-
ACTIVE LEARNING
Active learning names a wide range of processes in which instructors support students to actively participate in, contribute to, and reflect on their learning of new information, concepts, and skills.
There is evidence that teaching techniques that promote active learning, in both small and large class contexts, can increase students’ ability to comprehend complex material and boost their academic performance. These resources support the incorporation of active learning techniques — both modest and large-scale, both low- and high-tech — into any classroom of any size.
Resources
Overview of Active Learning
cft.vanderbilt.edu/cft
This overview includes the educational theories informing active learning, the research that provides evidence of its effectiveness, and several strategies for promoting more active student engagement—in both large and small classes.
This overview includes the educational theories informing active learning, the research that provides evidence of its effectiveness, and several strategies for promoting more active student engagement—in both large and small classes.
Pedagogy Unbound
pedagogyunbound.com
A repository, curated by and for university educators, of practical classroom strategies for inciting engagement, encouraging participation, and ensuring deep learning.
A repository, curated by and for university educators, of practical classroom strategies for inciting engagement, encouraging participation, and ensuring deep learning.
How to Engage Students and Support Learning in Large Classes
edsurge.com
Citing a study that concludes that the size of a class doesn’t correlate to how well students can meet learning objectives, this article reflects on the key strategies that teachers of large-enrollment lecture courses use to increase student engagement and learning.
Citing a study that concludes that the size of a class doesn’t correlate to how well students can meet learning objectives, this article reflects on the key strategies that teachers of large-enrollment lecture courses use to increase student engagement and learning.
Effects of Active Classes on Student Learning
news.harvard.edu
This article in the Harvard Gazette discusses a recent study on students’ perception of learning in traditional lectures v. active learning settings. While students may perceive themselves to be learning more in more passive lecture settings, the study indicates that students actually learn more in active learning settings—
and recommends that instructors communicate clearly with students about the benefits of active learning.
This article in the Harvard Gazette discusses a recent study on students’ perception of learning in traditional lectures v. active learning settings. While students may perceive themselves to be learning more in more passive lecture settings, the study indicates that students actually learn more in active learning settings—
and recommends that instructors communicate clearly with students about the benefits of active learning.
Group Work: Using Cooperative Learning Groups Effectively
cft.vanderbilt.edu
Active learning highlights the value of social interactions in the learning process, and this guide provides strategies for designing effective group tasks and supporting students to get the most out of learning from their peers.
Active learning highlights the value of social interactions in the learning process, and this guide provides strategies for designing effective group tasks and supporting students to get the most out of learning from their peers.
A Guide for Using Discussion-Based Pedagogy
taylorinstitute.ucalgary.ca/guides
This guide offers strategies for facilitating dialogue around complex and challenging issues, and provides activity templates with sample scripts, recommended procedures, and different evaluation approaches.
This guide offers strategies for facilitating dialogue around complex and challenging issues, and provides activity templates with sample scripts, recommended procedures, and different evaluation approaches.
Designing Effective Discussions
cmu.edu/teaching
A guide for planning focused and productive discussions, this site reviews the cognitive and social factors that can promote effective dialogue, and provides strategies for addressing common challenges that can arise during student-centered dialogue.
A guide for planning focused and productive discussions, this site reviews the cognitive and social factors that can promote effective dialogue, and provides strategies for addressing common challenges that can arise during student-centered dialogue.