What is Think-Pair-Share?
Think-Pair-Share (TPS) is a common teaching technique that you perhaps have used many times in the past and didn't know it had a name! This is a teaching strategy that can promote student engagement and inclusivity as it allows for participation from the entire class. It's also non-threatening because it encourages individual thought and pair sharing before sharing with the whole class. This allows students to hear multiple perspectives and also check understanding. The basic premise looks like this:
1. Think - The instructor asks a question or provides a prompt and the student is asked to think about the question individually for a couple of minutes.
2. Pair - Students are paired up to discuss their individual thoughts on the topic.
3. Share - Pairs are asked to share their combined insights with the large group.
There are many ways to structure this. You could use the same question/prompt for each step, or ask a deeper prompt at each step. For example, you may ask the individual to think about a commercial they found persuasive, and then ask the pair to share examples and then apply the concepts from the readings to their examples. This could also be modified to "Think, Group, Share," in that the second step involves a small group (3-5 individuals) instead of pairs. In the "share" stage, you can have some student groups share or all student groups share. Or, you could consider using something like Live Polling (see previous article) to have pairs share their insights with the class. Using something like live polling creates a less threatening environment for students who may be uncomfortable sharing.
Related Articles
How can I implement more inclusive icebreaking activities?
Getting to know students (and having students getting to know each other) is an important aspect of learning. For most, learning is a social process that is often enhanced by interactions with instructors and peers. Whether a course is face-to-face, ...
How can I create effective collaborative learning opportunities in my course?
Although some research suggests that adult students (particularly online adult students) prefer to work individually, there is other research that demonstrates the positive impact that group work can have on student learning. With that in mind, below ...
Instructional Strategies Aligned to Multiple Intelligences
How a person receives and processes information contributes to learning in a different formats and to learning in general. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences identifies different intelligences or sets of skills through which ...
How can I use Four Corners for quick formative assessment?
Strategies for conducting quick formative assessments are nice to have as part of your teacher toolkit. Whether you want to gauge your students’ understanding of a concept or whether you are looking to take the temperature of the room with regard to ...
How can I use 'Commit and Toss' to prompt reflection and discussion?
If you are looking for a fun teaching strategy for your classroom to prompt reflection and discussion and/or to formatively gauge student understanding of a concept, try the strategy called “Commit and Toss.” The strategy is pretty simple. Provide ...