Active Tools for an Active Classroom

As an activity that engages the mind, the body, and the spirit all at once, three portable double-sided whiteboards are wheeled into the classroom and spaced evenly in a row across the length of the room. Then, multiple groups of students are asked to line up in front of their side of the board to quickly create a grammatically-correct wh- question that matches a shouted answer from the teacher. Then another answer is shouted by the teacher, and the next student from each group grabs the marker and attempts the possible question on the board as her teacher and teammates look on. You can see group members getting together and talking, some excitedly, some quietly lest they be overheard by other teams as teams compete against one another.

Turns out this exercise is not hypothetical. Our department has just acquired six such versatile whiteboards - three in San Marcos, and three in Escondido.

Is it possible to generate boatloads of energy while reviewing what has just been taught beyond English question-formation? Yes, if you have these handy whiteboards as active-learning tools.