Active Learning
EdTech Categories
References
- Nguyen, K.A., Borrego, M., Finelli, C.J. et al. Instructor strategies to aid implementation of active learning: a systematic literature review. IJ STEM Ed 8, 9 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-021-00270-7
- Armbruster, P., Patel, M., Johnson, E., & Weiss, M. (2009). Active learning and student-centered pedagogy improve student attitudes and performance in introductory biology. CBE Life Sciences Education, 8(3), 203–213. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.09-03-0025.
Overview
As teachers, we all want our students to be engaged and motivated in the classroom. One way to achieve this is through active learning, which involves students participating in classroom-based activities that promote critical thinking and problem-solving. Empirical studies have shown that this can lead to improved academic achievement, increased self-efficacy, and greater student satisfaction1. However, implementing active learning can be challenging. One barrier to adoption is instructors’ concerns about students’ affective and behavioral responses to active learning, especially student resistance. Students reacted negatively when they did not find active learning useful or worth the time and effort, or when they did not feel competent enough to complete the activities 1. Armbruster et al (2009) expanded on the idea these activities by connecting it to group-work and positive outcomes, and they stated, “The group exercises that elicited the most animated student participation were those that were sufficiently challenging that very few students could solve the problem individually, but at least 50% or more of the groups could solve the problem by working as a team” (p. 209). It is important to be purposeful in selecting strategies for integrating active learning as well as the creation of the actual activity 1. By incorporating active learning into our classrooms, we can create a more dynamic and engaging learning environment that benefits both students and teachers.
Getting Started
Use Cases
Resources
To get started integrating in their classroom, teachers can follow these steps:
- Define: Active learning is an approach to teaching that requires active student participation in classroom activities that have them gathering information, problem-solving, and critically thinking. It is in direct contrast to the more traditional, didactic approaches to learning, in which students take on the passive role.
- Choose strategies: There is no single specific teaching method that is used in these situations. To make learning sessions ‘active’, teachers must ensure that students are not just passively absorbing information, with no opportunity to put the knowledge into practice. Strategies for this include individual or group problem-solving, exercises or worksheets requiring the use of specific resources, participatory group discussion, and more.
- Assess the needs of the class: Teachers should assess what topics or ideas students struggle with the most in their course and what data or information will help them understand what students are learning.
- Incorporate strategies: Teachers can incorporate these strategies into their lessons by adding small strategies that can make lecturing more effective for students. These strategies may include hands-on activities, brief writing and discussion assignments, problem-solving tasks, information gathering and synthesis, question and answer sessions, and more.
- Evaluate the effectiveness: Teachers should evaluate the effectiveness by assessing student engagement, academic performance, and student satisfaction. Research has shown that students perceive active learning as benefitting their learning and increasing their self-efficacy