VISITORS

Teaching Strategies: Effectively Using the Gallery Walk



Gallery walk is a discussion technique that engages the learner to have a more proactive role in learning by exploring a certain topic/task while walking around the classroom. The technique utilizes documents and images. It is especially useful for students who prefer to have a more intimate discussion in a small setting and those who thrive in kinesthetic learning. It also provides the teachers an opportunity to gauge a deeper analysis of student’s understanding regarding a particular topic.

Procedure:
1. Provide the students with questions or prompts about the topic. Questions may vary from simply assessing student’s knowledge on a certain topic to a more complicated one tapping on their higher order thinking skills like synthesis and evaluation.

2. Create stations and hang the questions/ prompts ‘gallery style’. Ensure that stations are big enough to accommodate the members of the group and far from the other group to reduce significant crowding and confusion because of noise.  

3. Group the students depending on the class size. Ideally, a group of five is preferred to ensure that it is small enough to provide roles for all the members and facilitate smooth discussions. Each group should start at a different station.

4. Students read the questions/ prompts and share their thoughts about it. You may provide graphic organizers for students to complete or a member may write down notes.

5. Rotate groups. Give time for each group to record and discuss different ideas before letting them move to the next station.

6. Repeat the process until all groups are able to visit all the stations.

7. Reflect on different answers by asking one speaker from each group to discuss the summary of their ideas. Depending on your purpose, this may take different forms.

When to Use in English Class:
1. Discussion of ideas, themes and characters of a story
2. Analyzing essays
3. Getting ideas for writing

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