The Importance of Active Learning
One of the biggest benefits I see in active learning is the opportunity to enhance different learning styles. Studies have shown that people learn more by doing by about 85% if I remember my statistics correctly. Also, this gives the students a way to better understand and soldify their understanding of hte material. Also, on a more practical level, does anyone really want to listen to a 4 hour lecture?
I so agree, studens really feed of an instructor's enthusiasm.
Dave Back
Exton, PA
Hi Lanny,
Students tend to enjoy the lab component of classes due to being able to apply book theory, and the activity is hands-on.
Patricia Scales
Recently we have adopted a format to engage students with relevant lab projects. We try to get the students "out of the chairs" on a regular basis and the acceptance and results are positive with good student feedback. Yes, long lectures can be brutal.
We have three and a half hours of lecture, and it is brutal trying to keep their attention.
Hi Sheila,
Scenarios tend to be received well by students. Students also like variety. We must do all we can to keep students interested in the subject matter.
Patricia
I have found that it is important to pre-plan a number of different scenarios to be ready to "switch-up" the style to keep the students on their toes.
Hi Heather,
I concur! Students love it when we make the theory apply to the real world by allowing them to have active learning. We need to make things as real for the students in the classroom as we possibly can to help prepare them for the real world.
Patricia
Hello Norma, I am an instructor in the clinical component of a medical assisting curriculum. The course is taught in a classroom with desks and chairs, but is also outfitted with exam tables and other supplies/equipment that can be found in a physician's office. I have found that by utilizing active learning strategies like role-playing, hands-on activities and group work, that we have been able to create "simulated" medical office experiences that can be applied to "real life" clinical scenarios. The students really enjoy these types of learning experiences and look forward to coming to class. We have also discovered that students who are presently in their "externship" in healthcare settings, have endorsed the invaluable active learning strategies that were employed when they were students in the classroom. They felt they were so much better prepared for the their clinical assignment. Heather Marcincin
Hi Ramon,
Lectures are as enthusiastic as the instructor makes them. You have a passion for what you do. I am sure your energy and love for the subject/profession show in your lectures.
Patricia
Hi Jennifer,
Students retain more whenver they receive smaller portions of information. Lecture on a few concepts and then break up the teaching method by giving a worksheet to be completed on what was just lectured on.
Patricia
Hi Robert,
I too teach Account, and I like your approach. I think perhaps I have included too much information in some of my lectures before stopping. This overwhelms some of the students. I think I may try your approach and break the lecture into smaller sections.
Jennifer
I agree. No one would want to sit through a 4 hour lecture. I for one would not want to give a 4 hour lecture. Trying different techniques allows the instructor to reach more students and keeps students from becoming bored. I teach accounting, and I am constantly trying to think of new ways to present the material in a way the students can relate to.
Very few of my students love lecture, although I have had a few who do, only because they have practiced the absorb and regurgitate method of " learning " and are really good at it. I find those students do not like to experiment as much as I would hope.
I often think that I couldn’t possibly lecture for 4 hours, but I find I can barely get everything in that I would like because I have a passion for the subject. I like to think of a lecture as more of a conversation and like the video suggested that keeps the students engaged and in the case of early morning or late evening classes Awake !
Somewhere along the way someone decided that the word lecture does not include enthusiasm. I look at TV shows on PBS, guys talking about colon health, you wouldn’t think the audience would be on the edge of their seats for that. But because they bring enthusiasm and hope they are very popular indeed.
I think that is even more true for todays younger learners. Many of my students learn just as much from u-tube as any other resource, they don't want to read, they just want someone to show them live or in a video. We have to come up with strategies to make them eager to go deeper into their subjects than what ever they can get from a 2 minute video. Part of that is to make them do a bit more hands on work to be sure they are getting the best practices and methods. I will often show my students more than one way to do something which indicates to them I know the subject a bit deeper than the tutorials in the books, then let them work out their own workflow for themselves to give them a since of acomplishment and lock in the learning.
Hi Robert,
Accounting can certainly be overwhelming. I like how you lecture on a concept or two and then do a problem related to those concepts. Students tend to get it better this way in accounting instead of lecturing on the entire chapter then doing exercises.
Paricia
I teach Accounting classes & find that lectures need to be interspersed with various other activities.
An approach that works for me is to lecture for about 10 minutes using the white board or Powerpoint, then do a problem directly related to the lecture.I try to alternate having small groups work the problem and also individual
work.
This reinforces the lecture and keeps the students attention.
Hi Toni,
I like your ideas! Arts and crafts are a real biggie for me. Students tend to get real creative and express their feelings as well as their imagination through art. I have seen many stories told through art.
Patricia
I find that case studies and "arts and crafts" are beneficial. Case studies allow the students to understand their own experinence and "arts and crafts" give a 3-D view of their understanding of the material. I also like to include multiple sources of info so students can compare and contrast theories and ideas.
Hi Melissa,
I concur! Whenever you utilize these three learning styles to teach, you really reach ALL students.
Patricia
