.png)
Closing
About Closing
Definition: Closing is the “wrap-up” activity designed for reflection on and recall of the day’s lesson. A closing activity is structured to reinforce the content/context hook and leaves a memorable impression on the student.
Value: Students benefit from a closing activity to reinforce/review concepts and embed new learning. Instructors have a snapshot, formative assessment to measure student learning.
Select the title above to watch Chad Littlefield discuss Closings with WSU Tech faculty
(1 hour 03 minutes). If you are asked to sign in to view the video, use your WSU Tech credentials.
Examples and Resources
Video: Closing Examples from WSU Tech Session
Video Summary: Chad Littlefield demonstrated four powerful examples of closings:
Resource: Experiential Learning Cycle (17:57 – 22:25)
Resource Summary: Experiential Learning is a circular framework for learning. Guiding questions: WHAT? – GUT(FEEL?)? – SO WHAT? - NOW WHAT?, pin-point focus to learn from any experience.
Connecting Experiential Learning and Closing, closing the final piece of Experiential Learning, ensures meaningful take-aways.
Classroom Activities
Activity: Freeze Frame (3:05 – 6:54)
Engaging Activity Summary: Participants start moving. One participant chooses to freeze, he/she waits to see others freeze as quickly as possible. The facilitator notes how long it takes and may repeat the activity again to see if it can be done faster. Chad makes this a connection to content by pointing out that the way we close a class can freeze a frame of the student’s learning in time.
Activity: Matching Metaphors (22:30 – 28:05)
Engaging Activity Summary: Matching Metaphors “anchors” abstract concepts to concrete examples.
Ask a question that compares a concept or topic to a metaphor: __________ is a bit like ___________ because ____________. Next ask each student to popcorn out their statements. Use their metaphors as a springboard to jump into the content/context hook. Matching Metaphors can be a closing activity.
Activity: Application Anchors (29:05 – 35:00)
Engaging Activity Summary: Wraps a metaphor around a memorable context hook. Use a visual representation of a context hook you want to cover.
In on-site classrooms, students may use an image that represents the content/context hook and share out how this illustrates the idea.
Virtual attendees mute their camera to find an item to represent the content/context hook and share out.
This is another example of a closing activity.
Activity: Highlights, Lowlights, and Insights (35:00 – 39:05)
Engaging Activity Summary: Allows you to practice connection before content by having students either recall a highlight, lowlight, and insight about something that happened in class that day or semester.
Sharing highlights can make joy infectious in the class; sharing lowlights gives students a choice for authenticity and vulnerability. Finally sharing insights allows for connection to purpose.
Here is another closing or exit ticket activity. (An exit ticket is an activity completed to wrap-up class.)
Activity: Question Quest (39:15 – 43:52)
Engaging Activity Summary: A great activity for content. A really good question can become a quest. Have students generate an open-ended question, starting with “how” or “what” about a topic, concept or skill related to the content being taught in class that day. These questions are referenced/answered as you cover the content in class. Use this as a closing activity as well.
Activity: Group Anthem (44:00 – 46:16)
Engaging Activity Summary: A great closing activity that allows students to leave on a high note by inviting them to speak optimistically. Ask students to write a closing statement that begins with one of these prompts: “I am..”; “I believe..” and “I will..” about a topic, concept or skill related to content covered in class. This can be written as a group as well and shared out in the group.
Jump to topic resources and examples by selecting the link below.
Top