Summarizing Information

Dance to the Music: Think for one minute about a topic. Move around the room until the music stops, and then exchange thoughts.

Four Minutes to Discovery: Take one minute for each of the following four questions. 1) What did I already know about this topic? 2) What are the key topics we covered? 3) How would I prioritize the key topics? 4) What resources are available to me on this topic?

Each Teach: Distribute two articles, two sections of a chapter, or two handouts. Working as partners, Person A reads section 1 while Person B is reading section 2. Person A explains material to Person B, highlighting key themes. Person B explains the material in a like manner.

Journal Writing: It is always beneficial to ask participants to write for 15 minutes about what they learned.

Colorful Fun: Use brightly colored highlighter pens and sticky notes to mark information.

Mental Maps: Participants draw illustrations or flowcharts that explain their understanding of a topic and then pair-share to discuss.

Arts and Crafts: Design and create a poster or other creative teaching tool that can be used with students.

Now That You Mention It: This paired verbal fluency activity gives participants an opportunity to recall what they have learned, make connections, and discover questions. A key part of this is the timing and the way the directions are framed. It is critical that the talking/listening does not dissolve into a conversation. While one person is talking, the other is listening. Have Person A report what she has learned to Person B for one minute then switch roles. Repeat the process again for 45 seconds, asking participants not to repeat anything that has been said. Repeat the cycle a third time, this time with only 30 seconds for each participant to talk or listen.

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