Active LearningActive Learning

Karl SchnappKarl SchnappLash Center for Teaching and LearningLash Center for Teaching and Learning

AgendaAgenda

What What isis “active learning”? “active learning”? Why use active learning?Why use active learning? A model of active learningA model of active learning Promoting active learningPromoting active learning Techniques of active learningTechniques of active learning

• IndividualIndividual• CooperativeCooperative

What is Active Learning?What is Active Learning?

Take a minute to write an answer to Take a minute to write an answer to these questions:these questions:

How would you define “active How would you define “active learning”? learning”?

What characterizes active learning What characterizes active learning and makes different from “inactive and makes different from “inactive learning”?learning”?

What is Active Learning?What is Active Learning?

Active learning is anything that Active learning is anything that students do in the classroom to students do in the classroom to learn other than just listening to a learn other than just listening to a lecturelecture

Active learning involves students Active learning involves students in in doingdoing things and things and thinkingthinking about about what they are doingwhat they are doing

Why Use Active Why Use Active Learning?Learning?

ResearchResearch shows that… shows that… students prefer AL over lecture alonestudents prefer AL over lecture alone students master content at levels students master content at levels

comparable to lecturingcomparable to lecturing students master thinking and writing students master thinking and writing

skills at levels higher than lecturingskills at levels higher than lecturing student learning styles are better student learning styles are better

served by active learning vs. lecturingserved by active learning vs. lecturing

How much is retained ?How much is retained ?(Work with a partner to determine which (Work with a partner to determine which

percentages match these teaching practices?)percentages match these teaching practices?)

Discussion = ? Lecturing = ? Teaching others = ? Reading = ? Practice Doing = ? Audio-Visual = ? Demonstrations = ?

5%

10%

20%

30%

50%

75%

90%

Three-Part Model of Three-Part Model of Active LearningActive Learning

Active LearningPassive Learning

Receiving Informationand Ideas

ExperienceReflective Dialogue

w/ Others

Doing

Observing

w/ Self

Reflecting

Dee Fink’s Model of ALDee Fink’s Model of AL

Promoting Active Promoting Active LearningLearning

Find new ways to introduce Find new ways to introduce students to information and ideasstudents to information and ideas

Some examples:Some examples:1.1. Assign a reading, give a quiz, set up an Assign a reading, give a quiz, set up an

in-class activity to use info and ideasin-class activity to use info and ideas

2.2. Provide links to web sites that have Provide links to web sites that have images and texts relevant to classimages and texts relevant to class

3.3. Create projects that get students to Create projects that get students to collect their own data or informationcollect their own data or information

Create rich learning experiencesCreate rich learning experiences• especially those that involve several especially those that involve several

kinds of “significant” learning kinds of “significant” learning ((Foundational Knowledge, Application, Integration, Human Dimension, Caring, and Learning How to Learn)

• Fink’s examples: a simulated Fink’s examples: a simulated engineering project, starting and engineering project, starting and running a real businessrunning a real business

Promoting Active Promoting Active LearningLearning

Promoting Active Promoting Active LearningLearning

Assign in-depth reflective writing on Assign in-depth reflective writing on their learning using these questions:their learning using these questions:

• What am I learning?What am I learning?• What value does this have for me?What value does this have for me?• How did I learn it best?How did I learn it best?• What else do I need to learn?What else do I need to learn?

Active Learning TechniquesActive Learning Techniques

How have you tried to use active How have you tried to use active learning techniques for learning techniques for individualindividual students?students?

Active Learning TechniquesActive Learning TechniquesFor For IndividualIndividual Students Students CATS (Minute Paper, Muddiest Point, CATS (Minute Paper, Muddiest Point,

Finger Signals, Flash Cards, PRS)Finger Signals, Flash Cards, PRS) Q&A (Student Summarizing Student Q&A (Student Summarizing Student

Answer, Quiz/Test Questions, Fish Bowl)Answer, Quiz/Test Questions, Fish Bowl) Critical Thinking Motivators (Intuition Critical Thinking Motivators (Intuition

Quiz, Paradoxes/Puzzles)Quiz, Paradoxes/Puzzles)

Active Learning TechniquesActive Learning Techniques

How have you tried to use active How have you tried to use active learning techniques for pairs and learning techniques for pairs and groups of students?groups of students?

Active Learning TechniquesActive Learning Techniques

For For PairsPairs and and GroupsGroups of Students of Students Discussions/Debates/PresentationsDiscussions/Debates/Presentations Note Comparing/SharingNote Comparing/Sharing Concept Mapping/BrainstormingConcept Mapping/Brainstorming Jigsaw Group ProjectsJigsaw Group Projects Role PlayingRole Playing Games/SimulationsGames/Simulations