college knowledge activities

College Knowledge Games Toolkit

Learn how to use games and activities strategically to build students and families' college knowledge.

Engaging games and activities work well to introduce or reinforce college knowledge topics and can be used in classrooms, workshops and meetings with students, parents and educators.

Table of contents

Why college knowledge games matter

Planning a college knowledge game.

Get to know the group

Group competition

Individual activities

★ = Oregon Goes To College resource

Research has shown that students with lower levels of information about college, especially information focused on cost and aid are less likely to expect to attend, apply for admission or actually enroll in college. Students of color, low-income parents and parents who have no direct personal experience with college are more likely to lack this “college knowledge”.

Research also says that games can be effective learning tools, by engaging students to explore, build, collaborate and win. Games can be effective in increasing student motivation and interest; however, experiential learning must be paired with learner support including an opportunity to reflect.

Learning can be fun. Students as well as parents and educators can benefit from engaging activities that challenge knowledge, spur reflection, require teamwork and build connections.

Games and activities work well to introduce or reinforce topics and can be used in classrooms, workshops, staff meetings and in many other situations. Use our Activity Planning Guide   ★ to help you strategically outline your game.

Identify audience and size

The first step is to identify the audience. Is it students, parents or educators? What grade level?

Also consider the size that your game or activity can accommodate. Is there a minimum or maximum number of participants?

Choose a topic and goal

Next, decide on the key concept or topic for the activity. What do you want participants to learn? Use our 101 College Trivia ★ and 101 College Terms ★ as a starting place.

Ideas for topics

• College types & degrees
• Preparing for & applying to college
• Paying for college
• College vocab & support services
• Specific colleges
• College entrance test prep
• College and career self-reflection

Also, be intentional about your goal for the game. Is it to introduce or reinforce a topic? Do you want participants to work with others and build relationships or work individually and self-reflect?

Consider time and materials

Consider the amount of time it will take to introduce, play and debrief the game. If an activity will take more than 30 minutes, consider breaking it up into two sessions. Make a list of materials needed as well.

Outline the activity

Write a brief introduction to the game, including the goal you’ve identified (“We are going to start with an activity to get to know ourselves and each other.”) Outline the basic rules (“Here’s how it will work…”)

Include time to debrief

Finally, identify a few open-ended questions for reflection to be used in the debrief that reiterates the purpose. (“What did you learn? Why is this important?”) This gives participants an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned, listen respectfully to others, and become more bonded to a group.

Types of games and activities

See below for specific examples of games in three main categories: get to know the group, group competition, and individual activities. However, almost any of the activities can be adapted to a different topic or audience—be creative and feel free to mix and match. Encourage students to develop their own activities and lead them for a younger group.

Commonly known as icebreakers, these types of activities encourage participants to interact with each other and build relationships.

Catch & Throw Intros : Participants introduce themselves and respond to a prompt (e.g. a career they are interested in, a college they want to learn more about) when they have a ball or other soft object before throwing it to another participant.

Alliteration Intros : Participants go around the room and introduce themselves with their first name plus a noun or adjective that starts with the same letter (e.g. a college plus first name like “Pacific Patrick”). Challenge the group to repeat back each name combination before they share.

M&M Intros : Participants select a small handful of M&Ms and share one fact about themselves based on the colors in their hand (e.g. red = a career you’re interested in, orange = favorite subject in school, yellow = student club you’re in, green = college you want to learn more about, blue = random fun fact, brown = something you are nervous or excited about for college).

Categories : Participants get up and moving and see what they have in common with others in the room. Add categories related to college and careers (e.g. favorite Oregon college or how many campuses visited).

College Human BINGO ★ : Participants get up and moving to find others who fit the criteria on their BINGO cards.

Agree/Disagree : Participants silently share their opinions on statements (e.g. I want to go to college or I am nervous about going to college) by physically moving across the room. Great as an introductory activity before group conversations.

Group Rock-Paper-Scissors : Participants introduce themselves to another person before challenging them to a game of rock-paper-scissors. The loser then joins the winner’s team who finds another team to play until there is a final winner.

Competition is an easy way to engage participants and builds teamwork and collaboration. Consider giving a small prize to the winning team to incentivize participation.

Ideas for prizes

• Food: Candy or snack item
• Special privileges: Choose music to play during breaks, extra recess or lunch privileges
• School supplies and swag: Pencils, pens, stickers
• Money Template ★ : Use at a school or classroom store

Jeopardy : The classic answer-and-question show is easy to adapt to just about any topic. Download a PowerPoint template , play it online , or use an app .

Wheel of Fortune : Great to reinforce key college vocabulary. Give bonus points if the team can define the term after correctly guessing it. Don’t have access to a computer or technology? Use a whiteboard or piece of paper to play Hangman instead. Download a PowerPoint template or use an online wheel .

Trivia/Knowledge Bowl : Teach and test knowledge with a trivia competition.

Kahoot : Free online learning game maker. Make your own or use our College Kahoots ★ .

Family Feud : Participants work together and individually. Download a PowerPoint template or use our instructions for College Trivia Games ★ .

Board and card games

College Taboo: Reinforce college vocabulary. Use our instructions in College Trivia Games ★ .

College Poker : A fun way to use trivia questions. Use our instructions in College Trivia Games ★ .

Pictionary : Reinforce college vocabulary with a creative twist; one participant draws a term while the others guess.

Party and carnival games

Career Charades : An interactive game for large or small groups. Consider having two people work together to act out a career.

College BINGO ★ (coming soon): Use to reinforce college terms or get to know Oregon colleges.

Swat! Game : A fast-paced game to introduce or reinforce financial aid vocabulary. Use our Financial Aid Swat! Game ★ or College Terms Swat! Game ★ .

Hot Potato : Useful as a getting to know you game or to reinforce college knowledge. Use our instructions in College Trivia Games ★ .

20 Questions : Low-tech and easy to adapt to just about any topic. See example instructions in College Trivia Games ★ .

Where Am I? : Good for getting to know colleges. Use our instructions in College Trivia Games ★ .

Talent show

Commercial/PSA : Participants work in small groups to perform a commercial or public service announcement (e.g. info about a college or behavior, such as filling out the FAFSA or ORSAA). Invite guest judges to award prizes.

Games and activities that can be done individually to learn or reinforce topics as well as provide time for self-reflection.

College Crossword : Reinforce college vocabulary. Use an online crossword maker or use our Applying to College Crossword ★ .

Word Search : Introduce and reinforce college vocabulary. Use an online word search maker or use our W ord Search - Key Terms ★ or Word Search - Oregon College Nicknames ★ .

Word Scramble : Introduce and reinforce college vocabulary. Simply mix up the letters of common terms and have participants unscramble them.

Creative self-reflection

Display the results in classrooms or in hallways to build a college-going culture throughout your school.

Ideal College : Participants learn about the importance of college fit and consider their ideal college, drawing the results.

DIY College Pennants ★ : Students design their own pennants for the college they aspire to or will attend.

Why College? Box Activity ★ : Participants reflect on the benefits and challenges of attending college.

Fold Your Future : Participants fold origami graduation caps , then write their future goals for after high school on the top.

College Knowledge Games Resources

★ associated resources.

• Activity Planning Guide
• 101 College Trivia
• 101 College Terms
• College Human BINGO
• Money Template
• College Kahoots
• College Trivia Games
• Financial Aid Swat! Game
• College Terms Swat! Game
• Crossword - Applying to College
• Word Search - Key Terms
• Word Search - Oregon College Nicknames
• DIY Pennant
• Why College? Box Activity  

See all resources

Sources & more information

• Bell, Rowan-Kenyon & Perna, 2009. College Knowledge of 9th and 11th Grade Students: Variation by School and State Context
• Borovoy, 2015. Game-Based Learning: Resource Roundup
• Garris, Ahlers & Driskell, 2002. Games, Motivation and Learning: A Research and Practice Model
• GEAR UP Washington State, College Knowledge Games for Students and Families
• Trophy icon by Font Awesome Free is licensed under CC BY 4.0

• Teaching Tips

20 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students [Plus: Free List of 45+ Activities]

Planning to use interactive classroom activities intentionally can really transform the learning dynamic. Here are 20 activities to get you started.

Top Hat Staff

How interactive are your classroom activities? Do you have less energy for class than you used to? Do you find student grades declining? And are the teaching methods you’ve always relied on not working as well as they once did? We spoke to two college instructors, Chris Merlo and Monika Semma. Their strategies for interactive classroom activities will energize your class and get the discussion moving again.

Table of contents

• Why are interactive activities important in college?

6 community-building activities

5 communication activities for college students, 3 motivational activities for college students.

• 6 team-building activities for college students

Interactive classroom activities, in short

Why are interactive classroom activities important.

Merlo, a computer science teacher, says that interactive classroom activities are not new to students, and one main reason why teachers have trouble connecting is that they fail to adapt to their students’ perspectives.

“My six-year-old son doesn’t find iPads amazing; to him, they’ve always just existed. Similarly, to a lot of students today, experiences like team exercises and flipped classrooms, while foreign to many instructors are not new.

“If we care about reaching today’s students, who seem to have a different idea of student responsibilities than we had, perhaps we have to reach them on their terms.

“In my thirties, I could still find a lot of similarities with my twenty-something students. But now, in my forties? Not so much. What I’ve started to realize is that it isn’t just the little things, like whether they’ve seen Ghostbusters. (They haven’t.) It’s the big things, like how they learn.”

Semma, a humanities TA, found that the chalk-and-talk approach failed on her first day in front of a class. “It was a lot like parallel parking in front of 20 people,” she said. “I looked more like a classmate. I dropped the eraser on my face whilst trying to write my name on the board. One of my students called me ‘mom.’”

“I chalked it up to first day jitters, but that same quietness crept its way back into my classroom for the next tutorial, and the next tutorial and the next. While nearly silent in class, my students were rather vocal in the endless stream of emails that flooded my inbox. That way I knew they wanted to learn. I also knew that I had to find a way to make tutorials more engaging.”

From these experiences, Merlo and Semma now share some interactive classroom activities for students and for teachers that can turn a quiet classroom full of people unwilling to speak up to a hive of debate, making the student learning experience more collaborative for everyone.

Energize your college classroom and get discussions flowing. Download The Best Classroom Activities for College Courses to engage and motivate students.

1. Open-ended questions

Chris Merlo: Open-ended questions don’t take any planning. All they take is a class with at least one student who isn’t too shy. I remember a class a few semesters ago that started with nine students. Due to a couple of medical conditions and a job opportunity, three of the students had to drop the semester. The problem was that these three students were the ones I counted on to ask questions and keep the class lively! Once I was left with six introverted people, conversations during class seemed to stop.

By luck, I stumbled on something that got the students talking again. I said, “What has been the most difficult thing about [the project that was due soon]?” This opened the floodgates—students love to complain, especially about us and our demands. This one simple question led to twenty minutes of discussion involving all six students. I wasn’t even sure what a couple of these students’ voices sounded like, but once I gave them an open-ended opportunity to complain about an assignment, they were off to the races. A truly successful classroom activity.

2. What’s wrong with this example?

Chris Merlo: Students also love to find a professor’s mistakes—like me, I’m sure you’ve found this out the hard way. When I teach computer science, I will make up a program that, for instance, performs the wrong arithmetic, and have students find the bug. In a particularly quiet or disengaged class, you can incentivize students with five points on the next exam, or something similar.

If you teach history, you might use flawed examples that change a key person’s name, such as “King Henry VIII (instead of King John) signed the Magna Carta in 1215,” or match a person to an incorrect event: “Gavrilo Princip is considered to have fired the first shot in the Spanish Civil War (instead of World War I).” Beam these examples on the whiteboard, and let the students’ competitiveness drive them to get the right answer before their classmates.

3. Let students critique each other

Chris Merlo: This can go badly if you don’t set some ground rules for civility, but done well, classroom activities like this really help open up collaborative learning. One of my colleagues devised a great exercise: First, give students about half of their class time to write instructions that an imaginary robot can understand to draw a recognizable picture, like a corporate logo, without telling students what will happen later. Then assign each student’s instructions to a randomly chosen classmate, and have the classmate pretend to be the robot, attempting to follow the instructions and draw the same logo.

After a few minutes, introduce a specific student who can share their results with the class, then ask their partner to share the initial instructions. This method gives students a chance to communicate with each other (“That’s not what I meant!”) and laugh and bond, while learning an important lesson.

This exercise teaches computer science students the difficulty and importance of writing clear instructions. I have seen this exercise not only teach pairs of such students meaningful lessons but encourage friendships that extended beyond my classroom.

Get students participating with these 45 classroom activities

4. Pass the “mic”

Monika Semma: As an instructor, it’s amazing how much information you can gather from a student-centered review session. Specifically, if you leave the review in the hands of your students, you can get an easy and thorough assessment of what is being absorbed, and what is being left by the wayside. The more you encourage participation, the more you’ll see where your class is struggling and the more comfortable students will become with course material. Here’s how to transform a standard review into one of your more popular classroom activities:

• A week before the review, ask students to email you two to five key terms or theories that they feel they need to brush up on. Take all that data and compress it until you have a solid working list of what students want to review most.
• In class, provide students with visual access to the list (I found writing all the terms on a chalkboard to be most effective). Instruct the class to have their notes out in front of them, with a pad of paper or blank Word document at their fingertips, and encourage them to take notes as the review is in progress.
• A trinket of sorts (I highly recommend a plush ball), used as a “microphone,” helps to give students equal opportunity to direct the review without putting individuals on the spot too aggressively. The rules are simple: she or he who holds the “mic” can pick one term from the list and using their notes, can offer up what they already know about the term or concept, what they are unsure of, or what they need more elaboration on.
• Actively listen to the speaker and give them some positive cues if they seem unsure; it’s okay to help them along the way, but important to step back and let this review remain student-centered. Once the speaker has said their piece, open the floor to the rest of the class for questions or additional comments. If you find that the discussion has taken a departure from the right direction, re-center the class and provide further elaboration if need be.
• Erase each term discussed from the list as you go, and have the speaker pass (or throw) on the “mic” to a fellow classmate, and keep tossing the ball around after each concept/term is discussed.

Students will have a tendency to pick the terms that they are most comfortable speaking about and those left consistently untouched will give you a clear assessment of the subjects in which your class is struggling, and where comprehension is lacking. Once your class has narrowed down the list to just a few terms, you can switch gears into a more classic review session. Bringing a bit of interaction and fun into a review can help loosen things up during exam time, when students and teachers alike are really starting to feel the pressure.

5. Use YouTube for classroom activities

Monika Semma: Do you remember the pure and utter joy you felt upon seeing your professor wheel in the giant VHS machine into class? Technology has certainly changed—but the awesome powers of visual media have not. Making your students smile can be a difficult task, but by channeling your inner Bill Nye the Science Guy you can make university learning fun again.

A large part of meaningful learning is finding interactive classroom activities that are relevant to daily life—and I can think of no technology more relevant to current students than YouTube.

A crafty YouTube search can yield a video relevant to almost anything in your curriculum and paired with an essay or academic journal, a slightly silly video can go a long way in helping your students contextualize what they are learning.

Even if your comedic attempts plunge into failure, at the very least, a short clip will get the class discussion ball rolling. Watch the video as a class and then break up into smaller groups to discuss it. Get your students thinking about how the clip they are shown pairs with the primary sources they’ve already read.

6. Close reading

Monika Semma: In the humanities, we all know the benefits of close reading activities—they get classroom discussion rolling and students engaging with the material and open up the floor for social and combination learners to shine. “Close reading” is a learning technique in which students are asked to conduct a detailed analysis or interpretation of a small piece of text. It is particularly effective in getting students to move away from the general and engage more with specific details or ideas.

If you’re introducing new and complex material to your class, or if you feel as though your students are struggling with an equation, theory, or concept; giving them the opportunity to break it down into smaller and more concrete parts for further evaluation will help to enhance their understanding of the material as a whole.

