Minute papers
Faculty asked students to write short informal responses in class to capture or frame their thinking.
About
Having a simple and quick activity like minute papers at the ready can help faculty inject active learning and reflection into a class in a structured way, or on the fly. Research continues to show the value of giving students time to process what they are learning, as well as the value of writing ones thoughts down, and this activity does both. In addition, giving students time and opportunities to provide feedback helps get them invested in the course, and helps faculty check in on their level of understanding. Looking at the distribution, it appears that it is not being used every class, so students should not get bored with it and faculty will continue to find value in the activity.
The original study's data and analysis for "Minute papers" can be found on this link.
What Faculty Have To Say
Strengths (10)
- Helps students prepare for discussion
- Can renew a flagging discussion
- Can serve as quizzes
- Can be used as attendance record
- Helps gauge class understanding
- Helps faculty see what is needed for the next class
- Helps students summarize the main points of class
- Encourages reflection
- Encourages individual creativity
- Focuses student attention on the day’s topic/s
Weaknesses (3)
- It is easy to run out of time and forget to do them
- If done too often, they can take significant time to read
- Can take more than a minute, so students may have to stop just as their ideas are starting to blossom
Pedagogy Usage
Bucknell faculty was asked their best estimate for how often in the semester they used Minute papers and the average class time it took.
Average Duration: 9 min (mode=5)
Remote Suggestions
Asking students to stop in the middle of a class and write can feel awkward, and no less so online. However, it is a simple and useful pedagogy to ask them to write briefly on their own to prepare for a discussion, gather their thoughts after a lecture, or generate questions for the teacher. They can write anywhere they like, on paper, in a notebook, in a Google Doc, or in a Moodle assignment, but it is an excellent way for them to practice thinking more deeply.
Resources for Additional Learning
Articles & Books
- The Minute Paper: http://oncourseworkshop.com/self-awareness/one-minute-paper/
- Mini and Mighty: https://thewritingcampus.com/2015/08/27/mini-and-mighty-how-the-one-minute-paper-can-transform-your-teaching/
- Writing-to-Learn in Undergraduate Science Education: A Community-Based, Conceptually-Driven Approach CBE Life Sci Educ. 2012.