Students are given a scientific article or piece of text from which sections are missing. They are given the assignment to take on the role of expert and to write the correct additional text in the empty gaps.
- Activity goal
- Assess | Exchange knowledge | Practice skills
- When
- In class | Post class | Pre class
- Where
- Offline | Online
- Duration
- < 30 minutes| < 60 minutes
- Group size
- Small | Medium | Large
Step-by-step
Step 1
Select a one or two-page A4 text from the teaching materials. Prepare the text and delete a few key concepts from the text.
Step 2
Prepare the text and delete a few key concepts from the text.
Step 3
Think of some questions that help students filling in the gaps.
Step 4
Indicate explicitly what kind of text the students have to read and what exactly they should enter in the gaps.
Step 5
Ask the students to read the text prior to the class and complete the gaps.
Step 6
Discuss the assignment with the students and use their answers to clarify certain topics.
Variation 1
Place the deleted words in a random order at the bottom of the text and ask the students to select from the words or position two words in an empty area in the text and ask students to select one of the two words.
Variation 2
Instead of words, remove a diagram or complex model from the text. Then ask the students to generate the diagram or model based on the text.
Variation 3
This activity can also be made suitable to use in class. Use for example Mentimeter to collect answers to an open question.
Offline
Print the gap texts and hand them out to your students.
Online
Use the open ended question option in Mentimeter to collect answers from students. Be aware that answers cannot be longer than 250 characters.
Consider the tools and materials mentioned here as suggestions. In many cases it’s possible to use alternative tools. Please turn to the Learning & Innovation team of your faculty first to see which online and offline tools are available and how to apply them.