Description

A 3-2-1 prompt helps learners structure their responses to a text, film, or learning activity by asking them to illustrate three takeaways, two questions, and one thing they liked. It provides a way for instructors to check for comprehension and to gauge learners’ interest. Distributing 3-2-1 responses is also an effective way to prompt a class debate or to review material from the previous lesson.

Implementation

1. Ask Learners to Answer the 3-2-1 Prompt: After learners engage with content or a learning experience, ask them to write the following information in their journals or on separate paper:
   • Three things that they have gleaned from this learning activity or this content.
   • Two questions that they still have.
   • One aspect of class or the content that they enjoyed.
2. Assess Learners’ Responses: Use learners’ responses to guide your teaching decisions. 3-2-1 responses can help you identify areas of the curriculum that you may need to review again or concepts or activities that hold special interest for learners.

Modifications

1. Content-Specific 3-2-1: Instructors can modify the elements of the 3-2-1 method to focus on particular content questions.
2. Identifying Main Ideas 3-2-1: You could also utilize the 3-2-1 structure to help learners identify main ideas from supporting information.