And while this technique is often employed in the humanities, classroom activities like this can be easily transferred to any discipline. A physics student will benefit from having an opportunity to break down a complicated equation in the same way that a biology student can better understand a cell by looking at it through a microscope.

In any case, evaluating what kinds of textbooks, lesson plans and pedagogy we are asking our students to connect with is always a good idea.

Brainwriting

Group size: 10 students (minimum)

Course type: Online (synchronous), in-person

This activity helps build rapport and respect in your classroom. After you tackle a complex lecture topic, give students time to individually reflect on their learnings. This can be accomplished through guided prompts or left as an open-ended exercise. Once students have gathered their thoughts, encourage them to share their views either through an online discussion thread or a conversation with peers during class time.

Concept mapping

Collaborative concept mapping is the process of visually organizing concepts and ideas and understanding how they relate to each other. This exercise is a great way for students to look outside of their individual experiences and perspectives. Groups can use this tactic to review previous work or to help them map ideas for projects and assignments. For in-person classes, you can ask students to cover classroom walls with sticky notes and chart paper. For online classes, there are many online tools that make it simple to map out connections between ideas, like Google Docs or the digital whiteboard feature in Zoom.

Group size: Groups of 5–10 students 

Propose a topic or issue to your class. Group students together (or in breakout rooms if you’re teaching remotely) according to the position they take on the specific issue. Ask the groups of students to come up with a few arguments or examples to support their position. Write each group’s statements on the virtual whiteboard and use these as a starting point for discussion. A natural next step is to debate the strengths and weaknesses of each argument, to help students improve their critical thinking and analysis skills. 

Make learning active with these 45 interactive classroom activities

Compare and contrast

Group size: Groups of 5–10 students

Ask your students to focus on a specific chapter in your textbook. Then, place them in groups and ask them to make connections and identify differences between ideas that can be found in course readings and other articles and videos they may find. This way, they can compare their ideas in small groups and learn from one another’s perspectives. In online real-time classes, instructors can use Zoom breakout rooms to put students in small groups.

Assess/diagnose/act

This activity will improve students’ problem-solving skills and can help engage them in more dynamic discussions. Start by proposing a topic or controversial statement. Then follow these steps to get conversations going. In online classes, students can either raise their hands virtually or use an online discussion forum to engage with their peers. 

• Assessment: What is the issue or problem at hand?
• Diagnosis: What is the root cause of this issue or problem?
• Action: How can we solve the issue?

Moral dilemmas

Group size: Groups of 3–7 students 

Provide students with a moral or ethical dilemma, using a hypothetical situation or a real-world situation. Then ask them to explore potential solutions as a group. This activity encourages students to think outside the box to develop creative solutions to the problem. In online learning environments, students can use discussion threads or Zoom breakout rooms.

Conversation stations

Group size: Groups of 4–6 students 

Course type: In-person

This activity exposes students’ ideas in a controlled way, prompting discussions that flow naturally. To start, share a list of discussion questions pertaining to a course reading, video or case study. Put students into groups and give them five-to-ten minutes to discuss, then have two students rotate to another group. The students who have just joined a group have an opportunity to share findings from their last discussion, before answering the second question with their new group. After another five-to-ten minutes, the students who haven’t rotated yet will join a new group.

This or that

Course type: Online (synchronous or asynchronous), in-person

This activity allows students to see where their peers stand on a variety of different topics and issues. Instructors should distribute a list of provocative statements before class, allowing students to read ahead. Then, they can ask students to indicate whether they agree, disagree or are neutral on the topic in advance, using an online discussion thread or Google Doc. In class, use another discussion thread or live chat to have students of differing opinions share their views. After a few minutes, encourage one or two members in each group to defend their position amongst a new group of students. Ask students to repeat this process for several rounds to help familiarize themselves with a variety of standpoints.

6 team-building classroom activities for college students

Snowball discussions  .

Group size: 2–4 students per group

Assign students a case study or worksheet to discuss with a partner, then have them share their thoughts with the larger group. Use breakout rooms in Zoom and randomly assign students in pairs with a discussion question. After a few minutes, combine rooms to form groups of four. After another five minutes, combine groups of four to become a larger group of eight—and so on until the whole class is back together again.

Make it personal

Group size: Groups of 2–8 students

After you’ve covered a topic or concept in your lecture, divide students into small discussion groups (or breakout rooms online). Ask the groups questions like “How did this impact your prior knowledge of the topic?” or “What was your initial reaction to this source/article/fact?” to encourage students to reflect on their personal connections to the course concepts they are learning.

Philosophical chairs

Group size: 20–25 students (maximum)

A statement that has two possible responses—agree or disagree—is read out loud. Depending on whether they agree or disagree with this statement, students move to one side of the room or the other. After everyone has chosen a side, ask one or two students on each side to take turns defending their positions. This allows students to visualize where their peers’ opinions come from, relative to their own.

Get more interactive classroom activities here

Affinity mapping

Group size: Groups of 3–8 students 

Course type: Online (synchronous)

Place students in small groups (or virtual breakout rooms) and pose a broad question or problem to them that is likely to result in lots of different ideas, such as “What was the greatest innovation of the 21st century?” or “How would society be different if  _____ never occurred?” Ask students to generate responses by writing ideas on pieces of paper (one idea per page) or in a discussion thread (if you’re teaching online). Once lots of ideas have been generated, have students begin grouping their ideas into similar categories, then label the categories and discuss why the ideas fit within them, how the categories relate to one another and so on. This allows students to engage in higher-level thinking by analyzing ideas and organizing them in relation to one another. 

Socratic seminar

Group size: 20 students (minimum)

Ask students to prepare for a discussion by reviewing a course reading or group of texts and coming up with a few higher-order discussion questions about the text. In class, pose an introductory, open-ended question. From there, students continue the conversation, prompting one another to support their claims with evidence from previous course concepts or texts. There doesn’t need to be a particular order to how students speak, but they are encouraged to respectfully share the floor with their peers.

Concentric circles

Group size: 20 students (maximum)

Students form two circles: an inner circle and an outer circle. Each student on the inside is paired with a student on the outside; they face each other. Pose a question to the whole group and have pairs discuss their responses with each other. After three-to-five minutes, have students on the outside circle move one space to the right so they are standing in front of a new person. Pose a new question, and the process is repeated, exposing students to the different perspectives of their peers.

Making your classes more interactive should help your students want to come to class and take part in it. Giving them a more active role will give them a sense of ownership, and this can lead to students taking more pride in their work and responsibility for their grades.

Use these 45 classroom activities in your course to keep students engaged

A more interactive class can also make things easier for you—the more work students do in class, the less you have to do. Even two minutes of not talking can re-energize you for the rest of the class.

Plus, these six methods outlined above don’t require any large-scale changes to your class prep. Set up a couple of activities in advance here and there, to support what you’ve been doing, and plan which portion of your class will feature them.

The reality remains that sometimes, students do have to be taught subject matter that is anything but exciting. That doesn’t mean that we can’t make it more enjoyable to teach or learn. It may not be possible to incorporate classroom activities into every lecture, but finding some room for these approaches can go a long way in facilitating a positive learning environment.

And let’s not forget, sometimes even an educator needs a brief departure from the everyday-ordinary-sit-and-listen-to-me-lecture regimen.

Recommended Readings

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A 6-Step Exercise for Discussing AI In Education

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35 Fun Activities for College Students (interactive, team building, games) 

As a recent graduate, I know first hand how hard it can be to get a classroom of college students engaged in an activity. In my time in college, I’ve had my fair share of fun activities, but also activities that did not go over well in a college classroom.

Getting a classroom full of college students to participate in an activity can be a real challenge. Fortunately, there are some activities that students find fun and will engage in.

In this post, I share 35 fun activities for college students, that will actually get them participating. These interactive classroom activities involve games, team building exercises and interactive assignments.

35 Fun Activities for College Students

1. shark tank.

Shark Tank is a great interactive team building game for college students. This is a great way for students to show off their leadership skills, presentation skills and creativity.

Similar to the Shark Tank TV show, students in small groups will come up with a product, a pitch and a presentation. This activity can span across one class or multiple classes, depending on how much time and effort you want students to put into this assignment.

To make this activity extra fun, select a panel of students to be the “Sharks”. Their objective will be to bring up questions, find the flaws in the product and give credit, where credit is due.

Even though the Shark Tank game seems like it might apply best to business and marketing classes, this activity can be played by any group of students for and adapted for any subject.

When I was in college, this was one of the best activities that left a positive impact on me. It’s a really fun way to get the class interested and engaged in an activity.

Kahoot! is a trivia game that is great for new students. Most high school students and new students are probably already familiar with this game, and it’s super easy to set up.

Before you play this game in class, you will first need to enter the trivia questions on the Kahoot website. Once this is done, you can set up the game by logging into your account.

When you are ready, you will be given a code which students should type into their phone to join the game. Divide the students into teams. Team members will have to answer the multiple choice questions gameshow style.

This activity is loads of fun and a good way to get the class involved. Kahoot does not take much time to set up or play, and it’s a great way to test students on course material.

3. Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt around campus was one of the first activities I did as a new student. This was a great ice breaker which allowed me to make new friends, get used to campus and have fun.

For this activity, you will need to come up with some sights around campus that students can visit. Once this is done, divide the students into groups and they will have to go on a scavenger hunt!

Students can take pictures of the sights and the winning time can get a prize. Scavenger hunts are always a fun group activity and a friendly competition that students will love.

Related: 75 Side Hustles For College Students & Ways To Make Money

4. Elevator Pitch

The elevator pitch is an activity that I did when I was in college and I didnt realize how valuable it would be later on in life. For this activity, students have to come up with a 30 second pitch about themselves.

They can talk about their interests, hobbies , job, career, what they are studying etc.

This activity will even come in handy after a student is done their college years. As someone who graduated recently, I find myself giving the elevator pitch constantly when I meet new people.

Related: 12 Best Backpacks For College Guys

5. Two Truths and a Lie

Two truths and a Lie is a class game and a great ice breaker. This is a great activity for students to get familiar with new people and learns some little things about their classmates.

This is a very easy game to organize, students will be separated into small groups. The students will the have to tell their group members two truths and a lie. Their classmates will have to try and guess the lie.

6. Question of The Day

Question of the day is a fun activity for students to express themselves. At the beginning of class you should ask your students a question. Then ask them to write a paragraph answering the question.

This is a good creative outlet and a great way for students to practice critical thinking. This activity can be done a few times during the school year or regularly throughout the semester.

Here are some examples of questions you can ask your class:

• What is the biggest struggle that young people are currently facing?
• Where will technology be in 10 years?
• Would remote learning improve your academic experience? why or why not.
• If you could go back to middle school, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
• Should men and women be allowed to live in dorm rooms together? why or why not.

A potluck is a fun activity that students will absolutely love. Speaking as a former student, I can guarantee that I’m not skipping class if I know there will be food!

There are so many different ways of doing this activity. Students can make food using local produce, students can make a food from their culture or students can make their best recipe.

This is a super fun way to celebrate the end of the semester and a great activity that students will love.

Doing a debate is a great way to get students to fully immerse and inform themselves on a topic. The great thing about doing a debate is that students will get educated on both sides of the matter at hand.

Doing a debate was one of the more memorable and fun classroom activities I did during my time in college. Having an in-class debate will boost student involvement, because no student wants to look uninformed in front of the class.

Start by dividing the class into a few different groups. Then, assign each group a topic and give them some time to prepare. Regardless of the outcome, a debate will have a positive impact on your students.

9. Local Tour

This activity is great for freshman. Giving a local tour is a great way to show the students around campus and even the college town. For many students, college can be an overwhelming experience. Therefore, giving them a local tour will make them feel more comfortable.

Consider showing them where the gyms are, the dining hall, where they can sign up for clubs and where they can meet with faculty members. These are some essential places that every college student should know.

10. Cup Pong

Now, we all know that beer pong is part of the college experience, but who says it can’t be educational? This game is super easy to set up and it will get the whole class participating, excited and having fun.

To set this game up, all you will need is 12 red solo cups, a bit of water and some questions to ask your students.

Begin by separating the class into two teams.

Each team will have the chance to answer a question. If they get it right, they get to take a shot. If they get it wrong, the other team gets the chance to answer. The game goes on until there are no cups left!

Playing cup pong may seem like an unconventional way of teaching, but it will get the class involved and the students will have a blast.

11. Case Studies

As someone who studied business in college, I did my fair share of case studies. A case study is an amazing way to learn about the ins and outs of a specific business and industry.

The cases assigned to students can be adapted based on the subject matter being taught in the course. This is one of the teaching methods that prepared me the most for the real world.

Case studies can be done individually or in larger groups. If you expect a lot out of your students, giving a divided assignment and a lot of time for them to complete it, will ensure that they learn a lot and do a good job.

12. Guest Speakers

Having the class attend a guess speaker lecture is a good way to give your students a break from regular student life. Sometimes, having a laid back class where they get to hear a guest speaker is a nice change.

Having your students attend a live event, like a guest speaker, will get them out of their dorm rooms and attending the event.

13. Video Presentation

Video presentations are a really fun activity for students to express their creativity. It’s super easy for a group of students to create video presentations using social media apps like TikTok or Instagram.

You can have students create an advertisement, skit or educational video on a specific topic. When I was in college, these were my favorite kind of group activities. It was so much fun seeing what other students would create.

14. Hangman

Now, we all know the classic game Hangman. However, it’s a great ice breaker for new students. When freshman first arrive to college, they are super nervous. S o playing a game of hangman can put them at ease.

To make things interesting, give a small prize to the first student who guesses the answer.

15. Word Limit Answers

Word limit answers are is a creative way for students to express themselves. This may sound like a lazy student’s dream, but it’s actually more challenging than you might think.

Having your students answer a question with a limited word limit is pretty hard. Students will have fun with this activity and they will have to get creative when answering the question.

16. Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down is an ice breaker that every student is going to be familiar with. This is a game that students in elementary school, middle school and high school have all played before.

A few students come up to the front of the class, while the rest put their heads down on the desk, with their thumbs up. Each of the students standing at the front must choose one person at a desk, and put their thumb down.

The students who had their thumbs put down then have to guess who did it. This is a great way to have new students feel at ease in college.

17. Interview Role Play

Interview role play is an awesome activity for current students who are nearing the end of their time in college. Have your students pair up in groups, give them a scenario and have them interview each other.

This is a great activity, as you will have some students in leadership rolls doing the interview. Those students who are being interviewed are going to get valuable experience as well.

18. Attend an Upcoming Event

On college campus, there is always some sort of interesting upcoming event that is happening. Invite your students to a great event on that’s happening campus and they will have loads of fun.

Here are some educational, fun and special event ideas:

• Live concert
• Cultural events
• Sporting events
• Guest speaker

19. Breakout Rooms

Breakout rooms were a very popular method of getting students to interact when online classes were happening. It encouraged students to have group discussions, get to know each other and help one another get better grades.

Breakout rooms can be done in person and also online. Many students really liked doing school remotely, so having an online breakout room class once in a while is fun change.

20. Therapy Dogs

There are plenty of programs that will bring therapy dogs to schools. You may need to have this run by the office of student activities, but it’s a really good one.

Therapy dogs are great for mental health. Plus, what student doesn’t want to spend some time with adorable dogs?

College can be hard on students and get stressful . A recent study suggests that dogs lower stress , so why not bring animals in for your class and even the whole student body?

21. Building Card Towers

Building card towers is a super activity that encourages classmates to work together to achieve the common goal of building a card tower.

To run this activity, you will need to separate the class into groups, give each group a deck of cards and let them figure it out. This is one of the most fun ice breakers and a great way for students to make new friendships.

22. Mystery Puzzle

A mystery puzzle is another fantastic ice breaker that gets students working together. This one takes a bit of creativity, but if done properly, students will really enjoy it.

