Watch a history class
Eleventh graders at the end of studying Civil Rights consider Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. Their instructor discusses tactics for bringing all students in to the complex conversation. Watch below:
English in the Harkness classroom
Seniors unpack an essay (“The Story of an Hour,” by Kate Chopin) in a staged, though totally unpracticed, session to illustrate a successful Harkness discussion for brand-new students (21:06 minutes).
History in the Harkness classroom
Students and their teacher discuss the history classroom experience in a short reflections video (4:39 minutes).
Watch a complete history class in the longer video below (50:16 minutes).
French in the Harkness classroom
Students and their teacher discuss the French classroom experience in a short reflections video (3:20 minutes).
Watch a complete French class in the longer video below (45:30 minutes).
Watch a French class
First-year French students and their teacher discuss how group conversation about reading assignments builds vocabulary and creates familiarity with correct pronunciation. The first segments of the class follow a structure familiar to the students: first, casual conversation, then, assessing grammar homework, and next, discussing a short novel. With this routine, speaking entirely in French is achievable even for this introductory course. Student collaboration comes to life when the class moves to the board to write and speak French in small groups. Watch below:
More to Explore
Videos of Harkness: Math and Science
Watch more videos from the Harkness classroom with a focus on math and science.
Harkness Tracking Tools
Check out tools designed to help teachers everywhere enhance student-centered learning in the classroom.
What Teachers Say
Learning from practitioners can help. Read these essays from faculty and students at Exeter.