idea of this strategy is to pause for about three minutes between every 10 and 15 minutes of lecture time. This small break allows a “mental reset” as students discuss the material they just heard. It also allows them the time to formulate questions that will help them better understand the information. Another option is to give students three minutes or so to write out notes and connect the dots on the ideas and concepts presented.

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This requires students to take on the role of someone involved in a particular interaction and then switch to the other side during another round. Give the students scenarios to act out that allow them to use what they have learned and apply it in a “real world” context. For instance, one might serve as a customer service agent while another serves as an annoyed customer. The idea is to navigate the complexity of the situation, handle curveballs thrown into the mix, and gain insights and empathy

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Ask your students to explore the information on their own before class begins. This allows them to come to class with the basics of knowledge already in their head, which allows them to get to the active discussion and problem-solving phase much faster. It works great when students are highly motivated or even crunched for time. The flipped classroom also puts the focus on self-discipline, as students must be proactive and fully prepared when they come to the classroom.

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When a topic is covered, or a reading is completed, separate the class into pairs or small groups. Task them with formulating questions that they can then discuss with the rest of the class. You can offer the students a few question ideas to get started and let them take it from there. The goal is to expand their critical thinking on a topic and give them the opportunity to ask any questions that might be holding them back from fully understanding the information.

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Case studies allow students to examine real-world scenarios related to what they are learning. This makes the information more personal, as students might be able to see themselves in the situation they are learning about. The case studies can be discussed in small groups or with the class at large. This exercise fosters empathy, problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and practical application of potential solutions.

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This form of peer learning requires the student to do some work or study individually, then pair up with a classmate to discuss their approach and thoughts, and then both share the insights they gained with the class. This is a social learning activity that begins with the individual, expands to include the peer, and then engages the entire classroom. It promotes collaboration, public speaking, and sharing.

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Students apply questions to the information to help improve their understanding. To do this, they take turns interviewing fellow students and teachers on the subject, then becoming the person being interviewed. Other times, they observe the interviews to gain more knowledge. This is a really good option for those courses that focus on social skills, negotiation, and compromise.