Begin by creating a few scenarios that cover a various different themes. When the mystery is created, separate the classroom into groups and have them solve it!

23. Favourite Song Project

Every student listens to music on their free time. What better way to get them engaged in an activity than to ask them to write about their favorite songs?

This is a really easy activity to organize. Just ask your students to write a bit about their favorite song, or songs, and why they like it so much.

24. Photo Challenge

The photo challenge is a great ice breaker for new students. This is a nice way for freshman to get familiar with the college campuses and get see what similar interests they have with their classmates.

For this activity, students will have to either take a cool, fun or interesting photo around campus and present it to the class. The more effort and creativity that goes into this challenge, the more fun it will be.

Related: How to Make Money as a College Student

25. Classroom Charades

Everyone knows how to play charades. Charades is a great game to get students out of their comfort zone and to create an environment in class where students feel comfortable.

For some students, they may feel shy or absolutely dread the idea of going up and doing charades in front of the whole class. It’s important that everyone has fun and feels comfortable doing this activity.

26. Bus Trip

In college, activities are often done indoors, but what about the outdoor activities? Taking a bus trip to a local museum or a local landmark is a great way to get students out of the classroom.

It’s a fun way to get to know your students outside of class and one of my most memorable trips I ever did in college, was an overnight camping trip. I got to know my teacher really well on the drive down and made some awesome memories.

27. Board Games

Nowadays, it can be hard to get a Gen Zer to name 5 different board games. For many college students, playing board games is a really fun experience.

There are some cool board games that can be played in the classroom and it’s a real change from phone games or video games. Having a class where you play some board games will a great activity for the whole class!

Board Game Recommendations:

• Snakes and Ladders
• Connect Four
• The Game of Life

28. Community Service Activity

If you’re looking to show school spirit while making a positive impact on campus, consider organizing a community service day. This is a great opportunity for students to bond with each other while making a positive impact on the community.

Invite students to volunteer at local organizations. Whether at an animal shelter, a nursing home, or a hospital.

If planning a field trip is not an option, you can always do something on campus. Organizing a trash cleanup is a good way to get the students outside and do something positive for the community.

29. Adult Coloring Books

If you’re looking for an activity that college students absolutely love, then check out Adult Coloring Books! This activity is relaxing engaging, making students feel young again.

Throughout my time in college, I had one teacher plan this activity during exam time. She gave the class the option of studying or doing adult coloring, and most students decided to color.

Coloring was an excellent way to wake our minds off of exams, and it was quite therapeutic.

30. Use YouTube For Classroom Activities

YouTube is a great tool for classroom activities. On YouTube, there are plenty of useful resources that can lead to some fantastic class discussions. Throughout my time in college, the professors would use TED Talks to inspire us and to get the class talking.

There are plenty of YouTube videos that encourage students to think outside of the box. Oftentimes, these videos can be very impactful, and they will resonate with them.

31. Collaborative Concept Mapping

Splitting the students into small parties and having them develop a concept map is a great activity that encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and group discussion. Since a concept map requires students to work together, this is a great activity for students to break the ice.

Start by giving the student a blank sheet of paper and giving them a concept. After 10-15 minutes, most groups should be done and ready to share their ideas with the class.

You can end this activity by having the students present their concept map to the class.

32. Crazy Hair Day

When it comes to campus events that get student engagement, Crazy Hair Day always works!

Planning a day where students can come to school with crazy hair is one of the best college event ideas. This activity is great because any student can get involved, it’s easy to plan.

A good way to encourage students to come to school with crazy hair is by making it a competition. Around lunchtime, host an event where students can vote on who has the craziest hair!

This is a great activity for Spirit Week, and it is a fun way to get your fellow students excited about an event.

33. The One-Minute Paper

If you’re looking for a fun activity for college students, consider trying the One-Minute Paper. This fun activity encourages students to think independently and develop their writing skills.

For this activity, you will begin by giving the students a prompt. The students will have one minute to write about the prompt, and then they can either read it to the class or submit it to the teacher.

This is an activity that I did several times throughout college, and I always found it a fun way to build writing skills.

34. Moral Dilemmas

Moral Dilemma is an interactive activity encouraging students to converse and voice their opinions.

For this activity, you create a few groups of students and provide them with an ethical dilemma. Students will then have to think outside the box and come up with a creative solution.

When students are coming up with a solution, they may share their personal experiences, which can lead to some heated discussions. It’s important to monitor the conversations and make sure students are pushing the conversations forward instead of arguing.

35. Movie Day

If you’re looking for an activity that every student loves, planning a movie day is a great idea. These movies can be classics, educational, or relevant to a theme you are trying to cover.

As students, we appreciate a fun activity that doesn’t involve “traditional” school work. Even if it’s a movie that leads to an assignment, college students will appreciate it.

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Final Thoughts on 35 Fun Activities For College Students

Getting a classroom full of college students to participate in an activity can be a real challenge. On the bright side, there are plenty of activities that are tons of fun for college students.

As a recent college graduate myself, I can say that all these activities mentioned above are really fun and a great way for students to get to know their classmates and teacher better.

What’s your favorite activity for college students? Please let me know in the comments below.

Ethan Schattauer

3 thoughts on “ 35 Fun Activities for College Students (interactive, team building, games)  ”

“I can guarantee that I’m not skipping class if I know there will be food!”…..haaa, truth though….total truth! 😁✌🏼

Crazy Hair Day – oh my gosh, I literally LOL’d when I saw that one! 😂💯

If I were one of the college students, I think my favorite activities would be Kahoot! (love that name), Two Truths and a Lie, the potluck, a bus trip, and definitely those coloring books – crayons, coloring, and drawing are the best!

Mr. Ethan – would love to see a post under lifestyle/miscellaneous where you give your own personal recommendations of some good books to read that are authored by Gen Z’ers.

The minds of Gen Z are….to be perfectly honest here…legendary. I’ve watched several online movies and series that revolve around Gen Z, not to mention witnessing the actual lives of Gen Z’ers that I know in real life, and the mindset with which you guys face this often times crazy world that you were born into is so uniquely smart and respectable. You are a generation that is both futuristic and classic at the same time – as I always say, you rock a bold 80’s vibe with a far superior level of 20’s sophistication.

The thoughts you guys have about life and the world in general are so on point and profound. I have had some of the most brilliantly engaging conversations ever with the 20-something members of your gen, and I would love to find at least one good book that delves even further into the inner mind and perspective of its Gen Z author as they navigate life in the new millennium.

Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is magnificent, as well as the content!

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You might think that college is just high school continued, but it’s not. College opens doors for you that high school doesn’t. And college can change you and shape you in ways that you might not imagine.

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Guide to College Study Skills

To succeed in college, you’ll need to adopt effective study habits and develop critical learning skills. How you study, take notes in class, conduct research, and prepare for your exams will determine how well you perform as a college student. Read on for a closer look at the factors that will shape your learning experience, your grades, and your educational success in college. The following guide divides these factors into four primary areas: Study Habits; Learning Skills; Test Preparation; and Academic Integrity.

College has a lot to offer. From student clubs and intramural sports to weekend parties and spring break excursions, you have a lot going on. But of course, the main reason you’re here is to learn. Your primary focus in college is studying, learning, building skills, and advancing knowledge…or at least it should be.

So how can you be sure that you’re effectively managing these priorities? What steps can you take to improve your learning outcomes?

Now that you’re in college, it’s more important than ever to refine your learning and study skills; to get better at exercising discipline and managing your time; to practice and refine the tools you’ll need to earn your degree and get a good job. Your success in school will depend on your mastery of these skills.

For a wider ranging set of support resources—including tips for academic assistance and mental health support, check out our Guide to Surviving College .

If you’re focused on strengthening your study habits, developing your learning skills, studying more effectively for your exam, and successfully adhering to the rules of academic integrity, read on…

Strengthen Your Basic Study Habits

Before you get into the finer details of your college experience, like taking notes in calculus class or poring over books on the eve of an exam, there are some basic study habits that will have a big impact on your long-term performance. Set yourself up for success by building a foundation for effective study and positive academic performance. This includes creating a suitable learning environment, discovering your own learning style, learning how to manage your time, and more…

Know Your Learning Style

• The first step to effective studying and learning is knowing yourself, and understanding what strategies work best for you.
• Take a closer look at your learning habits to determine how you best absorb information and knowledge. The VARK model, for instance, says learning can be divided into Visual, Auditory, Reading and writing, and Kinesthetic categories.
• Most learners benefit from some combination of these learning approaches, as well as a combination of additional learning styles such as verbal, logical, social, or solitary learning.
• Rely on the combination of learning styles that is most effective for you whether you’re in class, completing an assignment, or studying.

Create a Suitable Studying and Working Environment

• Find a work space that is compatible with your learning style and personal preference, whether you need absolute silence, a stimulating environment, or just a comfy chair where you can put your feet up while reading.
• Avoid things that distract you. Recognize your temptations and avoid them, whether it’s the television, text messages from your friends, or the infinite scroll of Instagram. Whatever it is, put it away while you study.
• Establish boundaries with roommates, friends, or family so that your learning space can be your sanctuary when you’re studying or completing assignments.
• If possible, reserve a special space for your work and study. You’ll do much better in a designated study space than you will sitting up in bed or cramming at your kitchen table.

Manage Your Time Effectively

• Effective time management is critical to finding balance between studying, homework, student activities, personal responsibilities, employment, and your social calendar.
• Use time management tools like to-do lists, calendars, and reminders to stay on task. There are tons of apps on your computer, tablet, or smartphone that can help.
• Don’t overdo it. You have a lot to get done, but burnout is also a real risk for college students.
• Find balance between study, activity, enjoyment, and recovery.
• Get plenty of sleep!
• Establish realistic blocks of time for studying and completing your assignments. Designate time to your other activities in a way that doesn’t detract from established study time.

Practice Self-Discipline

• Stay focused. Don’t allow social media, clickbait, or household chores to lure you away from your studies.
• Avoid negative influences, excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse, and other vices that might disrupt your ability to focus or perform in your classes.
• Magnify your abilities and improve upon your limitations. If you struggle to memorize facts, learn mnemonic strategies for improving memory. If you are particularly strong with visual learning, look for diagrams and videos that might help improve your understanding.
• Say yes to activities that interest you or that can advance your goals, but be willing to say no when it interrupts your workflow. Overcome your FOMO*.

Adjust Your Strategies to Your Conditions

• Learning strategies may differ depending on the environment. Be prepared to adjust your approach based on factors like class size (small core class vs. large lecture hall); subject (math, English, laboratory science, etc.); or medium (face-to-face, online, blended, etc.).
• Recognize that you are likely stronger in some subjects than others and shift your approach accordingly. If you find that you need to spend more time reading to remember important historical facts, or you need to enlist outside support to handle your math courses, don’t be afraid to adjust.
• If you’re struggling to adjust, speak with an advisor or professor to identify the factors that are posing the greatest challenge and build strategies for overcoming these factors.

Take Advantage of Critical Support Resources

• If you’re struggling to adjust to the pace, material, or your learning environment, do not be afraid to access critical support resources. Support may include your professor, an on-campus Student Development Center, or your academic advisor.
• Additional resources may include writing labs, professor office hours, T.A. reviews, tutoring and more. Find out what your campus or college has to offer and access resources as needed.
• Mental health support is another important channel for help, especially if you’re struggling with test anxiety, academic burnout, or depression. Don’t hesitate to reach out for mental health support if you are in need, in crisis, or you simply need somebody to talk to.

Refine Your Essential Learning Skills

Learning skills are the abilities that you use to absorb and retain information; to transform information into knowledge; to gather findings and insights from your research; and to get the most out of your educational time, whether you’re in class, at home, or working in a group setting. While every student learns differently, exhibits different strengths, and has different areas of need, many critical learning skills can be practiced, improved and mastered over time. College will bring you face to face with a number of academic challenges. Practicing these essential learning skills can help…

Practice Critical Reading

• Critical reading means slowing down, reading your texts more deeply, and taking a more interactive approach to your reading process.
• Look for the author’s thesis, central argument, and primary supports as you read.
• Highlight key ideas and single out meaningful passages that convey the main themes in your reading.
• Make connections between key ideas, symbolic elements, tone, authority, and other features that might distinguish the work.
• Read course material multiple times to ensure both comprehension and recognition of important underlying ideas and subtexts.
• Look up terms, references, or allusions that you don’t understand.
• Keep margin notes, a running notebook of ideas, or just highlight key terms, concepts, and excerpts that you plan to revisit.

Improve Listening Comprehension

• Practice your listening and retention by starting with something you enjoy, like a favorite audiobook or a lyrically compelling musician.
• Start by focusing on the big picture information rather than the small details.
• Practice patience—sitting still, opening your mind, and preparing to hear everything that is being said.
• Do not allow your note-taking to supersede listening. Make sure that you’re actually receiving and evaluating information, rather than simply scribbling into your notebook.

Take Effective Notes

• Practice active listening as you write notes. Do not allow note-taking to distract you from actually listening and absorbing in real-time.
• Don’t write every word your professor says. Focus on highlights and key points.
• Try to organize your notes in sections based on topics, units, dates, etc.
• Outlines can be an effective way to organize your notes so that they make sense when you revisit them.
• You may also want to paraphrase your professor’s words in terms that make sense to you.
• On the subject of making sense, be sure to write legibly! There’s nothing more disappointing than returning to your notes the week before a test only to find you can’t understand your own writing.

For an in-depth look at how to take notes, check out our Guide to Effective In-class Note-taking .

Improve Your Memorization Skills

• Memorization isn’t necessarily the most enriching or rewarding part of studying, but it’s almost certainly something you’ll have to do.
• Figure out strategies that work for you, including mnemonics, flashcards, or highlighting passages in key texts.
• Read important passages out loud to yourself, or out loud to somebody else if you have a willing study buddy.
• Read materials more than once, review your notes regularly, and ask friends or classmates to quiz you.

Improve Your Writing Skills

• Write as often as possible. The more you practice this skill, the less scary writing will seem.
• Share your writing with others and be receptive to feedback.
• Write what you know. If your assignment requires you to write about something unfamiliar, do your best to at least write from your perspective.
• Find your voice. This is the writing equivalent of advising you to “just be yourself.” Channel your inner-monologue and your own linguistic style into your writing. Let your personality shine through the words.
• “Show” rather than “Tell.” Use an effective example or anecdote to demonstrate a point rather than simply reciting a list of facts. A good story or analogy is generally more interesting, engaging, and illuminating to the reader.
• Study and practice the rules of grammar, diction, and punctuation. Readers will take your message far more seriously if you present yourself well.

Learn How To Conduct Effective Research

• Know how to use all the resources at your fingertips, from your campus library, to your school’s online libraries, to the various scholarly journals you’ll have access to as a student.
• As you review sources, learn how to spot key ideas, distinguish meaningful arguments, and find counterpoints to these arguments.
• Differentiate credible sources from non-credible sources.
• Know the difference between primary and secondary sources; between journalism and tabloids; between scholarly research and opinion; between qualified editorials and factually inaccurate clickbait.
• You have the freedom to use any sources that you deem appropriate, but be sure to characterize these sources properly in your writing. If you plan to reference a less-than-credible tabloid article, say so, and explain why you chose this reference.
• Create proper citations and bibliographies, and know how to give credit to others for their work, regardless of medium.

Online Study Skills

• Online studying, learning, and research are a central part of the learning experience today. Be prepared to seize on that experience.
• Make sure you have the right web access and computer tech, and that you know how to use it!
• Know how to use search engines, navigate online libraries, and access scholarly journals online.
• Identify credible sources, avoid unreliable or biased outlets, and know how to verify information using primary sources.
• Take advantage of the opportunity the web gives you to ask questions of your professors, email websites, and even connect with the researchers, experts, and authors who have produced your key sources.

