Active Learning
Active Learning
What is active learning and why is it important?
Take a look at these two images below and reflect on your experience when you were in the classroom and when you were learning as a student years ago. How different does this learning visual look when compared to your own? I know for me there was so much lecture than there was practice by doing which if you look now lecture is at the very top of the pyramids shown which means students only retain about 5% of that information given. Students learn best by actively learning. Active learning is an instructional approach where students engage with the course materials by being hands on, some activities can range from discussions, role plays, think pair share, and think aloud's to just name a few.
"Active learning helps promote higher order thinking skills such as application of knowledge, analysis and synthesis. Active learning activities engage students in deep rather than surface learning, and enable students to apply and transfer knowledge better" (Queens SU Module).
A year in six words, How does it tie into active learning
When selecting my topic for this blog post I reviewed some of the options that were listed to me but felt most connected to one year told in six words. I felt like this activity was one that could be implemented in my classroom at various points in the year and not just at the years end. I was so intrigued to continue to read Coonley's students share of their year in six words. How powerful! Giving students the tools to be successful in their learning and allowing them to navigate their learning allows for students to really become invested in their futures. When I was looking at one year told in six words blog post I created a jamboard to share key highlights of information, image is below.
Active Learning in classrooms today
I think that active learning is a big part of the classroom I am in and feel that students benefit from this because they learn so much more than just sitting and listening to a lecture. Students are engaged, communicating, sharing, exploring, listening and speaking. Allowing students to learn and share this way will continue to guide them for their futures when they are out of school.
Hi Jillian!
ReplyDeleteI cannot agree more that being in a classroom that had active learning back in the day when I was in school, really worked for me. Not every student is the same so the ancient practice of pure lecture should be done with. I am so sad to have been moved into a part of the school where there is little differentiation and active learning. I am happy you have that where you work now because the students are so much happier!
Thanks for the great reflection on active learning and the prompt for us to reflect on how we learned and how students learn today. We need to do that more often. I agree with the suggestion on your Padlet that we should extend 6 word memoirs throughout the school year. They are fun and powerful!
ReplyDeleteHi Jillian,
ReplyDeleteI agree active learning is very important. Those picture you posted of the learning pyramids are very interesting. Im not exactly sure on all the data that went into those. Could you imagine if we only emphasized reading 10% of the time? Is reading not that important? There are so many different ways to learn. Great Post!