This or That Structures
This is one of my FAVORITE strategies that encourages full-class participation with high engagement but low-risk. When done correctly, it is an inclusive structure that can allow entry points into content for newcomers, and can also be a structure that can build and cultivate classroom community. You could do this as a classroom warmup as a "would you rather." You could do this as a review of previous content, or even an entry ramp into upcoming content. I will begin by introducing the topic and asking the group if there are any "experts" on the topic. This allows the room to locate who to look at when they're not confident with their answer! In advance, I set up a quick slide deck with options and answers. Here's a collection of ones that I've used in various teacher trainings - these can serve as samples to introduce the structure to adults. We do the structure in its entirety and then we unpack the benefits and cautions! Please note - I actually do...