Practice Public Speaking

• At some point in your college education, you will likely be required to give a presentation or speak before a group. How frequently you must do so will depend in part on your discipline. If you’re a pre-law student, expect plenty of public speaking. If you’re a math major, it probably won’t come up as often. Your level of comfort with public speaking may be at least one factor to consider as you choose your major.
• Practice at home in front of a mirror so that you can master your pacing and enunciation, and so you can pinpoint phrases or portions of your presentation that might trip you up.
• Try to channel any nervousness into excitement about what you have to say. Don’t let the haters or critics (real or imaginary) get in your head.
• Take a moment to catch your breath, collect yourself, and make eye contact with your audience before launching into a presentation.
• Speak slowly when presenting to an audience. How slowly? Here’s a hint: You can almost always speak slower than you think you need to.

Know How to Debate Effectively

• Some college classes will give you a chance to debate, defend your ideas, and develop your rhetorical skills, but make sure you understand the basic principles of debate. You aren’t here to fight an ideological war. You’re here to share ideas and, if possible, reach a common truth.
• Understand your position, remain focused on your key argument, and make sure every point you make is relevant to this key argument.
• Avoid undermining your argument with logical fallacies.
• Don’t get emotional or defensive. Use rational ideas and a cool head to get your point across.
• Set up your debate counterpart by thinking several steps ahead. Try to anticipate their counterpoints. Ask questions in a logical sequence, preferably questions to which you already know the answer. Use your opponent’s own words to make your point.

Work Well With Others

• Know how to contribute to group work without falling short of your teammates’ expectations or overshadowing their contributions.
• Understand where your strengths are and assume a role in the group that is consistent with these strengths. Are you a leader? An organizer? A strong writer or a thorough researcher? Offer your talents to the group.
• Know when to share ideas, and when to listen. Communication is key to successful group work.

Preparing for Exams

Exams are an inescapable part of the college experience. At some point, you will take unit tests, midterm exams, or finals. Exams are designed to evaluate your mastery of a subject area, or an entire course. As such, they can carry a lot of weight in terms of your final grade. How effectively you study and prepare for your exams may determine your performance. Moreover, your psychological approach to exams can have a big impact on your mental health and your learning outcomes. Keep these test-prep strategies in mind not just as you approach big tests, but throughout your college education.

Avoid Cramming

• Study regularly throughout the semester. Review and revisit your notes and prior units so that your real test prep is more of a review than a cram.
• Don’t trade sleep and nutrition for late-night studying. Cramming to the point of exhaustion may yield diminishing returns if you show up to the exam exhausted and overwhelmed by information.
• Break your studying into manageable blocks, distributing digestible study sessions across the weeks before your exams instead of trying to jam all your studying into a single night.

If You Must Cram—

• Take breaks to stretch, especially when you’re pouring over notes and texts for long periods at a time.
• Organize your cramming in a logical sequence so that you aren’t attempting to absorb a chaotic jumble of facts and ideas just before test day. Try to break your cramming into logical units.
• Mix it up a little bit, using strategies like re-reading key texts, quizzing yourself with flashcards, or discussing key ideas with classmates. Distinguish different portions of your cramming session by sampling different learning styles and study methods.

Use Proven Study Strategies

• Know the format(s) of your exam. Study and practice in the same format. If the exam is mostly multiple choice, practice the subject using multiple choice. If you anticipate essay questions, write a practice essay or two.
• Study with classmates and study by yourself. Mix it up and get the best of both worlds—the perspective of others, and your own sharpened focus.
• Verbalize key ideas out loud, preferably in conversation with others, but in front of the mirror if need be.

Manage Your Anxiety

• The best strategy for preventing test-taking anxiety is effective preparation. If you have studied, attended classes, and you comprehend the material, you should feel secure in knowing you’ve done everything you can.
• If you are naturally prone to test-taking anxiety, consider mitigating the effects by getting plenty of sleep, eating well, and avoiding additional sources of stress in your life as you prepare for a test.
• Perspective is also important. Take a positive outlook into your exams, and remember that the emphasis should really be on the learning experience, as opposed to your grades.
• Look for support when you need it, either from your professor, through group study, or from a guidance counselor or mental health professional.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity goes hand in hand with effective study habits and strong learning skills. Academic integrity refers to the honesty with which you conduct research, complete assignments, and take exams. Most schools have honor codes that provide clear detail on what is expected of you in terms of academic integrity. This includes restraint from cheating or plagiarism, the proper use of citations, and a complete understanding of the rules around online research. In addition to consulting your school’s honor code, consider the following academic integrity rules as generally universal. These terms should be adhered to in any learning environment…

Don’t Commit Plagiarism

• Plagiarism refers to the act of claiming somebody else’s work as your own, whether copying full lines, passages, and documents or taking another person’s ideas, concepts, designs, or visual work without proper citation. Don’t do it!
• Familiarize yourself with the rules of plagiarism and remain conscious of them any time you write an assignment.
• Know your school’s honor code so that you don’t violate its policies either intentionally or accidentally.
• Know where to draw the line between collaboration with classmates, and sharing or copying one another’s work.
• If writing is a challenge for you, consider visiting your school’s writing lab or working with a tutor to improve your skills. Not only is this a far better option than copying the work of others, but these skills will serve you well throughout your education and life.

Use Proper Citations

• Always be sure to credit others for their work, whether you’re quoting it, paraphrasing it, or it forms the basis for one of your core ideas.
• Use the citation format specified for the assignment. MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian are among the most commonly specified citation formats.
• Only use valid, credible sources with verifiable information.
• Beware of Contract Cheating Sites.
• Know the difference between online helpers and online cheaters. Distinguish between editors and tutors on one hand, and essay mills and cheating websites on the other. These two entities often occupy the same search engine space online, but have vastly different ethical dispositions.
• Don’t give in to pressure either from peers, family members or from within to cheat. The risk is not worth the reward.
• If you are struggling and considering using one of these cheating services, know that you have many far better options. Begin by seeking real academic support through the proper channels, including professor office hours, tutoring or mental health counseling.

Get more study tips, learning tools, and study starters with a look out our Complete Library of Study Guides .

Or jump to our student resource library for tips on everything from studying to starting on your career path.

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15 active learning activities to energize your next college class

The evidence just keeps growing – postsecondary students engage more, learn more and accomplish more with active learning. In yet another proof point, a meta-analysis from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that student exam scores improved 6% when active learning approaches were used. And students in traditional classes were 1.5 times more likely to fail than those being taught with interactive methods.

Are you ready to move to a different way of teaching but need some ideas to get you started? Or maybe you’ve been running your courses this way for years but want ideas that work for hybrid and HyFlex learning. Whether your classes are in person, online or somewhere in between, here are 15 active learning activities to try with your students this semester.

1. Think-pair-repair

In this twist on think-pair-share , pose an open-ended question to your class and ask students to come up with their best answer. Next, pair learners up and get them to agree on a response. Get two pairs together, and the foursome needs to do the same thing. Continue until half the group goes head to head with the other half. If some of your students are online, breakout rooms in your conferencing software let you do the same thing virtually. Here’s how it works in Zoom .

2. Improv games

If your classroom is museum-level quiet no matter how you try to liven things up, try some low-stakes (read: not embarrassing) improv activities. In the three things in common game , pairs figure out the most unexpected things they share (this can also be done online in breakout rooms). Or challenge your students to count to 20 as a group with one person saying each number – but no one is assigned a number, and if two people talk at the same time, everyone starts again at 1. (If some students are in the room and some remote, you’ll need classroom audio with full-room coverage for this to work. Here’s how Nureva ® audio can help .)

3. Brainwriting

You’ve probably tried brainstorming, but have you tried brainwriting ? In this approach, students are given time to come up with their own ideas individually before sharing them out loud or posting them to an online whiteboard or other shared platform. Building in space for individual reflection leads to better ideas and less groupthink.

Help students build accountability by teaching each other. Start by dividing them into “home groups” (4 or 5 people works well). Again, breakout rooms in Zoom or Google Meet make this simple even if some people are remote. Assign each person in the group a different topic to explore – they’ll regroup to work with all the students from the other groups who are exploring the same idea. Once they’ve mastered the concept, students return to their home group and everyone shares newfound expertise.

5. Concept mapping

Collaborative concept mapping  is a great way for students to step away from their individual perspectives. Groups can do this to review previous work, or it can help them map ideas for projects and assignments. In pre-COVID times, you may have covered classroom walls with sticky notes and chart paper – now there are many online tools that make it simple to map out connections between ideas.

6. The one-minute paper

How much could you explain in one minute? At the end of class, set a timer and ask students to record their most eye-opening revelation or biggest question. This activity lets students reflect on learning and build writing skills – plus you’ll get a window into their understandings and misunderstandings. Here are  more prompts  you can use to get students writing.

7. Real-time reactions

When students are watching a video, a mini lecture or another student’s presentation, have them share their real-time reactions. This helps students spot trends and consider new points of view. You can set up a hashtag to allow for  live tweeting , or use the chat function in your conferencing software.

8. Chain notes

Write several questions on pieces of paper and pass each to a student. The first student adds a response (use a timer to keep things moving quickly) and then passes the page along to gather more responses. Multiple contributions help build more complete understanding. A digital alternative involves using shared documents that multiple students are invited to edit. Then your class can examine the responses and identify patterns and missing pieces.

9. Idea line up

Choose a question that has a range of responses, and then ask students where they stand – literally. Have them come to the front of the classroom and organize themselves in a line, based on where on the spectrum of answers they find themselves. In a hybrid classroom, get them to place themselves on a virtual number line instead.

10. Mystery quotation

Test how well students can apply their understanding of an issue or theoretical position. After they’ve explored a topic, show them a quotation about it they’ve never seen before. Their task is to figure out the point of view of the person behind the quotation – and justify it to the class. Students can debate this issue in small breakout groups before beginning a whole-class discussion.

11. Idea speed dating

Have students cycle through your space, or through breakout rooms in Zoom or Google Meet, sharing insights about a topic or their elevator pitch for an upcoming project. As they present their learnings multiple times on several “ speed dates ,” students’ presentation skills and perspectives will grow.

12. Peer review

The process of peer review is as old as academia, and it’s never too early to start. Have students swap drafts of their essays, proposals or lab reports, and then come up with comments and questions for each other. Make sure to be clear about what the goals are (using rubrics helps). For example, students could identify compelling arguments, unanswered questions and holes in logic.

13. Quescussion

Ever played Jeopardy? Then you’re ready for quescussion. It’s like a standard class discussion but only questions are allowed (students call “Statement!” if someone slips up). If you play this game at the beginning of the course, the questions can help shape your course. If you have students both in the room and calling in from a distance, make sure the remote learners get equal airtime and that your audio system is picking up student voices clearly.

14. Sketchnoting

Instead of taking traditional lecture notes, try getting your students to sketch a picture that represents what they’ve learned during class. Remember, it’s not about the quality of the art – it’s about how drawing prompts students to visualize their understanding and look at their learning from a different perspective.

15. Empathy mapping

Take a page from the designers’ handbook and get students to explore deeper by embracing a perspective. It’s deceptively simple – write down what a person says, thinks, does and feels . The ability to slow down and immerse yourself in another point of view is valuable. In design thinking, empathy maps help designers create better products for users. But this process can be just as valuable for analyzing characters from literature, historical figures or political stances.

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Discover the easiest and most cost-effective way to equip your classrooms for engaged hybrid learning. Nureva ® audio systems ensure that student and instructor voices are picked up in every inch of the classroom – with no need for expensive multicomponent setups.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published August 2018 and has been updated.

Topics: Higher education Hybrid learning

Posted on April 2, 2020

9 questions to create a powerhouse active learning classroom

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Student Engagement

Student Development

30+ Experiential Learning Activities For The Classroom, Campus & Beyond

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When we think of education, we tend to separate classroom learning from experiential learning. For college students across thousands of colleges and universities, much learning takes place outside of the classroom. However, experiential learning can also take place inside the classroom. 

What is Experiential Learning?

Psychologist David Kolb described experiential learning as “the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience.” According to Kolb, experiential learning occurs in a cycle of four phases:

Concrete experience: Trying something new and seeing what happens

Reflective observation: Reflecting on the positive and negative aspects of the experience

Abstract conceptualization: Comparing the experience with existing knowledge, altering understanding based on the outcome and developing new questions as a result

Active experimentation: Developing a new experiment to explore questions that arose

Experiential learning activities have long been a major contributor to learning. One study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that in classrooms where active learning had taken place, students’ exam scores increased by 6%. For college students, they provide valuable hands-on learning experiences that students cannot gain from traditional classroom activities, such as lectures, alone. Experiential learning has many benefits on students. It helps them focus, learn more quickly, and learn in a new way.

“ Employers are often looking for students who have had these types of experiences as part of their education, because of the value that comes with having students exposed to real-world problems and working on those problems in real-world situations," Matthew Theriot, an associate provost at the University of Tennessee, said to U.S. News & World Report . 

What Do Universities Need to Implement Successful Experiential Learning Activities?

Higher education institutions spend millions each year on student experiences, but higher education leaders often fail to connect these experiences to students’ learning. Without having a way to measure the value of these programs, how do these institutions know what works?

Suitable’s mobile-friendly digital solutions provide this missing link. By tracking students’ campus involvement , student affairs personnel and other higher education leaders have data they can evaluate to measure educational outcomes.

Let’s take a look at 10 examples of experiential learning activities that can take place both outside and inside the classroom.

• Apprenticeships Apprenticeships, which typically last one to three years, are paid and structured pre-professional opportunities that provide students with hands-on experience in their chosen profession with more specialized training and mentoring than internships. Apprentices also receive a specialized industry credential upon completion.
• Business Simulations For students studying business management or entrepreneurship, nothing beats the hands-on experience of starting a business. This can be done within a college classroom through a simulation or as an assignment for students to develop a business. Some college students even start successful businesses (such as Mark Zuckerberg, who started Facebook from his dorm room).
• Case Studies Case studies expose college students to real-world scenarios where they put their problem solving skills to work. Students gain valuable skills in critical thinking.
• Field Work Field work provides college students the opportunity to apply classroom learning in a setting away from the classroom. Field work experiences might include settings such as laboratories or archeological dig sites.
• Practicums A practicum is typically an unpaid experience that exposes college students to the day-in, day-out realities of their chosen field — along with college credit. It provides valuable opportunities for students to make observations and learn if a certain profession is a good fit. A practicum can take place off campus or on campus, such as within a specific department or office.
• Professional Development Organizations / Events Attending professional development workshops and events provides valuable learning opportunities to college students that extend beyond the classroom.
• Service Learning Service learning opportunities connect classroom learning with real-world community problem solving. While the term service learning is often used interchangeably with volunteering, a volunteer experience is typically less structured and does not involve an academic component. A service learning experience might involve learning about a problem within the community before putting their problem solving skills to work within a community nonprofit organization.
• Study Away Programs Study away programs enable college students to study in another setting without going abroad. For example, they might spend a semester studying at another national university, gaining hands-on experience in a city best for their chosen field. Journalism students may study in Washington, D.C., while film students might study in Los Angeles.
• Undergraduate Research Undergraduate research provides college students an invaluable opportunity to contribute to their chosen field by working with a faculty member on a research project. Whether seeking employment post-graduation or pursuing graduate study,   undergraduate research provides an impressive skill and resume builder.
• Virtual Reality in the Classroom With virtual reality, students can experience a totally different environment from their classroom, just by putting on a virtual reality (VR) headset. This simulation helps students feel as if they are in the middle of the action, whether flying an airplane, exploring outer space or witnessing a historical event.

Experiential learning activities do not end here. These are just a handful of the many types of learning opportunities — both inside and outside the classroom — available to college students. For our full list of 30+ experiential learning activities, download our guide here .

