Are you considering how to appeal to different learning styles in your remote synchronous sessions? This blog post from Class Technologies Inc. inspires instructors like you to customize breakout room experiences for students who prefer learning in particular ways.
At the core of this guidance is mapping content, process, product, and learning environment to diverse learning styles within small-group activities. Consider the breakout room tip associated with each of these components:
| Instructional Component | Breakout Room Tip |
|---|---|
| Content: Consideration of different levels of expertise | Differentiate engagement among students of different expertise levels. Allow students to choose a breakout room based on whether they seek better understanding or express more mastery of topics. |
| Process: Consideration of different forms of learning media | Differentiate breakout rooms by the form of which students want to learn (e.g. images, video, read/write); provide supportive instructional materials for each group. |
| Product: Consideration of evidence of learning | As a means to the process, require students to complete a deliverable based on the learning style they chose (e.g. 1-minute paper, chart, set of images). |
| Learning Environment: Consideration of different preferences of classroom engagement | Allow students to choose a breakout room that accommodates independent work or more active collaboration. |
If you have questions about how to apply any of these ideas to your course, contact Chris Neary at christopher.neary@northwestern.edu.
Source
Class Technologies Inc. (2022, October 17). The ultimate guide to using breakout rooms in online education. Retrieved from https://www.class.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-breakout-rooms/