Active Learning: Engaging Students in the Learning Process
As K-12 and higher education institutions face a growing demand to modernize educational practices, active learning has emerged as a dynamic and effective way to engage learners in the learning process. This approach, which emphasizes interaction, collaboration and engagement, has been shown to boost students’ motivation, encourage critical thinking skills, and help learners to retain information for longer periods.
How to Get Active Learning?
Active learning is a student-centered approach that leverages structured activities and interactive techniques to engage learners and promote deep learning. Unlike the traditional “teacher-centric” approach where students were passive recipients of information, active learning puts students in the driver’s seat, allowing them to explore, discover and create.
To implement active learning, instructors need to employ a diverse set of strategies that suit the learning objectives and context of their courses. Active learning strategies can include:
Collaborative Learning
This approach involves students working in small groups to complete assignments, discuss challenges, and solve problems together. It helps learners develop teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
Brainstorming
Encourages learners to generate new ideas, synthesize information, and come up with solutions to a particular problem or issue. Instructors can use brainstorming sessions to encourage learners to think creatively and critically.
Think-Pair-Share
An approach that involves students working in pairs to solve a particular challenge or question. Once the students have formulated their answers, they can then share their responses with the class, promoting collaboration and cooperation in the learning process.
How to Succeed in Active Learning?
Active learning is not just a set of techniques or strategies; it requires a transformation in the way that instructors design and deliver their courses. Instructors need to take the following steps to succeed in active learning:
Design courses with active learning in mind
Instructors need to design courses that promote active learning, from the choice of learning materials to the presentation of content. This may involve integrating technology into classroom instruction to stimulate interaction, demonstration, and experimentation.
Engage learners actively
Active learning requires active learners. Instructors should encourage learners to ask questions, participate in discussions, and contribute to group projects. This will help learners develop critical thinking skills, research skills, and communication skills, all of which are essential for success in the modern workforce.
Provide timely feedback
Active learning requires frequent feedback to allow learners to adjust their understanding and improve their performance. Instructors should provide feedback, both formally and informally, to help learners build on their strengths and identify areas for improvement.
The Benefits of Active Learning
Active learning has been shown to have significant benefits for both learners and instructors:
Increased motivation and engagement
Active learning encourages students to become active participants in the learning process, which can increase their motivation to learn and retain information. This can lead to better academic performance, higher grades, and greater satisfaction with the learning experience.
Improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Active learning has been shown to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills, helping learners to develop a deeper understanding of concepts and apply them in practical contexts.
Reduced achievement gaps
Active learning has been shown to be particularly effective in reducing achievement gaps between high- and low-performing students. By providing equal opportunities for engagement and participation, active learning can promote equity and inclusion in the classroom.
Challenges of Active Learning and How to Overcome Them
Despite the many benefits of active learning, it can also present challenges, including:
Resistance to change
Some students and instructors may resist change and prefer traditional classroom practices. To overcome resistance to change, instructors need to communicate the benefits of active learning and involve students in the decision-making process.
Large class sizes
Active learning activities can be challenging to implement in large class sizes. Instructors can overcome this challenge by dividing students into smaller groups for certain activities or by using technology to facilitate collaboration.
Assessment
Assessing learning outcomes in active learning environments can be challenging. Instructors should design assessments that align with the learning objectives and emphasize application, analysis, and synthesis rather than recall.
Tools and Technologies for Effective Active Learning
Technology can be a powerful tool to enhance active learning strategies. Some of the most popular tools and technologies for active learning include:
Online Collaborative Tools
Web-based tools like Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, and Slack can help students collaborate in real-time, share ideas, and provide feedback.
Interactive Whiteboards
Interactive whiteboards allow instructors to draw, write, and display content, making it perfect for active learning activities like brainstorming and group problem solving.
Flipped Classroom
The flipped classroom model involves instructors recording lectures or uploading learning materials online, allowing students to view them at their own pace. This model then frees up classroom time for active learning activities.
Best Practices for Managing Active Learning
To manage active learning effectively, instructors should keep the following best practices in mind:
Start small
Instructors should start with small-scale active learning activities before scaling up to full-blown active learning courses.
Communicate expectations
Instructors should communicate clear expectations to learners from the beginning to ensure that everyone understands the learning objectives and what is expected in terms of participation, responsiveness, and assessment.
Be flexible
Instructors should be flexible to adapt active learning activities based on student feedback and performance, and to adjust activities and assessments as needed to ensure optimal learning outcomes.
In conclusion, active learning is an innovative and effective approach to teaching and learning that is transforming classrooms and helping learners to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the modern workforce. Through the use of collaborative tools, interactive whiteboards, and flipped classrooms, instructors can encourage engagement, promote critical thinking, and create a rich learning experience that benefits students of all ages and backgrounds.