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College Bucket List: 75+ Fun Things to Do for the BEST Experience

You’ve completed high school (and hopefully your high school bucket list too!), and now you’re ready to start adulting. With your newfound freedom and grownup responsibilities, you have to find a way to effectively maximize your college time. But, for you to have the best experience while here, you definitely need to have a college bucket list. There are hundreds of fun activities and things to do in college, and having a well-defined list will help to ensure that you accomplish most, if not all, of them.

Below is a collection of great ideas to get you started.

College Bucket List: Activities & Fun Things to Do for the BEST Experience

1. ace a final.

This should definitely be the number one thing on your college bucket list! Prioritize your classes, rewrite your notes, have a study schedule, test your knowledge, and then go and ace a final. If you need help studying, then check out Shorelight’s 21 best study tips for final exams

2. Apply for Your Dream Internship

Don’t let fear keep you from applying for your dream internship in your field of study. Who knows, if you do a great job and with the connections you make you may even have something lined up for you after your senior year!

3. Apply To Graduate School

Once you have made it your goal to get a four-year degree, then move on to a higher education by applying for graduate school. This is where you can develop expertise in a certain academic subject that interests you, and the extra education will provide you with more knowledge, skills, as well as expand your network.

4. Attend a College Formal Dance

College definitely isn’t all about studying, there’s lots of social fun to be had too. Get all decked out in your best dress or suit and attend a formal dance. It is the perfect way to meet new friends or reconnect with ones you haven’t seen in awhile because you’ve been so busy studying.

Looking for a formal dress? I LOVE the ones at Revolve , and Windsor has some really cute ones too!

5. Attend a Fraternity/Sorority Party

Going to a fraternity or sorority party during your college experience is a must-do activity! Not only are they fun, they offer opportunities to make connections and build lifelong friendships. 

6. Attend a School Sporting Event

While college sports might not be something you’re fully into, it can actually be a really fun thing to do in college, especially if you go with your friends.

7. Be a Part of a Sports Team

If sports are your cup of tea, then don’t hesitate to join a sports team. This can help you have a defined routine for your college life, give you access to scholarships, and even an opportunity to build your sports career.

8. Become a Foodie

There will be so many new experiences during college, why not add becoming a foodie to that list. Expanding your horizons with the types of food you eat or even the restaurants you eat at will help you get out of your comfort zone, and make new friends. 

Get foodie-inspired by these articles:

• Foodie Bucket List: 30 Things Every Food Lover Must Do
• Foodie Movies Bucket List: 55 Cooking & Food Films You Need to Watch

9. Binge Watch an Entire Show’s Season, in One Sitting

Getting out of bed on a day where you have no classes can sometimes feel like a chore. But, for this college bucket list idea, you won’t have to leave the comfort of your sheets. How about spending the day binge watching an entire TV show season? Get some yummy snacks, comfy jammies and spend time just chilling. Just put on Netflix or Amazon Prime  and stream one of your favorites or may try out a new one.

Don’t know which show to choose? Check out the 25 Best Shows Of 2021 That Will Become Your New Obsession .

10. Build Your Resume

The professional sector is highly competitive and having a good resume is one of the things that can make you truly stand out. Make sure that you know how to write the perfect resume (this Step-by-Step Guide will help), and don’t forget to include a cover letter! 

11. Celebrate a Holiday on Campus

You don’t have to always go home for holidays, especially if it’s quite far away. If possible, make a plan to celebrate at least one holiday on campus with your friends.

12. Cook a Meal For Your Friend

College diets can be quite boring and monotonous. So, if you have time and the right ingredients, prepare an awesome meal for your friends and surprise them. Even if you’re not a gourmet chef there are plenty of easy recipes for college students . And, who knows, in future they might just do the same for you!

13. Craft A Creative Graduation Hat

From sparkles to flowers, there’s dozens of ways to spruce up your graduation hat. So, get creative and design something artistic. Struggling for ideas? Here’s plenty:

• 27 Creative Ways to Decorate a Graduation Cap
• Graduate School in Style With These 50 Fun and Creative Graduation Cap Ideas

14. Crash a Party

Generally while in college, you are going to spend time with your friends and go to similar events together. But, sometimes there might be one party that you didn’t get an invite to but really want to go to. You may want to consider crashing that, attending it without the invite. It can be quite thrilling and fun because it allows you to hang out with a new bunch of strangers.

15. Decorate Your Dorm Room

Apart from your lecture rooms on campus, you’re going to spend a significant amount of time in your dorm. So, why not make it cute and comfortable? You can dress it up with the perfect comforter or make it cozy with a photo wall (Mpix has a great photo collage wall kit that makes it easy!). Or check out the 12 Dorm Room Ideas to Make Your New Space Feel Like Home .

16. Discover a New Culture

Try a new food, learn about a unique holiday and/or listen to a different genre of music from another country. Pick a culture you are fascinated with and fully immerse yourself into any aspect of it. Who knows, you might find your new favorite dish or song!

17. Do a Karaoke Night

When it comes to karaoke it doesn’t matter how good your voice is, it is all about having fun! So grab your friends, muster up the courage to take the stage and belt out a few tunes.

There’s plenty of great songs to choose from, but for some help see these epic 150+ Best Karaoke Songs of All Time

18. Dye Your Hair

Your time in college is usually a time of discovery and self-expression, so don’t restrict yourself when it comes to your hair. Dabble with pink ends, blue streaks or even some fun blonde highlights. Or for something even less scary, try some colorful (and temporary) hair chalk  instead.

19. Eat at Every Dining Option on Campus

Let your taste buds sample every possible dining option on your campus—hit up the coffee hut for breakfast, the cafeteria for lunch and an on-campus food truck for dinner.

20. Enroll in a Random Class

Most colleges allow students to sign up for one or two random classes that don’t particularly align with their major, so take advantage of it. Whether it be a class in creative writing, yoga or guitar, try something new, and maybe a little less stressful than one of your other classes.

21. Explore a New Neighboring City

College has most likely already taken you to a new city, or state, but take it one step further and explore one of your neighboring towns. Take a day trip, or even spend the weekend, talking to strangers, museum hopping, and trying a new restaurant.

22. Explore Another State

Now that you’ve got your feet wet by exploring a neighboring city, it’s time to venture a little bit further—to a different state. Make a travel itinerary , hop on a plane, train or bus and allow yourself to get “lost” in all that a nearby staten has to offer. 

23. Fall In Love

Most people would agree that college is a great place to find a life partner, and  just maybe that is where you’ll find your future special someone. Once you do, don’t forget to get started on checking off the Couples Bucket List of fun activities & romantic things to do .

24. Find a Subject You Are Passionate About

Regardless of your college major, you’re going to come across an array of different subjects before you specialize. Find a subject in an area that you’re passionate about.

25. Find Your Group of BFFs

You’ll definitely be meeting a ton of new people in college! Socialize and network until you have formed a special group of BFFs to hang out with. After, you may even consider completing this bucket:  Best Friend Bucket List: 50 Fun Things to Do With Your BFF

26. Find and/or Be a Mentor

If you are still in your junior years, then either find a senior mentor or even a professional already working in your chosen field to guide you. In case you’re now a senior, then find a mentee to help lead down the right path.

27. Get a Job on Campus

Join student organizations, contact the students career office, and check the bulletin board for available college jobs. With a little effort (and that killer resume you created) you may be able to score a job on campus in the library or coffee shop.

28. Get a Midnight Snack Off Campus

Is there a nearby coffee shop or food truck open late? Then take a break from studying and step off campus to grab a little snack that can help nourish your mind. 

29. Get a Tattoo

You may want to commemorate your years in college (or graduation day) by getting a special tattoo as a memory. It is best to know beforehand what permanent ink you would like so that you’re 100% sure of the design and tattooist that you trust. After that, you can simply book an appointment for some body art.

Need cute couple tattoo ideas? Cosmopolitan has 35 great tattoo ideas! If you are not committed to a forever tattoo, then check out Etsy’s fun temporary college tattoos .

30. Get a Scholarship

There are scholarships available based on merit, major, financial need and just about everything else. All of them can save you lots of dollars in tuition and accommodation expenses, so take some time to research and apply for all that are a fit. The Federal Student Aid website has lots of great advice about finding and applying for scholarhips.

31. Get All Dressed Up for an Event

Not every day of your college years should be spent wearing comfy jeans and T-shirts, some are meant for being dressed to the nines. At the next big event, take your time getting all dolled up.

32. Get Coffee with a Professor

Your professors play a crucial role in your education, and can be an integral part in the preparation of your future career. So, when you find one that you respect and get along with, request for a coffee meeting. PS: this may be also be the perfect opportunity to ask for a recommendation letter!

33. Get Comfortable with Public Speaking

Speaking in front of a group of people is one of the number one fears in the world! But, in college you will be able to nurture and develop your skills by engaging in various public speaking activities. Start by mastering simple class engagements, and then maybe speaking at a faculty or school event.

For extra help you may want to that TJ Walker’s Public Speaking Masterclass online, or just read Forbe’s 10 Ways To Get Over Your Fear Of Public Speaking .

34. Get Your First Credit Card

If you don’t have one already, college is the perfect time to get your first credit—but, be careful to pay off the balance EVERY month as not a hay the extra monthly fees. When used properly, your credit card can give you the best opportunity to build your credit score and increase your purchasing power. You can also earn rewards, such as miles points or cash back!

Don’t know what credit card to start with? Experian does a great job of giving information about a lot of different cards. Make sure to read the fine print before applying and spending!

35. Go Home For The Holidays

Don’t just dedicate your free time in college to hanging out with friends. During your holidays, plan a trip home to spend time with your family. I’m sure they are missing you as much as you are missing them!

36. Go on a Date

College gives you the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, which makes it one of the most ideal times for you to make the most out of dating. So, go on several dates and make sure you have an open mind without expecting much. And when you have found that special someone, then you might want to get started on the  Date Night Bucket List: 75 Cute Ideas for a Perfectly Fun Evening

37. Go on a Hike

Let’s face it, college can be stressful, and one thing that can relieve a little bit of that stress is being outside with nature. The perfect way to do that is by taking a hike. It can be a simple couple mile loop or pack a picnic and make a day of it. Not only is it good for the body and soul, it’s also a cheap college activity!

38. Go to a College Party

For the most part, there’s a college party planned almost every weekend, so you may as well partake in at least one to see what the hype is all about. Don’t worry if you are not a big “partier”, you can find one that’s a little bit smaller in size and where getting tipsy is not the main priority!

39. Go To a Music Festival

One way to really let loose on the weekend is to attend a music festivals where you can dance the day away to a variety of bands, with thousands of other people. Snag some tickets, make a plan and grab your group of BFFs for a fun event.

40. Go To Free Campus Events

Colleges usually have lots of resources as well as opportunities that allow them to host an array of different events. You are already paying for a lot of things in college, so make sure that you take advantage of all the free events that they offer.

41. Go to a Career Fair

Soon you will be out of college and joining the corporate world, but before then prepare your by attending a career fair. This is the perfect place for you to ask about the recent job market opportunities and get unique insights regarding what recruiters are looking for.

42, Join a Fraternity or Sorority

Want instant college friends? Join a fraternity or sorority. This is the best way to get into a social circle, participate in charitable events and mingle with like-minded people who share common values and goals as  you.

If you want to know more, Town and Country listed some of the best sororities and the best fraternities

43. Join a School Club

From language to math to cooking—there’s plenty of college clubs to consider joining. You can join a club in an area of your major or one just for fun. 

44. Join a Study Group

Sometimes studying alone gets boring, especially if the subject is quite challenging. However, joining a study not only allows you to bounce ideas off each other, but also is an opportunity for a little socializing at the same time. If those aren’t good even reasons, then read these: 10 Reasons Why You Should Form a Study Group .

45. Be a Part of the School Paper

Extra! Extra! School papers are great for keeping students and faculty updated about happenings around campus. But for you, this could also be a perfect opportunity to use your creative writing, reporting or design skills.

46. Learn a New Language

You can learn a new language at any age, but during your college years is a great time because it may be an elective class choice and you’ll have plenty of resources to learn. Besides that, adding another language to your resume is surely an impressive addition for any employer.

If you can’t get into a college language course, then Rosetta Stone  and  Duolingo  are two great programs to get you started.

47. Learn How To Cook

If you haven’t yet picked up cooking, now’s the high time—you can’t eat at the school cafeteria every meal! You don’t have to be a wizard in the kitchen to make some simple and delicious meals, and just the simple joy from having made your own dish will make it taste so much better than a pre-packaged meal you’d get from the grocery store. 

Here are a ton of dishes to start your culinary journey with:

• 31 Foods You Should Learn To Make In College
• 30 Easy Recipes for College Students
• 45 Simple Recipes to Send with Your Kid to College

48. Live on Campus

There will be plenty of college semesters to rent an apartment with your besties, but before you even think about that live on campus for a quarter or two. It’s the best place to be while you are getting adjusted to college life because you’ll be close to your classes and all the resources needed.

49. Make a College Scrapbook for Every Year

The years you spend in college will soon pass by and you will be left with nothing but memories (and a degree!). However, you can choose to preserve these memories in a personalized way by creating a college scrapbook for every year.

If you think you are not creative enough there are plenty of page ideas on the internet. Check these ones out:  Scrapbook Ideas for Beginners: 25 Inspiring Layouts  and  33 Cool DIY Scrapbook Ideas You Have To Try . Or for something even easier just buy a  page kit that has everything you need.

50. Make a Vision Board

A vision board is a place to put all your future goals and dreams that you wish to manifest into reality. Your college vision board should have words and images that remind you everyday WHY you are HERE and WHERE you want to GO. Create something meaningful that’s meant to spark your dreams and remind you of your goals and values in life. Basically, create something that’s inspirational and interesting. It will make it easier and fun for you to smash your goals.

51. Organize a Road Trip with Your Friends

This might take some planning to work out the perfect route, or just pack up your bags, take time off work and hit the road with choosing your destinations on the fly. Either way, your college road trip with friends will be epic. It doesn’t even have to be a long trip, it could just be for a day or two, but make sure you have plenty of entertainment along the way. 

For some extra inspiration read our 75+ Road Trip Quotes to Inspire Your Next Long Drive

52. Participate in a Campus Tradition

From naked quad runs to a mud volleyball tournament, every campus has its own traditions and some of them are quite quirky. Don’t let the opportunity go to waste since it’s one of the best ways to get a better understanding of your campus.

53. Picnic in the Quad

You will have to break out that dusty old picnic basket for this cute college activity. Pack it with your favorite snacks and a bottle of bubbly, then pick a quiet spot in the quad to create a memory. Need a basket? Check out this cute wicker picnic basket  or get a  modern 2-person picnic backpack . Plus, Real Simple magazine can help you out with their  Picnic Packing Checklist .

54. Plan an Epic Spring Break Vacation

The week of spring break is one of the most exciting times for a student, it’s the period where they get to take a break from academics to relax. And one of the best things to do in college to relax during this time is go on an epic spring break vacation. Whether it be a vacay to the beach or to the mountains, grab your best friends and enjoy the break!

55. Play Beer Pong

Beer Pong anyone? All you need to liven up your college party is some red solo cups, a ping pong ball and some beer (if your of legal age, of course). The beer pong rules are pretty easy, where the basic goal is to end up drinking all the opposing teams beer so they have not cups left. 

56. Pull an All-Nighter

Pulling an all-nighter doesn’t have to be just because you are both cramming for a test, it can also be for something fun. For example, you may want to have an overnight horror movie marathon or you’ll want to stay up to see the first sunrise of the year.

57. Read a Book (Textbooks Don’t Count!)

I know, this may not sound like the funnest college thing to do, but have you ever gotten so lost in a book that you weren’t able to book it down? It’s a great way to escape!

Don’t know what to read? Here’s 25 of the  best classics to read or Amazon’s top New York Time’s Best Sellers .

58. Rent an Apartment with Your Besties

The idea of finally getting to leave dorm-life and rent an apartment with your besties while in college can be so exciting. It’s one more step towards “adulting” where you don’t have to follow the restrictive dorm rules and you can choose your roommate.

