Think, Pair, Share

Think, pair, share

A few years ago, in a MOOC, I came across the pedagogical practice "Think-Pair-Share" by Dr. Frank Lyman (1981).

I was intrigued to see that it is a practice I often implement in my classes. It is very simple yet effective. We all know that some students may find it intimidating to speak out and answer the lecturer's questions in front of a class, especially large classes. This technique helps engage students in thinking about a problem or an exercise and sharing their solutions and thoughts.

The technique consists of three phases:

Think: First, you present your students with a question, problem, or exercise, and give them a few minutes to think about it and come up with a solution.

Pair: Next, you ask the students to discuss their thoughts and solutions with a partner.

Share: Finally, the pairs share their conclusions with the class as a whole. In large classes, this phase could be lengthy, so it might be a good idea to use a digital tool where students can share their ideas.

Giving students a few minutes to think about a topic or activity before discussing it allows them to recall relevant vocabulary and formulate their ideas. Pair work then provides an opportunity for students to practice articulating their thoughts and receive feedback from their peers. Typically, after these two phases, students feel more confident and prepared for a group discussion, and even the shyest individuals are more comfortable participating.

Daniella Luca