# Instructional Moves ## Great teaching can be learned Instructional Moves The goal of the Instructional Moves (IM) project is to help instructors incorporate and refine high-leverage teaching practices tailored to the higher education context. - Step into colleagues’ classrooms to observe exemplary teaching practices. - Hear professors and students explain what makes these practices powerful. - Access research and resources to implement instructional moves in your own classroom. [ Using IM arrow\_circle\_right ](/using-im) ![A montage of screenshots of different moves](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/instructionalmoves/files/raw_clips_v2.jpeg?itok=ZW241RyE) ## Our Modules ![Icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/instructionalmoves/files/icon_buildingcoOR.png?itok=ms0OuOob) [### Building Community ](/building-community)Cultivate safe, close-knit environments where students feel comfortable and compelled to take risks and collaborate ![Icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/instructionalmoves/files/icon_lectutinter.png?itok=pZ3Xgj9p) [### Lecturing Interactively ](/lecturing-interactively)Challenge conventional, age-old instruction with techniques designed to boost engagement and vary teacher monologue ![icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/instructionalmoves/files/icon_faciltio.png?itok=yvymw75G) [### Facilitating Discussions ](/facilitating-discussions)Foster equitable classroom discourse, broaden participation, and afford students greater control of their learning ![light bulb icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/instructionalmoves/files/icon_teachinghp.png?itok=1SJSZtqt) [### Teaching through Problems ](/teaching-through-problems)Create classrooms where complex, realistic problems push students to collectively apply what they have learned ![icon_educatinghp](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/instructionalmoves/files/icon_educatinghp.png?itok=X4n-MXAN) [### Educating for Equity and Inclusion ](/educating-for-equity-and-inclusion)Create classrooms where complex, realistic problems push students to collectively apply what they have learned ## Move Spotlight [### Creating a safe environment for wrong answers ](/creating-safe-environment-wrong-answers) ![Student speaking in class](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/1.0.7.jpg?itok=H89fTDOF) [### Fostering an environment where everyone is a teacher and learner ](/fostering-environment-where-everyone-teacher-and-learner) ![Close up of graduate student in a small group of other students, with clip board and pen, head tilted and listening.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/bm_002.jpg?itok=x8nHbt9P) [### Cultivating a classroom community of risk-taking ](/cultivating-classroom-community-risk-taking) ![Student speaking in class](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/1.0.8.jpg?itok=yDwgOrN7) [### Nurturing voices that challenge the dominant narrative ](/nurturing-voices-challenge-dominant-narrative) ![Professor Villarreal being interviewed](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/3.2.4.jpg?itok=LkOISBcD) [### Using Simulations in the Case-Based Collaborative Learning Classroom ](/using-simulations-cbcl-classroom) ![Medium close up of graduate students gathered around a fake patient. One student with a mircrophone speaking to the patient.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/sc_001.jpg?itok=36uMkvcI) [### Experiencing the case as a student team ](/experiencing-case-student-team) ![Wide shot of four graduate students seated at a table facing eachother, 2 with tablets, 2 with computers. Around them the rest of the class is seated in similar formation.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/co_004.jpg?itok=bpVfrmoI) [### Presenting simulation data to spark discussion and reflection ](/presenting-simulation-data-spark-discussion-and-reflection) ![Medium close up of graduate students with name cards seated in the round. Female student in foreground speaking.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/ma_008.jpg?itok=pzAU-Pxg) [### Using Peer Instruction to Improve Student Learning ](/using-peer-instruction-improve-student-learning) ![Close up of 2 students listening to other students in small group](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/mz_012.jpg?itok=nEDVPDVn) [### Engaging in extended dialogue with students ](/engaging-extended-dialogue-students) ![Medium close up of Professor Battilana listening to someone offscreen.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/ba_005.jpg?itok=yTP_sY9U) [### Pressing students for accuracy and expanded reasoning ](/pressing-students-accuracy-and-expanded-reasoning) ![Professor Rakoff teaching in class](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/3.3.1.jpg?itok=P-ydvafz) [### Acknowledging Publicly and Precisely What Students Do Well ](/publicly-and-precisely-acknowledging-what-students-do-well) ![Student speaking in class](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/2.2.3.jpg?itok=_JL1L194) [### Modifying plans to excite deeper learning ](/modifying-plans-excite-deeper-learning) ![Professor Levy teaching in class](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/2.3.5.jpg?itok=pU5iSnpk) [### Using jigsaws to facilitate small-group discussions ](/using-jigsaws-facilitate-small-group-discussions) ![Three graduate students all in the same row engaged in small group discussion.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/gr_004_.jpg?itok=9ZuCE2UH) [### Inviting students to take a stand and disagree ](/inviting-students-take-stand-and-disagree) ![A student speaks in class](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/3.3.6.jpg?itok=cvJk9akD) [### Using pre-work to honor diverse voices and structure the discussion ](/using-pre-work-honor-diverse-voices-and-structure-discussion) ![Jane Mansbridge explains her teaching practice](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/3.2.7.jpg?itok=NNYpoRmE) [### Providing wait-time for students to process and gain confidence ](/providing-wait-time-students-process-and-gain-confidence) ![Classroom of students waiting to respond](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/instructionalmoves/files/2.1.7.jpg?itok=Wmi8FQAM) arrow\_back arrow\_forward ### Read Our IM Book In May, 2023, Harvard Education Press published *Instructional Moves for Powerful Teaching in Higher Education*. Supplementing IM website content with additional interviews and insights, this book -- [reviewed here in *Teachers College Record*](https://journals.sagepub.com/pb-assets/cmscontent/TCZ/Book%20Reviews/2024%20Book%20Reviews/April/Instructional%20Moves%20for%20Powerful%20Teaching%20in%20Higher%20Education-1713206777.pdf) *--* contains a toolkit of strategies to cultivate safe, inclusive learning spaces that encourage all students to do ambitious work. [ Learn More + Purchase arrow\_circle\_right ](https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682537985/instructional-moves-for-powerful-teaching-in-higher-education/) ![Cover of book](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-09/9781682537985.jpg?itok=ao97GxeL) ### Raw Clips Library Explore our library of unedited classroom footage, which you can search and sort in multiple ways to find content that will enable you to lead rich discussions. [ Explore Raw Clips arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-instructionalmoves.drupalsites.harvard.edu/raw-clips-library) ![rawmoves](/sites/g/files/omnuum10466/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/instructionalmoves/files/rawmoves.jpg?itok=wAsuM2JF)