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It Made Me Think is often facilitated at the end of a session, using the repetition of a single phrase to encourage participants to reflect on themes explored during the class session. This activity is often used as a quick way to check for understanding and provides an elegant, ritualized closure for the final moments of a learning experience, class or workshop.
Ask each participant to reflect on the day’s work and think of one word or very short phrase that captures their opinion and completes the phrase "_______, it made me think." The phrase can describe something that intrigued or inspired them during class or something that was thought provoking or memorable. After they've had a moment to choose, participants go around the circle and say their word or words, followed by the phrase "It made me think." Some examples related to a range of content inquiries are:
The interconnectedness of ecosystems, it made me think.
Tomatoes are fruits! It made me think.
Working together, it made me think.
The author’s intent, it made me think.
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What did you notice about this activity?
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What ideas did you hear more than once in our reflection? Why do you think this is?
- Why is it important to think about and name our own thinking?
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Your phrase should be between one and five words.
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Your phrase/word doesn't have to be the most important or profound thought; it could be anything that made you think. However, please do stay on the topic of today’s class.
- It’s okay if you make the same connection as someone else; don’t worry if someone before you says what you want to say. It’s useful to know if many of us are thinking the same thing.
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Invite participants to “popcorn” responses, meaning the participants share their responses one at a time in no particular order.
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In a large class, this can serve as the “exit ticket” with participants writing their name and “______, it made me think” as a final ticket for attendance.
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Invite participants to use a gesture to go with their words, or to just offer a gesture without words as their response.
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Other prompts to consider: A discovery I made today is…. A question I still have about this topic is…. A goal I have based on my/our work today is… An appreciation I have for the group is….
Megan Alrutz