What is Think, Pair, Share?

Think, pair, share is an active learning technique that helps students organize their thoughts on a topic and discuss it with classmates before sharing with the class. It can provide students an opportunity to reflect on complex course topics and put them into their own words. Students will also have an opportunity to learn from other students as they form their answers.

Think, pair, share begins with students first working on an activity or solving a problem individually. Then, after a short interval, they work with a partner to share and compare their ideas and identify which answers or ideas they think are the best, most convincing, or most unique. After students have had time to talk in their pairs, the entire class then discusses the activity as a large group with the instructor calling for participation.

How can you use think, pair, share activities in your course?

Think-pair-share works best with open-ended questions with many possible answers. Questions with yes/no or one easily identifiable answers (e.g. What is the capital of Iowa?) do not encourage conversation or critical thinking skills. Instead, use questions that encourage students to describe processes in their own terms, to compare phenomena, or do not have simple solutions. Ask students to explain their thinking process so they focus not only on the answers, but how they arrived at their answers. Additionally, use questions that promote connected learning, having students connect the material to their own lives or to material covered earlier in the course. This allows students to learn other’s perspectives, reflect on their own thinking process, and have conversations with their peers.

What results can you expect from incorporating think, pair, share activities into your course?

Think-pair-share has been found to increase student participation in classroom discussions and activities. Students are also more likely to give longer and more detailed explanations to their ideas and demonstrate critical thinking skills. Think-pair-share activities can also increase student comfort and confidence in their understanding of course material and willingness to participate in course activities. Together, this can lead to better understanding of course materials and a more enjoyable classroom experience.

Who can help if you’re interested in incorporating think, pair, share activities into your course?

For more information on how think, pair, share activities can work in your classroom, please consult the following sources:

Think Pair Share: A teaching Learning Strategy to Enhance Students’ Critical Thinking

Finding the Effects of Think-Pair-Share on Student Confidence and Participation

Prahl, K. (2017) Best practices for the think-pair-share active learning technique. The American Biology Teacher, 79 (1)

If you would like to explore how you could use this in your course, please reach out to the Center for Teaching for assistance and guidance on how best to implement these activities.