String them along

For us, the point of active learning is to make thinking and skills visible to the learner: it is not something that happens inside their heads, but can be seen and and manipulated right in front of them.

A crucial skill in any subject is the ability to link ideas or data. Take the following level descriptor for Business Studies GCSE:

"For 4 marks [out of 4] the role of the Competition Commission and how it can prevent abuses of monopoly power will be described fully, with clear use of terminology and links between ideas within the thought process"

There is no better way of teaching the skill of linking than making physical links with string. Split the class into smaller groups and give them an element of a topic to look at. They should be supplied with a banner or headline text and an information sheet. Once students have gained an understanding of the concept or section they are looking at, get out the string.

Students must now physically link themselves to another concept, with the string acting as the connection. Another member of the group can loop a piece of paper over the string to say what the link is. Within minutes the clas will have created a physical representation of the topic.

Use a camera to capture the moment and then back up understanding with a concept map afterwards.

Simple, but effective.

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