Quick Tip: From Hypothesis to Understanding – A Simple Classroom Activity  

Looking for a new classroom activity that combines critical thinking and collaboration? Try “Demonstration Prediction!” Here’s how it works:  

1. Set the Stage: Introduce a demonstration that relates to the course material, keeping the outcome a mystery.  
2. Make Predictions: Ask students to predict the results of the demonstration; have them articulate their reasoning based on prior knowledge or course content thus far.  
3. Discuss Predictions: In small groups, have students share and compare their predictions. This helps students articulate their thought processes and potentially learn from their colleagues. You may ask for some groups to share out to the larger class.  
4. Perform the Demonstration: Conduct the demonstration, demonstrating the result.  
5. Reflect and Revise: After the demonstration, ask students to reflect in small groups. If their prediction was correct, have them discuss why their reasoning was accurate. If they were incorrect, ask them to analyze how their understanding has shifted and what they didn’t previously consider. 

This is a fun way that instructors can encourage collaborative active learning, help students confront misconceptions, and allow them to connect content theories and practices. This is all done while fostering metacognitive skills and helping students refine their mental models.