ACTIVE LEARNING
Active Engagement Promotes Learning: Strategies for Your Classroom.
Dr. Margaret A. Waterman Departments of Biology and Middle & Secondary Education Dr. Margaret P. Hill Department of Physics and Engineering Physics Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 USA Workshop on Active Learning For High School Teachers Kerala, INDIA October 13-23, 2008
What is Active Learning?
Instructional activities in which students are doing things and thinking about what they are doing. Research shows that to learn students must: read, write, discuss, or be engaged in solving problems. Learning is an active endeavor.
From Bonwell and Eison Active Learning Creating Excitement in the Classroom: [Link]
Why Use Active Learning Strategies?
From [Link]
Why Use Active Learning Strategies?
Lecture on Day 1. Recall falls off significantly by Day 2.
From [Link]
Why Use Active Learning Strategies?
Lecture on Day 1. Repeated studying improves recall.
From [Link]
The U.S. science agencies, and many employers, beg us to Devise and use pedagogy that develops skills for communications, teamwork, critical thinking and lifelong learning in each student. . .
Shaping the Future: New Expectations for Undergraduate Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology National Science Foundation, 1996. (p. 53)
How People Learn: Brain, Mind,
Experience and School.
National Research Council, National Academy Press, 2000.
a new theory of learning is coming into focus that leads to very different approaches to design of curriculum, teaching and assessment (p.3)
How People Learn
Learners come to formal education with a range of prior knowledge, skills, beliefs and concepts
These affect what learners notice How they reason and solve problems How they remember (p.10).
How People Learn
People construct new knowledge based on what they already know.
Constructivists assume that all knowledge is constructed from previous knowledge, irrespective of how one is taught. . . (p. 11)
Constructing knowledge is already a workplace reality. Active learning strategies help bring it to classrooms.
Active Learning Strategies:
One Minute Paper, Muddiest Point
On the half sheet of paper you have been given, write
down what you think are two important points presented so far (One Minute Paper).
Also write down an idea that was presented that
seems unclear to you right now (Muddiest point)
Why Use Active Learning Strategies?
Lecture on Day 1. Recall falls off significantly by Day 2.
From [Link]
Why Use Active Learning Strategies?
score on test vs. time during lecture
score on test
Recall of facts presented during lecture falls off.
Based on: Ruhl, K. L., Hughes, C. A., & Schloss, P. J. (1987, Winter). Using the pause procedure to enhance lecture recall. Teacher Education and Special Education, 10, 14-18.
Why Use Active Learning Strategies?
Score on test vs. time during lecture: Punctuated Lecture
Punctuating lecture increases recall
Based on: Ruhl, K. L., Hughes, C. A., & Schloss, P. J. (1987, Winter). Using the pause procedure to enhance lecture recall. Teacher Education and Special Education, 10, 14-18.
Punctuating Lectures:
15-20 min.
One minute paper (only do this once every two weeks
or so) Muddiest point (Can do more often) Pause 2 minutes for students to compare and rework notes Ask a question that has students use (apply) the ideas you have been teaching Use a visual aid Do a demonstration Change the pace
What is Active Learning?
In Active Learning, students: Use more kinds of thinking than usual
compare, interpret, analyze, create, judge
Reflect/ be aware of ones own learning
What do I already know? What am I not sure about?
Work with others on meaningful problems
sharing ideas and constructing understanding
From Bonwell and Eison Active Learning Creating Excitement in the Classroom: [Link]
Use More Kinds of Thinking
Active Learning requires students to use more kinds of thinking than usual. Blooms Taxonomy (updated by Anderson and Krathwohl, 2001) (right) shows a set of thinking skills.
.Anderson, L.W., and D. Krathwohl (Eds.) (2001). A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching and Assessing: a Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. Longman, New York. Image: [Link]
Use More Kinds of Thinking: Key Verbs
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)
Creating -design, construct, plan, produce Evaluating hypothesize, critique, experiment Analysing - Compare, organize, outline, find
Applying - Implement, carryout, use
Understanding - Interpret, summarize, infer Remembering -recognize, list, identify
Lower Order Thinking Skills (LOTS)
Use More Kinds of Thinking Analyze This Objective:
Students will be able to recall the main topographies of the various States of India (rivers, mountains, midlands, etc.).
Use More Kinds of Thinking Analyze This Objective
Students will be able to interpret a map of population density of India.
Use More Kinds of Thinking Analyze This Objective
Students will be able to construct hypotheses about relationships between population density and the topographical features of India using maps.
What is Active Learning?
In Active Learning, students: Use more kinds of thinking than usual
compare, interpret, analyze, create, judge
Reflect/ be aware of ones own learning
What do I already know? What am I not sure about?
Work with others on meaningful problems
sharing ideas and constructing understanding
From Bonwell and Eison Active Learning Creating Excitement in the Classroom: [Link]
Work with others on meaningful problems Reflect/Become aware of own learning Active Learning Strategy: Think, Pair, Share
THINK: about the next example by yourself. Write
down your own answer.
PAIR:
When I tell you, please turn to your neighbor
SHARE: Share your idea. Listen to the other person. SHARE: Together, come to agreement on the three
locations for the storage facilities and why.
Use More Kinds of Thinking Analyze This Objective
Students will be able to advise a company wishing to expand their rice packaging industry by suggesting 3 likely places to locate and defending their choices with evidence.
Topographical Highway Map
[Link] _east_and_asia/india_crop_1973.jpg [Link] al_roadway_map.svg/530px-India_topographical_roadway_map.[Link]
Summary of Strategies Used Here
One minute paper Muddiest point Pause 2 minutes for students to compare and rework
notes Think Pair Share Ask a question that has students use (apply) the ideas you have been teaching Use a visual aid Change the pace
Combining strategies leads to higher level thinking
E.g., For the analyzing objectives: used small group, visual, meaningful problems Any others?
Application of these ideas:
Make a note of which strategies you think would work
best in your classes Think of a topic that your are going to teach soon, or one that is difficult for students.
Think of which strategies might be useful PLAN how you will use at least one strategy
In a group of 4-5, share your plan and ask for
comments and ideas.