59. Run a Themed 5k

From a mud run to a zombie run, picking a themed 5k to participate in with friends will surely be an activity to remember! Check Active’s 5k Race Finder  for runs near you and use this guide to start preparing:  How to Train, Run & Finish Your First 5k Race

60. Skip Classes For One Day

Of course, consistently attending classes is a must, but sometimes you just need an unscheduled break to sleep, relax or go on a spontaneous road trip. Just make sure that it’s not going to affect your grades!

61. Spend a Holiday With Your Roommates Family

When you are in college, your friends and roommates automatically become like family. That’s why it’s fun to spend at least one holiday break with their family so you can get a better understanding of them.

62. Spend a Summer Backpacking Through Europe

From exploring the beauty that Paris offers to enjoying the sunny beaches in Greece, backpacking in Europe should definitely be on your college bucket list. Spending a few summer months in different parts of Europe will expand your horizons by exposing you to different cultures in the world.

63. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Do you have an adventure in mind that you’d love to do but you’re scared to? Life is too short to hold yourself back from experiencing new things just because of fear or anxiety. One of the best ways to get over your fear is to have someone special by your side to encourage and support you while you are facing it head on. So, hike up that mountain peak, go on that roller coaster or swim in the ocean.

If you need a little push read my 8 tips to facing your fears in this article about  overcoming anxiety to live your dream . And the these quotes may help too: 30+ Quotes That Will Motivate You to Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone

64. Study Abroad

There’s not much more exciting ways to study then by doing it in a different country! Pick a place that you’ve always wanted to visit or whose culture intrigues you then sign up for a semester abroad.

65. Tailgate

Sporting event tailgating is almost as fun as the games themselves! Tailgating is typically done in a parking lot of a stadium or other event. Snacks are served and socializing is done from the back of a parked car.  

66. Take a Picture With Your School Mascot

Does your school have a fun mascot? Take the opportunity to get a silly photo taken with it! It’ll definitely be a pic for your scrapbook.

67. Take a Trip to The Beach

Your college studies can get extremely stressful, especially when midterms and finals approach. Celebrate a good test score or the end of the semester by taking a trip to the nearest beach.

68. Tell Your Crush You Like Them

Have you been admiring the cute boy that sits in the front of lecture class or that girl you see at the coffee shop every morning? Muster up the courage to give them a little hint that you like.  All of us won’t find true love in college but you may never know if if you don’t tell your crush your feelings. 

69. Throw a Party

We all know that going to parties is one of the top things to do in college, but how about you throw one yourself. It doesn’t have to be the ultimate rager, it could be a quiet dinner party, just as long as you and your guests have a great time!

If you’re game to throw a party, but don’t know which kind, then see these 50 Fun College Party Ideas .

70. Unplug for a Day

Another surprisingly scary one for  the College Bucket List is this one, especially when so many of us struggle to even unplug for an hour. But our struggle with it is all the more reason why you should totally commit to checking off this goal. You’ll be more present, you’ll find yourself comparing your life to others’ way less, you’ll likely be more relaxed without the constant buzz of the apps, and whichever other discoveries you may come across. It’s up to you whether you simply unplug from social media for the day, or if you’ll unplug from all technology in general!  

71. Visit All the Bars Near Your School

Most students turn 21 during their college years, so celebrate by doing a little (or A LOT of) bar hopping.  Visit all the bars nearby, sample Their signature cocktail or work your way through our Cocktail Bucket List of 100 Classics & Other Great Ones to Try .

72. Volunteer

Like the old adage says, it’s better to give than to receive. Walking dogs at the shelter, reading to children at the library or spending an afternoon feeding families at the soup kitchen? Determine what’s close to your heart and then make a decision to make a difference today. Plus, it’s a bonus that you can impress future employers with your volunteer work on your resume!

Don’t know where to start? Visit  VolunteerMatch  who has opportunities in many major cities or check the  United Way  website.

73. Explore Your Entire Campus

You can learn so much about your college by just checking the official website.. However, there is no better way to get first-hand experience than exploring your entire campus by foot. Get to know about different departments walk through all the corridors and familiarize yourself with all the perfect places to study.

74. Write a Letter To Your Future Self

It’s up to you how you’ll  write a letter to your future self , but the typical topics contain telling about your current life situation as well as your dreams and hopes for the future. It’ll be so much fun for you to open up the letter in the future, on a date of your choosing, and see how much you’ve changed and which of your dreams you’ve by then achieved. It may even work as a great reminder to get back to working on those dreams your younger self dared to dream. It would also be a little kick in the butt to make sure that she was heading in that direction and in order to  limit life’s biggest regrets .

Make your letter even more special by picking some pretty paper (like this  Japanese Stationary ) and handwriting it.

75. Graduate!

Your time in college is so precious, but it can also pass by so quick since this is one of the busiest periods of our lives. But with this bucket list of things to do in college, you can have the best experience and create lifelong memories.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my links, I earn a commission that helps to keep this blog running—at no extra cost to you. For more information read my full disclosure .

More bucket list ideas.

Teen Bucket List: 100+ Fun Things Every Teenager Should Do High School Bucket List: 50 Fun Things to Do Best Friend Bucket List: 100 Fun Things to Do With Your BFF At Home Bucket List: 50 Fun Things to Do Without Leaving the House The Ultimate 30 Before 30 Bucket List Halloween Bucket List: 105 Fun Activities & Things to Do

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LIFE SKILLS

Ambassador college knowledge badge, narrow down your college search and start making a financial plan. smart, activity details.

Time needed:

Materials needed:

• Computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet access
• Pencil or pen

Explore your options.  The first step in applying to college is figuring out where   you might like to go. If you have a school—or group of schools—that you’re interested in, you’re already on your way. If not, that’s just fine!  You can start by accessing your free account on  CollegeLab , a mobile-friendly web app where you can research more than 2,000 colleges and universities, get personalized acceptance predictions at the top 500 colleges, create a balanced college list to share with your family or guidance counselor, and organize and collect your notes. Due to our special partnership, registered Girl Scouts working on the College Knowledge badge are eligible for FREE access!  

Talk to your parents or guardians about anything non-negotiable that will guide your search: maybe your future school needs to be close enough that you can live at home, or be affiliated with your religion. Choose at least three schools that interest you and meet your family’s needs, and compare them.

CHOICES—DO ONE:

Find your place.  The location of a school plays a big part in the experience you’d have there. Do you plan to live at home while you attend your school, or go home on weekends? Do you want to be in a major city, or do crowds stress you out? Do you love warm weather? Look into the places that are home to your chosen schools and compare them. Think about the cost of living, entertainment options, and access to public transportation. Talk about your findings with family and friends or make a plan to see the schools in person to help narrow down your choices, if possible.

Investigate your interests.  Yes, you’re going to college to further your education—but you want to have fun, too! Activities and groups will help you get plugged into college life and make new friends. Are you an athlete? Passionate about politics? Do you want to join a sorority? Sing in a cappella group? Research the activities and groups offered by your chosen schools and compare them. Talk about your findings with family and friends or make a plan to see the schools in person to help narrow down your choices, if possible.

Compare your program.  Many people start college without any idea of what subject they’d like to specialize in. (And many change their minds along the way!) That’s totally fine—college is all about self-discovery. But if you’re passionate about a particular subject or career path, you’ll want to make sure your college can guide you to your goals. Research your potential focus of study at your chosen schools, and compare the options. Is the school known for having a solid program in your field? What kinds of classes are offered? Are there student clubs or groups (Computer Science Club, Pre-Law Society)? Talk about your findings with family and friends or make a plan to see the schools in person to help narrow down your choices, if possible.

Make a financial plan.  Higher education is exciting and beneficial in many ways, but it can also be very expensive. The full “sticker price” of a four-year college or university, whether public or private, is out of reach for many, many families in the United States. The good news is that some schools cost less than others—and there are ways to save money and help pay for tuition and other expenses. Look into the cost of higher education and find out how you might receive financial assistance.

Research in-state and out-of-state tuition costs . If you’ve just started thinking about the cost of your college education, you may not have compared the expenses between in-state and out-of-state schools. The base tuition cost for state schools is often much higher for out-of-state students. Choose one state school in the state where you are a resident and one state school in a different state. Compare the base tuition costs of each, and think about how you might be able to save money while attending both out-of-state and in-state schools. Talk about your findings with your family or guidance counselor.

Find out about scholarships.  The cost of a college education can look overwhelming at first—but there are many options available for financial assistance, including scholarships. Are you highly ranked in your class? Are you an athlete? Are you the daughter of a veteran? Can you make a prom dress out of duct tape? (Seriously—look it up!) There are special scholarship opportunities available just for Girl Scouts, too. Visit our  Scholarships  page   to see the latest offerings, and be sure to check with your local council as well. There are many other websites where you can search for different types of scholarships, too. Once you’ve researched your options, apply for at least one scholarship. Have a family member, teacher, or guidance counselor look over your application before you submit it.

Compare the costs of public, private, and junior college.  People often assume that public schools are cheaper than private schools, but sometimes—depending on the location and financial aid received—they’re similarly priced. Junior college (also called community college) can also be a great way to further your education at a significantly reduced cost. Choose the subject or career path you’re most interested in and compare the cost of pursuing it at a public institution, private institution, and a junior college. Share your findings with your family, a teacher, or a guidance counselor to get their feedback.

Troop Leaders: The instructions for all badge steps are available in the  Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit .

Girl Scout Activity Zone activities have been adapted from existing Girl Scout programming.

Explore more activities.

Learn about a local issue in nature and how to be an advocate for it.

Take part in a citizen science project and help scientists with their research.

Analyze song lyrics to create an algorithm in JavaScript-style code.

Early Academic Outreach Program

The Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) was established by the University of California (UC) in 1976. In keeping with a recommendation by the California Legislature, the university began to expand opportunities for all California students, including for those who are first-generation college-goers, socioeconomically disadvantaged and English-language learners. As UC’s largest academic preparation program, EAOP assists high school students with academic preparation and with meeting requirements for admission and financial aid. The program also provides services to cultivate students’ academic development and delivers this support in partnership with other academic preparation programs and institutions of higher education, as well as with schools and districts and community/industry organizations.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The program’s goal of creating increased access for educationally disadvantaged students to UC is grounded in the philosophy that preparing for success in college is is not just an option; it is the right of all California students. EAOP students acquire the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed at the University of California and at other institutions of higher education.

The following principles guide our work:

• EAOP recognizes young people as resources, assets and essential contributors to effective community development and social transformation. As such, they are to be nurtured and supported.
• Youth are more likely to cope with challenges and adversity when they are supported by a caring adult; good role models; a safe, supportive environment; and opportunities to learn and contribute to family and community.
• All young people must develop skills to learn self-sufficiency, assume family responsibilities and become engaged citizens. To that end, EAOP encourages leadership, extracurricular activities and participation in community service.
• The most successful approaches to personal development will be cultivated in partnerships between young people, their families, educational providers and the community.

CORE SERVICES AND COMPONENTS

College knowledge.

EAOP participants, their families and the educators in EAOP partner schools receive timely and appropriate information to prepare for, or to assist more students in preparing for, a postsecondary education.

Most of our EAOP students will be the first in their families to go to college. In addition, they often attend schools that lack a college-going culture. College knowledge activities are intended to show students and their families and educators the value of a college education and how to prepare. We seek to promote a college-going culture in the family and surrounding community as well as in the schools.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Academic advising is the cornerstone of EAOP. Students and families need help making an academic plan for high school that will lead them to postsecondary achievement and career success. Early interventions can make a critical difference in helping students to improve their academic performance.

The advising component includes support for students in completing the requisite A-G roster of courses. Educators and advisers conduct real-time analysis of the steps students need to take to become competitive applicants. This work ideally takes place in a one-on-one format so that individual students receive targeted instruction and advice based on their specific academic profile and goals. However, it is acceptable to conduct group sessions, preferably with students grouped by academic performance or by need.

FINANCIAL AID

Working with students to educate them about financial aid is one of EAOP’s most significant roles. Once students understand the basics, EAOP staff members will help them fill out the application. They might work individually with a cohort senior in a target high school, or on a group level at a large-scale district event with hundreds of non-cohort students and parents/guardians.

The goal of EAOP enrichment activities is to provide students access to programs/activities that they would otherwise not be able to experience. These are leadership and learning activities that will expose students to a college setting or facilitate other enrichment goals.

EAOP offers academic preparation programming to expand students’ knowledge and mastery of rigorous coursework. In addition, students participate in enrichment programs and services that expose them to essential academic experiences to support their post-secondary success.

I don’t know where my life would have been without EAOP helping me. My EAOP advisers were role models, supporters, mentors and advisers. They made me work hard and didn’t take any excuses. They encouraged me to always excel more. Guadalupe Santoyo, Mt. Eden High School,

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

EAOP will provide information and resources to families and community-based organizations to support participants in their college preparation efforts. In addition, EAOP will encourage each to engage in activities and services that will allow them to become knowledgeable about highly selective institutions like the University of California.

•   Saturday, May 11, 2024

Future Educators

Helping America's Future Teachers

Prior Knowledge Activities

The value of activating prior knowledge in the classroom is something every teacher should understand well. Even better, you should have some ideas for prior knowledge activities.

Here is a list of activities to activate prior knowledge in the classroom. Once you get a feel for these examples, you should be better able to come up with your own strategies on the fly.

After the activities list, we explore the meaning of prior knowledge . We also explain why, based on research, activating prior knowledge is such an effective teaching strategy.

Prior Knowledge Activities for the Classroom

“Activating prior knowledge is like preparing the soil before sowing the seeds of knowledge,” according to Professor Jim Cummins . And much like soil preparation, there are multiple ways to activate prior knowledge.

A KWL chart is perhaps the most popular approach for activating a learner’s prior knowledge that we see in today’s classrooms. Many have faith in this proven and tested method.

In the K (What I Know) section, students write and share what they already know about the topic. As students uncover new material through written and digital texts, they add questions to the W (What I Want to Know) area. Finally, students express their learnings in the L (What I Learned) portion.

Graphic Organizers

A visual organizer is an educational and organizational tool for recording prior knowledge about a topic or chunk of text. They are made to assist students in understanding and applying text patterns and structures.

There are many kinds of graphic organizers out there. In fact, K-W-L charts are one of them, but there many more you can make use of. This includes T-charts, story maps, Venn diagrams, and concept maps.

Preparatory Texts

When it comes to reading exercises, this is highly recommended. To establish background knowledge and reading confidence, providing simple preparatory texts in advance of a more challenging reading activity can be very beneficial.

This isn’t to say that teachers should use simplified versions of the text that they will use later on. Instead, as a strategy to acquire background knowledge, teachers can present basic texts addressing subjects or ideas similar to those in the complex variation.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming blends lateral thinking with a casual, informal approach to problem-solving. It encourages people to come up with ideas and thoughts that may appear a little strange at first.

It’s true that brainstorming is usually done for creating solutions. But this fun activity can also be applied for activating prior knowledge with the same mechanics.

Anticipatory Guides

Students are asked to consider, write, and/or talk about their thoughts on important topics or concepts in upcoming texts and units of study in anticipatory guides.

Anticipatory guides are frequently set out as a list of assertions with which students must agree or disagree. They are used to assess a learner’s prior knowledge of the concept and to clarify any misunderstandings they may have about the subject.

What is Prior Knowledge Exactly?

Prior knowledge, also referred to as “background knowledge”, is the information and educational context a learner possesses before acquiring new content. This knowledge base is accumulated in many different ways over time.

Prior knowledge benefits learning when what the learner brings is correct and congruent with the new material being taught. Background knowledge that conflicts with new information, on the other hand, may have a negative impact.

