In other articles, I have talked about different strategies to engage students. As an instructor, I am constantly looking for effective and innovative ways to help my students thrive and succeed. Snowballing is an activity that has been gaining widespread adoption in classrooms around the world. In this article, I will take a closer look at what snowballing is, how it can benefit student engagement and highlight some strategies for putting it into practice.

What is Snowballing? Snowballing involves using group discussion to build meaning and understanding. Students are engaged to collectively tackle a problem or question, developing a deeper understanding of the subject matter with each new contribution. As a result, snowballing helps students to form connections with their peers. Developing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and improve their ability to communicate their ideas effectively are skills students will improve.

The biggest benefit of snowballing is that it encourages all students to participate. Each student gets the opportunity to engage with the content, share their ideas, and receive feedback from their peers.

Snowballing enables students to take ownership over their learning, promoting their sense of autonomy and self-esteem. It supports diversity and inclusivity, as all students are given the chance to contribute regardless of their social or academic status.

Before adopting snowballing in the classroom, it’s important to consider the context in which it will be used. Typically, snowballing is most effective when there is a deep and rich subject matter that requires analysis and synthesis. The following are some strategies for putting snowballing into practice:

Start with small groups: To encourage participation from all students, it’s best practice to start with small groups consisting of 3–4 students. This way, all students are given equal time and a chance to share their thoughts.

Plan your prompts and questions: Set the stage for a productive discussion by preparing prompts and questions that elicit deeper thinking, analysis, and synthesis. Consider using open-ended questions that require students to discuss their ideas in-depth.

Encourage collaboration and feedback: As the discussion progresses, encourage students to build on each other’s ideas and contribute to the conversation. Encourage feedback and ask students to provide specific suggestions for improvement.

Facilitate and Monitor the Discussion: As the facilitator, it’s crucial to monitor the discussion and ensure that all students are actively engaged throughout. Listen to their ideas, ask follow-up questions and provide guidance wherever necessary to keep the discussion on track.

Conclusion: Snowballing is a powerful student engagement tool that encourages active participation, critical thinking, and collaboration in the classroom. By implementing snowballing, teachers can promote deeper understanding of the content and help their students to develop essential 21st-century skills. We hope the strategies outlined in this blog post will inspire teachers to adopt snowballing in their classrooms, creating an engaging and interactive learning experience for all students.