Adolescent Psychology

Contrary to what cartoons teach us, humans don’t build memories at the moment they experience something. Learning is one type of memory. And the learning happens when the brain reviews what it took in and ties it to what it already knew. 

So how do you make sure that mental review happens? (Because the kids don’t spend their at-home time pondering our lessons, for some reason.)

One of the most surefire ways is to have a reflection period at the end of the learning session. I like to call it a “debrief,” because it sounds cooler. A debrief is just time you protect to ensure the review takes place. 

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Instruction

There are a thousand ways to conduct a debrief. The only key is to make sure each student is thinking about the core learning. You can have a short writing assignment, a group or paired conversation, or a whole class discussion. You could even have them draw a picture (think stick figures, not Sistine Chapel). Anything that gets them to mentally review the lesson works.

While there are a lot of options, consistency can save you time. If you have two or three methods you use to debrief, the students quickly learn the routine and can turn their attention to the information rather than the format.

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Technology

Paper or discussion work fine for a debrief, but if you’re of a more technological bent, there are a few options. Canvas has ungraded surveys, or Google Forms work well, too. Nearpod or Pear Deck can be used the same way.

If you want students to get feedback without stressing yourself out, try Snorkl. It’s an AI-based tool that gives near-instant feedback on specific skills the teacher decides, and you can have students respond with text or voice. Check it out at snorkl.app (we do have a district account, so it’s open for use).