Students come to the classroom with a broad range of pre-existing knowledge, skills, beliefs, and attitudes, which influence how they attend, interpret and organize in-coming information. Eberly Center

Learning can be enhanced when instructors deploy strategies to access prior knowledge. Part of the process can involve assessing what learners already know. In a large classroom setting, it can be helpful to assume only a basic level of prior knowledge while also drawing on concepts previously taught.

Activating Prior Knowledge as a Teaching Strategy

Whenever you introduce a new topic to students, you should aim to activate their prior knowledge. For example, if you are introducing an historical figure, you could compare or contrast them with a famous person today. This strategy gives learners an instant mental sketch from which they can start to fill in the details.

Learning develops from prior knowledge. The teaching we provide them is only a secondary aid, helping learners to connect already familiar concepts. That’s why activating prior knowledge during instruction on new topics is an essential tool for teachers.

All learning involves transfer from previous experiences. Even initial learning involves transfer that is based on previous experiences and prior knowledge. How People Learn

Learning amounts to connecting new data or concepts to what we currently perceive. So, to best facilitate the learning process in the classroom, teachers should aim to draw out what learners already know. Activating prior knowledge fast tracks the learning process.

Think about it for a moment. What students already know are the only resources they are truly familiar with and have confidence in. Instead of introducing many ideas at once that may seem alien, tap into prior knowledge. You can use the concepts already available to students and expand upon that foundation.

Why Prior Knowledge Activities are So Beneficial

You can tailor your instruction to match the needs of your learners by assessing their prior knowledge. These easy and adaptive tactics can assist you in quickly determining what your students know and don’t know.

When students lack sufficient prior information, learning relies on building a schema from the ground up instead of using existing foundations. Activate Press

Being the one who’s ready to adjust will give your students the idea that the classroom is a place that they can be comfortable with when it comes to learning. With the right strategy, you can let your students know that learning doesn’t always need to be hard.

One thought on “ Prior Knowledge Activities ”

This article was well written. I have never had someone break down strategies for activating prior knowledge while teaching. Being able to activate prior knowledge during a lesson will allow the learning process to go more smoothly.

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Extracurriculars.

Your Complete List of Extracurricular Activities: 900+ Ideas

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What’s Covered:

• What Are Extracurricular Activities?

Why Are Extracurriculars Important?

• How Do Colleges Evaluate Extracurricular Activities?

How Many Extracurriculars Should You Do?

• Complete List of Extracurricular Activities

Most colleges, especially competitive ones, are looking for a “well-rounded” student. This means that, in addition to having grades and test scores that meet their requirements, you must also display other talents and interests in your application. A strong extracurricular profile can help you make a good impression on admissions officers. You’d be surprised how many activities are out there!

What are Extracurricular Activities?

Extracurriculars are anything you do outside of academics. These can include sports, music, community service activities, jobs/internships, clubs, and more. Extracurriculars help colleges get to know you as a person: what do you care about? How committed are you?

It’s important to note that not all hobbies count as extracurriculars. For example, things like watching movies or playing video games would not be counted. Basically, recreational activities that you do for your own enjoyment don’t make the cut because extracurriculars need to involve some concerted effort and contribute to your personal development . If you started an after-school movie club where you and other members watched and then analyzed movies, or decided to develop video games on your own time, then you could list those as extracurriculars. 

While most schools are interested in extracurricular activities to some extent, they are especially important to the top 250 colleges and universities. These 250 schools get too many students who are academically-qualified, so extracurriculars help you stand out. 

The less competitive schools, like large public schools or state universities, receive so many applications that they narrow their focus. Typically, extracurriculars fall to the wayside here as more emphasis is placed on quantitative data, like GPA and test scores, because these require less time on the part of the admissions committee.

That being said, having extracurriculars on your resume, no matter where you apply to, helps you present a robust application that helps the admissions officers gain an overall deeper understanding of the type of person you are. This can make or break their decision to accept you into their university. A well-rounded profile demonstrates that you are passionate and dedicated to the things you care about, both of which are qualities that would make you a valuable addition to their student body.

In addition to showing off your many interests, extracurriculars can also help establish your commitment and interest in your prospective major. This can be especially true for pre-med students; you have to show interest in the field, so having a medical club or hospital volunteering opportunity on your resume would show initiative in that direction. Other examples are video game clubs or coding competitions for a computer science major, or heading a psychology club for an intended psychology major.

How Do Colleges Evaluate Extracurriculars?

At CollegeVine, we’ve divided extracurricular activities into 4 tiers .

Tier 1: Rare activities that show exceptional achievement or leadership. They include national awards or other prestigious achievements.

Tier 2: A little more common than Tier 1, but these activities still showcase high levels of achievement and leadership. They include leadership positions for well-known clubs and organizations, winning regional competitions, or sports/music distinctions.

Tier 3: Lack the distinction of Tier 1 and 2, but still highlight student’s interests. They include minor leadership positions for well-known clubs and organizations and smaller athletic/musical distinctions.

Tier 4: Most common and most often seen by admissions committees. They include general club/sports/musical membership and general volunteering.

Strong applications tend to have between 8 and 10 extracurricular activities. This sounds like a lot, but many activities are seasonal, so it’s possible to fit, for example, three to four sports into one year. That being said, the most important thing to keep in mind is quality over quantity . It’s usually better to try and achieve depth in one to two fields than to do a bunch of things on a surface level. You can certainly start by trying a bunch of things freshman year, but really stick with what you love and are good at. This way, you show a real passion, dedication and progression in the things you care about.

If you want to find out how your extracurriculars stack up, our free chancing engine can help you understand how your activities impact your chances. You can also see more in-depth tiers; the 4-tier system is slightly simplified and our chancing engine runs from Tier A-I.

Complete List of Extracurricular Activities 

Affinity groups.

• African American Club
• Asian Students Association
• Association of Latin-American Students (ALAS)
• Bible School
• Black Lives Matter
• Black Students Union
• Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions
• Caribbean Culture Club
• Chinese School
• Chinese Student Association
• Christians in Action
• Church Involvement
• Climate Change Activism 
• Diversity Awareness Club
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Feminist Club
• Filipino-American Club
• Gay-Straight Alliance
• Gender and Sexuality Alliance
• Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior (GEMS)
• Girls in the Trades
• Girls Learn International
• Girls Who Code
• Gun Control Activism
• Indian Students Association
• International Students Association
• International Women’s Club
• Italian Club
• Japanese Club
• Jewish Culture Club
• Jewish Student Union
• Junior ROTC
• Latino Students Union
• Mosque Involvement
• Multicultural Student Union
• Muslim Student Union
• Muslim Students Association
• National Organization for Women
• Nigerian Student Association
• Pacific Islander Student Association
• Persian Club
• Racial Justice Club 
• Society of Women Engineers
• South Asian Culture Club
• Synagogue Involvement
• Teens Against Human Trafficking
• Temple Involvement
• Women in Business
• Women in STEM Club
• Women’s March

Community Service

• ACE Mentor Program of America
• Achieve Miami
• Achilles International
• Adopt-a-Highway
• Alzheimer’s Awareness Club
• American Cancer Society
• American Civil Liberties Union
• American Diabetes Association
• American Heart Association
• American Kennel Club
• American Legion
• Amnesty International
• Anchor Club
• Animal Rescue League
• Animal Rights Club
• Anti-Defamation League
• Autism Awareness Club
• Autism Cares Foundation
• Baseball Coaching
• Basketball Coaching
• Beach Cleanup
• Best Buddies
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
• Blankets of Hope
• Blood Drive
• Breast Cancer Awareness Club
• Cesar Chavez Service Clubs (Chavista)
• Cheerleading Coach
• Church Camp
• City Youth Council
• Civil Air Patrol
• Climate March
• Community Outreach Club
• CPR Training
• Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund
• Do Something
• Doctors Without Borders
• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT/EMS)
• English Tutoring
• Epilepsy Foundation
• ESL Instruction and Tutoring
• Feed My Starving Children
• Feeding America
• Fostering Animals
• Girl Scouts
• Habitat For Humanity
• Heifer International
• Human Rights Club
• Humane Society
• Hunger Project
• Hurricane Relief
• Interact Club
• Kids Helping Kids
• KIVA Microfinance Club
• Kiwanis Club
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Make-A-Wish
• March for Life
• March of Dimes
• Meals on Wheels
• Mission Trip
• Missionary Work
• National Charity League
• National Down Syndrome Society
• Operation Christmas Child
• Operation Smile
• Park Cleanup
• Peer Leaders
• Peer Mentor
• Peer Tutoring
• Red Cross Club
• Relay For Life
• Roots and Shoots
• Rotary Club
• Salvation Army
• Save Endangered Species Club
• School Ambassador
• Shadowing a Physician
• Sisters on the Runway
• Soccer Coaching
• Social Justice Club
• Special Olympics
• Student Ambassadors
• Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
• Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD)
• Sunday School
• UNICEF Club
• Upward Bound
• Volunteer at Elementary School
• Volunteer at Middle School
• Volunteer at Soup Kitchen
• Volunteer Trip
• Volunteer with Refugees
• Volunteering at Animal Shelter
• Volunteering at Children’s Hospital
• Volunteering at Food Bank
• Volunteering at Hospital
• Volunteering at Library
• Volunteering at Museum
• Volunteering at Nursing Home
• Volunteering Club 
• Volunteering with the Homeless
• Walk to End Alzheimer’s
• Water Aid International (WAI)
• Wounded Warrior Project 
• Youth Sports Coaching

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

• Choreography
• Community Theater
• Improv Club
• Musical Theater
• Playwriting
• School Musical
• School Play
• Standup Comedy
• Accounting Internship
• Babysitting
• Camp Counselor
• Concession Stand
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• Employment at Local Business
• Financial Analyst
• Gymnastics Coach
• Internship at Hospital
• Internship at Law Firm
• Landscaping
• Lawn Mowing
• Meal Delivery
• Public Relations
• Retail Worker
• School Radio Station
• School Store
• Snow Shoveling
• Social Media Management

Hobbies (some of these may double as other categories)

• Aviation Enthusiast
• Birdwatching
• Blacksmithing
• Bullet Journaling
• Cake Decorating
• Calligraphy
• Car Enthusiast
• Cartography
• Coin Collecting
• Cross Stitching
• Dirt Biking
• Dog Training
• Fashion/Fashion Design
• Graphic Design
• Hairstyling
• Home Improvement
• Illustration
• Indian Classical Dance
• Interior Design
• Irish Dance
• Jewelry Making
• Landscape Design
• Latin Dance
• Magic: The Gathering
• Metalworking
• Model Airplanes
• Model Railroads
• Motorcycles
• Mountaineering
• PC Construction
• Puzzle and Sudoku
• Rock Collecting
• Rubik’s Cube
• Scale Modeling
• Scuba Diving
• Skateboarding
• Sports Memorabilia
• Sports Statistics
• Stock Trading
• Tabletop Gaming
• Vehicle Restoration
• Video Editing
• Wakeboarding
• Woodworking

Honor Societies

• Art National Honor Society 
• Business National Honor Society
• California Scholarship Federation
• Dance National Honor Society
• Engineering National Honor Society
• English National Honor Society
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• German National Honor Society
• History National Honor Society
• Math Honor Society
• Mu Alpha Theta
• National Art Honor Society
• National Honor Society
• Science National Honor Society
• Thespians International Honor Society
• Tri-M Music Honor Society

Interest Clubs

• 3D Modeling Club
• 3D Printing Club
• Academic Council
• Accounting Club
• Aerospace Engineering Club
• African Heritage Club
• American Meteorological Society
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• Anatomy Club
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• Artificial Intelligence Club
• Asian Cooking Club
• Astrology Club
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• Beauty Club
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• Bible Study
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• Board Games Club
• Bollywood Club
• Botany Club
• Brazilian Club
• Break Dancing Club
• Broadcasting Club
• Business Club
• Call of Duty Club
• Calligraphy Club
• Cancer Awareness Club
• Cartooning Club
• Ceramics Club
• Chemistry Club
• Chick-fil-A Leader Academy
• Chinese Club
• Chinese Yoyo Club
• Civics Club
• Civil War Reenactors
• Classical Music Club
• Climate Action Club
• Coffee Club
• Comics Club
• Computer Science Club
• Conservation Club
• Consulting Club
• Cooking Club
• Cornhole Club
• Cosmetology Club
• Criminal Justice Club
• Crossfit Club
• Culinary Club
• Current Events Club
• Cycling Club
• Data Science Club
• Debate Club
• Dungeons & Dragons Club
• Eastern European Culture Club
• Economics Club
• Electrical Engineering Club
• Electronics Club
• Energy Team
• Engineering Club
• Entrepreneurship Club
• Environmental Club
• Equestrian Club
• Ethics Club
• European History Club
• Fair Trade for Life
• Fantasy Sports Club
• Fashion Club
• Filmmaking Club
• Finance Club/Financial Literacy Club
• Fishing Club
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• Forensic Science Club
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• Friendship Club
• Future Doctors of America
• Future Educators of America
• Future Engineers of America
• Future Farmers of America
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• Future Physicians Club
• Future Teachers of America
• Game Development Club/Gaming Club
• Gardening Club
• Geography Club
• Geology Club
• German Club
• Graphic Design Club
• Grilling Club
• Gun Reform Club
• Hiking Club
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• History Club
• Indian Culture Club
• International Club
• International Food Club
• International Relations Club
• Investing Club
• Irish Culture Club
• Journalism Club
• Junior Statesmen of America
• Junior World Affairs Council
• Karaoke Club
• Knitting Club
• Korean Club
• K-Pop Dance
• Latin American Culture Club
• Leadership Club
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• Marine Biology Club
• Marketing Club
• Meditation Club
• Mental Health Club
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• Middle East Culture Club
• Military History Club
• Minecraft Club
• Morning Announcements 
• Mosaic Club
• Mountaineers Club
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• National Chinese Honor Society
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• Neurodiversity Club
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• Origami Club
• Outdoors Club
• Pen Pal Club
• Performing Arts Club
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• Physics Club
• Ping Pong Club
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• Political Discussion Club
• Politics Club
• Pre-Med Club
• Psychology Club
• Quidditch Club
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• Renaissance Faires
• ROBLOX Club
• Robotics Club
• Rock Climbing Club
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• Science Club
• Shakespeare Club
• Sign Language Club
• Skateboard Club
• Slam Poetry Club
• Spanish Club
• Sports Medicine Club
• Sportswriting Club
• Statistics Club
• Strength and Fitness Club
• Sustainability Club
• Toastmasters Club
• Urban Planning Club
• Vegan/Vegetarian Club
• Veterans Support Club
• Vietnamese Culture Club
• Women In Science and Engineering (WISE)
• World War II Club
• Young Entrepreneurs Club
• Young Investors Society
• Aspen Music Festival
• Audio Engineer
• Band (Personal)
• Band (School)
• Chamber Orchestra
• Church Choir
• Color Guard
• Marching Band
• Music Composition
• Pit Orchestra
• Songwriting
• Sound Engineer
• Wind Ensemble

