Imagine a classroom where students are active participants in the learning process. A place where ideas are born, nurtured, and brought to life through collaboration and performance. One way of doing this is by using the strategy of Think-Pair-Perform! This innovative teaching strategy can transform a lesson by empowering students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and apply their knowledge in practical, engaging ways.
What is Think-Pair-Perform?
Think-Pair-Perform is a three-step cooperative learning strategy that is a variation of the more commonly known strategy of think-pair-share. It’s designed to promote individual thinking, peer-to-peer discussion, and active learning through performance. Here’s how it works:
- Think: In this initial phase, students are given a question or problem related to the lesson. They are asked to spend some time thinking about and formulating their own answers or solutions.
- Pair: After the thinking phase, students are paired up to discuss their thoughts and ideas. This encourages students to articulate their thinking, listen to others, and potentially reconsider their initial ideas based on their partner’s input.
- Perform: In the final phase, pairs are asked to perform a task, present their solution, or demonstrate their understanding of the concept. This could be a presentation, a role-play, a demonstration, or any other activity that allows students to apply what they’ve learned.
Benefits of Think-Pair-Perform
This strategy is a great way to promote active learning in the classroom. The first part of the strategy encourages students to work out the answer on their own, which gives them time and prompts them to use their creativity and existing knowledge on the subject. Then the second part emphasizes collaborating with a partner and sharing ideas. This can help finding answers or brainstorming ideas when a topic or problem is particularly challenging.
Another benefit is that it enhances critical thinking skills. By thinking about a problem or question, students are challenged to apply their prior knowledge,analyze information, be creative and generate solutions. This helps them to develop higher-order thinking, more diverse and creative solutions, and deepen their understanding of the topic.
Another benefit of this strategy is that it encourages collaboration among students.The pairing phase allows students to learn from each other, exchange perspectives, and build on each other’s ideas. This fosters a collaborative learning environment where students can support and challenge each other.Collaboration also improves communication skills, as students must discuss their ideas and present their findings clearly and effectively.
Getting the most from Think-Pair-Perform
The goal of Think-Pair-Perform is not just to teach a concept,but to create an engaging, collaborative, and active learning environment. from this strategy because they get to practice their skills, apply their knowledge,and receive feedback from their peers and the teacher. Here are some ideas on how to do this effectively:
Ensure that the instructions for each phase are clear and concise. This will help students understand what is expected of them at each stage. For example, you can use a timer, a checklist, or a rubric to guide students through the process. You can also model the strategy by doing an example with the whole class before letting them work in pairs.
Allocate appropriate time for each phase. While it’s important to give students time to think and discuss, also ensure that there’s enough time for the perform phase. The perform phase is where students can showcase their work,receive feedback, and learn from others. Depending on the complexity of the task, you can adjust the time for each phase accordingly. A general rule of thumb is to spend 10 minutes on the think phase, 15 minutes on the pair phase,and 15 minutes on the perform phase.
Be thoughtful about how you pair students. Pairs can be formed in a variety of ways, such as randomly, by ability, by interest, or by personality.Effective collaboration happens when students work with a partner, they feel comfortable working with. The key is to create pairs that will work well together and learn from each other. You can also change the pairs from time to time to expose students to different perspectives and experiences.
Design questions or problems that stimulate critical thinking. The more engaging the question, the more productive the thinking and pairing phases will be. The question should be challenging enough to require some effort, but not too difficult to discourage students. It should also be relevant to the learning objectives and the students’ interests. You can use open-ended,higher-order, or creative questions to spark students’ curiosity and motivation.
During the pair and perform phases, actively monitor the students. This allows you to circulate and listen to student discussions, provide guidance to focus their creativity and engagement where needed, and check for understanding and misconceptions. You can also use this opportunity to ask probing questions,give feedback, and praise students for their efforts and achievements.
After the perform phase, encourage students to reflect on what they’ve learned and how they’ve learned it. This can deepen their understanding and improve their meta cognitive skills. You can ask students to write a reflection, complete a self-assessment,or participate in a class discussion. Some possible reflection questions are:
- What did you learn from this activity?
- How did working with a partner help you?
- What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
- What things helped you to work effectively as an individual and pair?
- What would you do differently next time?
Final thoughts
The Think-Pair-Perform strategy is a powerful tool in the teacher’s toolbox. By promoting active learning,critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, it enhances the learning experience and aligns well with the aims of a pedagogy for social justice. So,the next time you’re planning a lesson, consider incorporating the Think,Pair, Perform strategy. Your students will thank you for it!
