In our seminary class last night, we did a review and synthesizing process that I think could be useful with my undergraduate classes that I teach. Let me record it here so that I remember.
Before we came to class, we had to complete this assignment, called the Top Five:
On any given topic there will be more than five important things to know. That being the case, this assignment asks you not only to identify important pieces of information but also to rank and order that important information. Each piece of information should be clearly presented in a brief sentence with a number corresponding to it. Under your bolded numbered sentence should be a brief explanation (no more than 100 words) of the piece of information you provided and a brief explanation about why that piece of information is important. This explanation should not be bolded.
Back to me. I found the exercise itself useful, to go back across half a semester to figure out the five most important things we've learned. But to make the exercise even more valuable, we did a group assignment in class last night.
We divided into four groups of 3-4 students. We took our individual lists and then by a process of consensus, we had to decide on a group list. And then, the four groups were consolidated into two, and we did the same process. We ran out of time before we could create a top five for the class.
I think it could be very useful in a variety of classes, but my mind most immediately goes to literature classes. The assignment itself could make a great final exam or midterm. And I am always on the lookout for ways to use small groups, even though for the most part, I hate small groups.
I hate them, and yet, I understand how they can be useful, at their best. And as an exam review, the small group element could really work.
Stay tuned!
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