Techniques Video Library

Our teaching techniques are practical to use and address many dimensions of learning. Videos are continually in production, so please check back regularly to see our latest additions.

The K. Patricia Cross Academy is a nonprofit program supported entirely by sales of Engaged Teaching: A Handbook for College Faculty and donations from a small group of donors, including the founders. K. Patricia Cross currently resides in an assisted living community near Berkeley, California. If you would like to send her a brief greeting expressing your good wishes or appreciation, click below.

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Teaching Environment
  • All ()
  • c ()
  • o ()
  • Online Implementation ()
  • Onsite Classroom ()
Activity Type
  • All ()
  • Active/Engaged Learning ()
  • Discussion ()
  • Games ()
  • Graphic Organizing ()
  • Group Work ()
  • Learning Assessment ()
  • Note Taking ()
  • Presentation ()
  • Problem Solving ()
  • Project Learning ()
  • Reading ()
  • Reciprocal Teaching ()
  • Reflecting ()
  • Writing ()
Teaching Problem Addressed
  • All ()
  • Cheating ()
  • Insufficient Class Preparation ()
  • Lack of Participation ()
  • Low Motivation/Engagement ()
  • Poor Attention/Listening ()
  • Poor Note-Taking ()
  • Surface Learning ()
Learning Taxonomic Dimension
  • All ()
  • Foundational Knowledge ()
  • Application: Analysis and Critical Thinking ()
  • Application: Creative Thinking ()
  • Application: Problem Solving ()
  • Integration and Synthesis ()
  • Human Dimension ()
  • Caring ()
  • Learning How to Learn ()
3-2-1

In the 3-2-1 technique, students write about 3 things they learned in the lecture, 2 things they found...

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Jigsaw

In Jigsaw, students work in small groups to develop knowledge about a given topic before teaching what...

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IRAs

When using IRA’s, students complete a written response to a reading assignment that includes three...

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Frames

A Frame is a template of sentence stems that provides the shape of a short essay, but not the content....

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Letters

In Letters, students assume the identity of an important person in your discipline and write a letter...

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After learning about the K. Patricia Cross Academy, I have shared it with my colleagues at my community college.  We are grateful for the free resources the academy provides and it has been a tremendous resource for our instructors.  Personally, the academy has helped me create unique activities to connect with our students during freshmen seminars.

Faculty Member

The K. Patricia Cross Academy webpage was very helpful to me as a future educator. The recommended strategies are innovative and relevant for our 21st century students.

Research Fellow

Thank you for creating these amazing resources!  The ones that adapt the technique for online learning are especially useful, particularly as everyone is scrambling to move to remote teaching methods.

Faculty Member

Thank you for making this amazing resource freely available. Faculty, as you are aware, are feeling very overwhelmed and these resources on the web site are getting them excited to revamp their courses for the fall. 

Faculty Member

The K Patricia Cross Academy has been a valuable resource for me, especially as a first-time instructor. This semester is my first time teaching a class all by myself, and I have been using 3-2-1 Activity to assess student’s engagement in class and further answer any questions they may have about the content. We only did the activity two times since it is the beginning of the semester, but I already see its usefulness. I am excited to utilize other activities featured on the website in future classes.

Teaching Assistant