Active Learning In Virtual Environment/Snowball Technique

Activity: #in-class/short-term, #group-work, #quick-preparation

Outline

Snowball technique gives students an opportunity to share and teach different concepts and topics. Firstly, students work independently - they gather information and ideas. Then, they collaborate with a partner. Next, partners join another pair and form a group of four students. Lastly, they form a group of eight. What makes this technique efficient is the active collaboration among students. Moreover, students can take the role of a teacher by sharing information they gathered or asking questions. The more students there are in a group, the more effective the learning outcome will be.

Snowball Technique Illustration

Activity arrangement

• provides students with materials
• give students about 10 minutes to read the material and list key factors
• once students have finished the first task, they share what they have discovered with another student
• two pairs form a group, the task repeats, students add additional details
• further, groups can join into the groups of eight and repeat the process
• you may end the task by discussing students’ findings with the entire class

Pointers

• active student engagement
• collaborative work
• students try a role of a teacher

How to use this method in online class?

Students can be divided into breakout rooms firstly as pairs, then as a group of four and so on. Students then share their findings. All notes can be written down in a shared Google document.