Design Station Rotations

NOTE: This strategy is part of the self-paced Use Assessment as a Tool for Learning Course

Station rotation empowers learners to rotate through different stations or learning activities, each designed to meet their individual needs and learning styles. Ideally, stations include a variety of learning settings: independent (ideal for DOK levels 1-2), collaborative (ideal for DOK levels 3-4), and teacher-led (responsive and tailored to the strengths and needs of the group).

Bright Spots

Gain inspiration from authentic examples of this strategy shared by teachers who have used them with their learners.

Creating your own Bright Spots? Let’s get them out into the world! Share yours here.

Two-Station Rotation

At Mona Elementary School in Utah, students work through a 2-station rotation. One station is independent work, and the other is small-group targeted instruction with the teacher.

Station Grouping Using Formative Data

Jamie Thomas at Rochester Middle School in New Hampshire, leads small-group instruction as a station. Station groups are formed using formative data from the previous day’s exit ticket, so groups are re-formed each day. In her small group, she re-teaches or extends as needed. Meanwhile, the other two student groups work through an independent station leveraging adaptive math software and at the collaborative station, learners work together to spot errors and correct them in more complex math problems.

Teacher-Led Stations

Photo source: https://twitter.com/GHSDrAllen/status/1199338646891044864

Glasgow High School students practice their grammar in Spanish class through a station rotation. The teacher-led station is intentionally flexible, designed only for students to pose questions and get formative feedback.

Related Learner-Centered Content