Learners are asked to respond to a statement or an open-ended question with a single word. Once each learner has considered and chosen their word, the instructor directs each student to share their word until every learner has had a chance to contribute before debriefing about the topic more fully.
Whip Around
| Individual / Group Activity: | Group |
| Class Size: | Small (<25), Medium (25-50), & Large (51-200) |
| Bloom’s Taxonomy Level: | Understand |
| Development Initial: | Absolute Knowing |
| Minimum Time to Facilitate: | 16 – 30 Minutes |
| Minimum Time to Debrief: | < 5 Minutes |
| PDFs: | Here |
Discipline-Specific Examples 
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
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Humanities
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Social Sciences
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Co-Curricular
(experiences outside of the formal classroom but contribute to student learning)
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Universal Design for Active Learning
Universal Design for Active Learning
UDL and active learning share a common goal: centering all students in the learning experience. When designing an activity, UDL‑informed instructors consider how the activity could be open to all students while preserving the core learning goal.
Timing & Pacing
Provide a brief think period before starting. The rapid pace can be a barrier for students who need more time to retrieve and articulate a response. Allow students to pass or submit in writing.
Social Interaction
Allow students to write their word before the activity begins. Avoid requiring immediate verbal responses.
Information Accessibility
Provide the prompt or topic in writing before the activity so students can process and prepare.
Ways to Participate/Express
Allow contribution by speaking, writing on paper, or digital submission with the instructor reading responses aloud.
Online Adaptations
Coming Soon!
Additional Resources
Zalukhu, A., & Hia, M. G. (2023). Increasing the students’ speaking ability in giving suggestions and advice by the using of” whip around” strategy. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 11(1), 314-323: https://ejournal.iainpalopo.ac.id/index.php/ideas/article/view/3804
Herlina, H., Mortini, A. V., & Pratama, R. (2020). THE INFLUENCE OF WHIP AROUND TECHNIQUE TOWARD WRITING DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH OF THE TENTH GRADE STUDENTS OF STATE SENIORHIGH SCHOOL 4 OF PALEMBANG. Esteem Journal of English Education Study Programme, 3(2), 90-107: https://jurnal.univpgri-palembang.ac.id/index.php/esteem/article/view/4542
Hockman, A. (2022). Whip Around or Pass. Music Teacher, 101(9), 60-61: https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/MT.2022.101.9.60
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