Keep It Moving: Learning Through Interaction

Participation and interaction took center stage during Sandra Doran’s workshop, “Keep it Moving with Cooperative Learning,” where attendees explored practical strategies for creating more engaging and interactive learning environments. Through hands-on activities and group discussions, Doran demonstrated how cooperative learning can encourage participation, deepen understanding, and help individuals connect more meaningfully with one another.

Rather than presenting the material in a traditional lecture format, Doran led the workshop as an interactive discussion, allowing participants to experience the learning strategies firsthand. One method she highlighted was the “Think Pair Share” strategy, which encourages individuals to first reflect independently before discussing their thoughts with a partner. Doran explained that while some people naturally process ideas by speaking and doing, others are more reflective and need time to think before sharing. Pairing participants into groups of two ensured that each person had an equal opportunity to contribute.

Doran also introduced activities designed to keep learners physically engaged while encouraging conversation. One activity, called the “Continuum,” invited participants to line up along a scale representing different levels of stress. Participants then moved around the room to speak with someone whose experience differed from their own, creating opportunities for discussion and understanding.

A variation of this activity, called the “Spectrum Game,” allowed participants to respond to statements by positioning themselves along a range of responses, from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” These strategies, Doran explained, can easily be adapted for Sabbath School classes, classrooms, and other group settings to foster participation and meaningful dialogue.

Throughout the workshop, attendees not only learned about cooperative learning but also experienced firsthand how movement, discussion, and interaction can transform the learning process.

—Natalie Sissac