Non-Art Competitions

• AAN Neuroscience Research Prize
• AAPT High School Physics Photo Contest
• Academic Challenge
• Academic Decathlon
• Academic League
• Academic Pentathlon
• Academic Super Bowl
• Academic WorldQuest
• Adventure Write Kids – Totem Head’s Story Contest
• Alaska Airlines Imagine Tomorrow
• American Invitational Mathematics Examination
• American Mathematics Competitions 10/12
• American Regions Math League (ARML)
• American Sleep Medicine Foundation High School Video Contest
• Americanism Essay Contest
• Architectural Design Competition for High School
• Ayn Rand Institute Contest
• B.E.S.T Robotics Design Contest
• Biology League
• Biology Olympiad
• Blue Ocean Entrepreneurship Competition
• Botball Educational Robotics Program
• Brain Awareness Video Contest
• Capitol Hill Challenge
• Caribou Mathematics Competition
• Chemistry Bowl
• Chemistry Olympiad
• Clean Tech Competition
• Congressional Data Challenge
• Congressional Debate
• Conrad Challenge
• Cooper Hewitt National Design Competition
• Creative Communication Poetry Contest
• C-SPAN’s StudentCam
• Cubes in Space
• Cyberpatriot
• Davidson Fellows
• Debate Team
• Destination ImagiNation
• Diamond Challenge
• Doodle 4 Google
• Doors to Diplomacy – International Competition
• EconChallenge
• Economics Competition
• eCyberMission
• Educators Rising
• EngineerGirl Writing Contest
• Engineering Team 
• Entrepreneurship Competition
• Essay Contest
• Euro Challenge
• FCCLA Virtual Business Challenge
• Fed Challenge
• Film Contest
• Finance Challenge
• FIRST Robotics
• Forensic Debate
• Forensics Team
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
• Future Problem Solving Program International: International Scenario Writing
• Generation Nano: Superheroes inspired by Science
• Genius Olympiad
• Girl’s Go CyberStart Club
• Google Science Fair
• Harvard/MIT Mathematics Tournament (HMMT)
• High School Innovation Challenge
• Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
• International BioGENEius Challenge
• International Commerce Olympiad
• International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition
• International Olympiad of French
• InvestWrite
• Ithaca College High School Investment Competition
• Junior Achievement Entrepreneurship Classes
• Junior Classical League
• Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
• Kentucky Science & Engineering Fair
• Kids Philosophy Slam
• Knowledge @ Wharton Comment and Win
• Knowledge Bowl
• Lemonade Day
• Lincoln-Douglas Debate
• Mandelbrot Competition
• Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) International ROV Competition
• Math League
• Mathematics Olympiad
• Meridian Stories
• Microsoft Imagine Cup
• MIT INSPIRE
• Model Congress
• Model United Nations
• NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge
• National Academic Championship – Questions Unlimited
• National Academic League
• National Academic Quiz Tournament (NAQT)
• National DNA Day Essay Contest
• National Federation of Music Clubs- Junior Composer Contest (Class III & IV)
• National French Contest
• National Geographic Student Photo Competition 
• National High School Design Competition
• National High School Essay Contest
• National High School Ethics Bowl
• National History Day
• National Ocean Science Bowl
• National Personal Finance Challenge
• National YoungArts Foundation 
• National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
• National Economics Challenge
• Neuroscience for Kids Competitions
• North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO)
• NSHSS Visual Arts Competition
• Odyssey of the Mind
• Paradigm Challenge
• Physics Olympiad
• Profile in Courage Essay Contest
• Programming Competition
• Questions Unlimited
• Regeneron Science Talent Search
• River of Words: Youth Art and Poetry Inspired by the Natural World
• Robotics Team
• Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
• Science Bowl
• Science Fair
• Science Olympiad
• Siemens Competition
• Solar Car Challenge
• SourceAmerica Design Challenge
• Space Settlement Contest
• Speak Truth to Power Video Contest
• Speech & Debate
• Spelling Bee
• Stemanities Research Competition
• Stockholm Junior Water Prize
• Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC)
• TEAMS Competition
• Technology Student Association
• Technovation Challenge
• The Coleopterists Society- Youth Incentive Award
• The Green Idea
• The High School Bridge Building Contest
• The Stock Market Game
• TOPPS Competition for High School Psychology Students
• Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision
• UIL Academics
• University Interscholastic League
• USA Brain Bee
• Vans Custom Culture
• We the People Constitutional Competitions
• Wharton High School Investment Competition
• World of 7 Billion Student Video Contest
• World Series of Innovation
• Writing Contest
• Young Investors Society Global Stock Pitch Competition
• Youth and Government

Own Initiative

• Discord Server
• Family Responsibilities
• Instagram Account (Professional)
• Online Class
• Online Forum
• TikTok Account (Professional)
• Twitch Channel
• Venture-Backed Startup
• YouTube Channel
• Canvassing (elections)
• Congressional Page
• Girls State
• High School Democrats of America
• Internship with Senator
• Internship with Congressperson
• Local Government Internship
• Phonbanking (elections)
• Teenage Republicans
• Volunteer for Political Campaign
• Young Americans Foundation
• Young Democrats
• Engineering Research
• Humanities Research
• Medical Research
• Scientific Research
• App Development
• Coding Bootcamp
• Game Design
• MLK Essay Contest
• Programming Club
• Cheerleading
• Crew (Rowing)
• Cross Country
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Field Hockey
• Figure Skating
• Flag Football
• Hip Hop Dance
• Horseback riding
• Ice Dancing
• Indoor Track & Field
• Marathon Running
• Martial Arts
• Motocross Racing
• Racquetball
• Reserve Barrel Racing
• Rhythmic Gymnastics
• Rock Climbing
• Roller Derby
• Show Jumping
• Snowboarding
• Speed Skating
• Synchronized Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Track & Field
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Waterskiing
• Weightlifting
• Windsurfing
• Student Government
• Class Cabinet
• Homecoming Committee
• Judicial Committee (Honor Council)
• Library Advisory Council
• Prom Committee
• School Board Representative
• Spirit Committee
• Student Athlete Advisory Council 
• Student Council
• Student Diversity Committee

Summer Programs

• Achieve In Medicine (AIM-High)
• ACLU National Advocacy Institute’s High School Program
• Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
• Bank of America Student Leaders Program
• Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
• CDC Disease Detective Camp
• College Courses
• Congress of Future Medical Leaders
• Cronkite Summer Journalism Institute (SJI)
• Economics for Leaders
• Exchange Student
• Interlochen Arts Camp
• Iowa Young Writers’ Studio
• Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
• Leadership in the Business World (LBW)
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Program
• Michigan State University High School Honors Science/Engineering/Mathematics Program (HSHSP)
• Middlebury Summer Language Academy
• Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science (MITES)
• NASA High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS)
• National Mathematics Summer School
• National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
• Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
• Perimeter Institute International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)
• Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
• Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)
• Research in Science and Engineering Program (RISE)
• Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT
• Ross Mathematics Program
• Simons Summer Research Program
• Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
• Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
• Student Conservation Association National Crews
• Study Abroad
• Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
• Summer Camp
• Summer School
• Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP)
• The Summer Science Program (SSP)
• Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)
• Young Women’s Institute

Visual Arts

• Art Competition
• Art Contest
• Congressional Art Competition
• Photography
• Scholastic Art Awards
• Baseball Writing
• Blogging (Personal)
• Book Reviews
• Creative Writing
• Fan Fiction
• Literary Magazine
• Magazine Writing
• Movie Reviews
• Novel Writing
• Published a Book
• Quill and Scroll
• School Blog
• School Newspaper
• Short Story Writing
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Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Early Academic Outreach Program

College knowledge.

The college knowledge activities emphasize the value of a college education and provide accurate and timely information to students, their families and educators. Workshops and campus tours help participants and their families navigate preparing for college, applying and enrolling.

Workshops also include an overview of California's postsecondary education options that aids students in deciding which type of institution they want to attend after graduating from high school.  As well as how to fill out college applications and apply for financial aid and scholarships. 

Informational development  activities assist participants with understanding the similarities and differences between the intersegmental institutions of higher education (i.e., University of California , California State University , California Community Colleges ). The activities promote a greater understanding of an institutions’ environment, major of study, application process, and educational resources that will support a participant’s retention and graduation towards a college degree.

Personal Development : Activities emphasizing the importance of extra-curricular activities, leadership development, and promote a participant’s personal development in unique talents/skills. The designed activities promote a participant towards being a well-rounded student in non-academics related objectives that enhances a participant's selection to competitive institutions.

Change the world from here

A Guide to Extracurricular Activities for College Applications

College applications can feel like a high-stakes balancing act. Between academics, standardized tests, and essays, choosing the right extracurricular activities can add another layer of stress. But fret not! Extracurriculars aren’t just about checking boxes on a college application; they’re a chance to unveil your potential as a well-rounded individual. This guide will equip you to navigate the exciting world of extracurriculars and discover the ones that resonate with your unique interests and aspirations.

Beyond Clubs and Sports: The Extracurricular Universe

Extracurricular activities encompass the vibrant tapestry of your life outside the classroom. It’s everything from joining the debate team or volunteering at an animal shelter to pursuing a passion project like photography or coding. These activities are your launchpad for exploration, a platform to hone new skills, and a space to connect with like-minded peers who share your enthusiasm. Expert advice: research opportunities for high school students are a good option to stay ahead on college admission.

What Colleges Seek: Unveiling the Gems

Colleges aren’t after a one-size-fits-all list of activities. They’re looking for students who demonstrate a commitment to something beyond academics, individuals who bring a unique perspective and a well-rounded skillset to their campus communities. Here’s what admissions officers might be looking for when they review your extracurricular involvement:

Dedication and Growth: Colleges value activities where you’ve persevered, showcasing a commitment to learning and growth. Being a dedicated member of the school newspaper for four years speaks volumes compared to a fleeting interest in the drama club.

Standing Out From the Crowd: Have you ventured beyond the ordinary? Participating in a prestigious national science fair or an international cultural exchange program demonstrates a deeper level of initiative and intellectual curiosity.

Leadership Potential: Have you risen to the challenge of leading others? Taking the initiative to become the president of the environmental club or captain of the robotics team highlights your leadership qualities and ability to inspire others.

Aligning Your Passions: Does your extracurricular involvement complement your academic pursuits? A future computer scientist who actively participates in coding hackathons showcases a focused passion and a drive to excel in their field.

Facing Challenges: Do your activities highlight your ability to manage responsibilities? Juggling a part-time job, volunteering at a local soup kitchen, and maintaining excellent grades demonstrates your time-management skills and commitment to giving back to your community.

Charting Your Course: Finding the Perfect Extracurricular Fit

Now that you have a better understanding of what colleges value, here’s how to embark on your journey to discover the perfect extracurricular fit:

Dive Deep into Discovery: Don’t limit yourself! Research the plethora of clubs, sports teams, volunteer opportunities, and even entrepreneurial ventures offered by your school and community. Explore options that pique your curiosity and ignite your passions.

Become a Trailblazer: Do you have a unique interest that isn’t represented by an existing club? Don’t be afraid to take the initiative and start your own club! This demonstrates leadership, initiative, and a passion for bringing people together around a shared interest.

Embrace Leadership Roles: As you gain experience within your chosen activities, keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to take on leadership positions. This could involve becoming the president of a club, organizing a fundraising event, or mentoring younger students.

Plan Like a Pro: Be realistic about the time commitment required for each activity. Choose a variety that allows you to excel academically while still leaving room for exploration and personal growth.

Find the Joy in the Journey: Remember, the most impactful extracurricular activities are the ones you enjoy. When you’re passionate about your pursuits, the intrinsic motivation shines through, making the experience all the more rewarding.

The Takeaway: It’s All About You

The “best” extracurricular activities aren’t a pre-defined list or a one-size-fits-all formula. They’re the activities that resonate with you, the ones that challenge you to grow, and the ones that allow you to showcase your unique talents and experiences.

By following these tips and embracing the exploration process, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a compelling college application that reflects the exceptional individual you are and the incredible potential you bring to the table.

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College of Nursing

Easing the pressure: supporting icu nurse decision making through digital innovation.

College of Nursing Assistant Professor Anna Krupp , PhD, MSHP, RN and Associate Professor Karen Dunn Lopez , PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN understand that intensive care unit (ICU) patients have a greater chance of developing functional decline, which may include new limitations in walking or a decreased ability to manage basic physical needs after hospital discharge. One common contributing factor for this is long periods of immobility, or remaining in bed, during ICU hospitalization.

With funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality , Krupp and Dunn Lopez are proposing to develop a decision support tool in the electronic health record. The goal is to make complex decisions about when it is safe to assist ICU patients out of bed more efficient for nurses. Currently, nurses look in multiple locations in the EHR for this information. The tool will summarize key patient information on one screen.

“ICU nurses make hundreds of decisions during a shift and the decision to assist a patient to sit on the edge of the bed or walk in the room requires that nurses know a lot about the patient and their stability over the previous shift,” said Clinical Assistant Professor and Co-Investigator Heather Dunn , PhD, ACNP-BC, ARNP. “Enhancing mobility in the ICU is crucial for positive patient outcomes. However, assessing readiness for activities like walking is challenging when data needs to be gathered from multiple sections of the medical record.”

The project will be conducted in two phases. First, they’ll develop the decision support tool with input from practicing ICU nurses. Next, the tool will be studied in two environments—a simulated EHR with nurses from across the nation and a real-world trial in the ICU.

Both Krupp and Dunn Lopez bring differing expertise. Dunn Lopez will use her knowledge with usability science and focus her time in a simulated setting identifying the ease, use, and effectiveness of the tool.

“One thing we know is that if something is not easy to use, it isn’t going to get used. But there are methods that can make sure that what you are developing is useful to the people who use it,” Dunn Lopez said.

Krupp will apply her ICU-based clinical expertise with her implementation science training to plan and study how decision support is used in everyday clinical practice.

“The best-designed tool does not guarantee routine use in complex healthcare settings. Implementation science identifies and addresses contextual factors to help promote its use,” said Krupp.

Krupp and Dunn Lopez suspect the results of the study will influence a “pragmatic way of accelerating the use of patient data with guideline recommendations at the point of care to support ICU clinicians in delivering evidence-based care, decreasing the duration of bed rest, and reducing hospital-acquired functional decline.”

Read more from our spring 2024 alumni newsletter .

From Sacramento to Santiago: Exploring Shared Solutions for Sustainable Energy

Global affairs seed grant facilitates intercontinental materials science and engineering collaboration for energy-efficient technologies.

• by Jessica Heath
• May 10, 2024

When Yayoi Takamura , professor and chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California Davis, traveled to Santiago, Chile, last fall, she was amazed at how similar it was to the Sacramento area.   

"Santiago is in the middle of a flat valley with the Andes to the east, a lot like Sacramento has the Sierra," she said. "You go to the west over some small hills, and you get to the wine region — that's Napa — and then you go to the coast, you have Valparaiso, which is very much like San Francisco."   

Takamura was in Santiago to meet with Heman Bhuyan, a professor of physics at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, to discuss collaborating on a project researching thin films of complex oxides like titanium dioxide and tantalum pentoxide for use in sustainable energy technologies, such as photovoltaic solar cells and batteries.    

The promising project received a 2023-24 Seed Grant for International Activities from UC Davis Global Affairs . With this initial funding, Takamura and Bhuyan will collaborate across international borders to expand the fundamental knowledge of these complex oxides when they are synthesized at low temperatures.   

These lower synthesis temperatures would enable the incorporation of these complex oxides on a wide range of supports, such as glass or flexible polymer substrates.    

Bhuyan, an expert in plasma physics, has developed a plasma-enhanced pulsed laser deposition system that allows for synthesizing materials at temperatures as low as 300 degrees Celsius compared to 700 degrees Celsius needed for conventional pulsed laser deposition.   

This advantage arises due to two radiofrequency sources that can control the characteristics of the plume — which is evaporated from the solid material and deposited onto the substrate material —instead of relying on the laser alone. The additional energy from the radiofrequency sources means that the substrate does not need to be heated to such high temperatures to achieve thin films with good crystallinity, or structural order.   

The researchers aim to learn how the plasma-enhanced pulsed laser deposition conditions change the properties of the thin films and whether the materials are still good candidates for sustainable energy technologies.   

In addition to what they hope to glean from the research, Takamura said she looks forward to welcoming Bhuyan or one of his graduate students to UC Davis, hopefully in the summer and returning to Santiago this fall. More than that, Takamura reflects that tackling a subject of shared interest with international researchers who bring their own unique perspectives will only continue to move the field forward.   

"Different people have different viewpoints and different ways of approaching problems," she said. "Being able to see those different viewpoints is really valuable because when I'm just working on my own, I may just approach the project in the same way. Sometimes it just takes trying a different approach to break the boundaries and solve difficult problems."

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