active vs. passive
How can I get younger passive learning student to become active learners?
James,
I use small groups for the same reasons you list. They are a great way to get all students involved and sharing to reach a common goal.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to use small group activities. The more mature "active learners" model the active behavior, which I then positively support. This gives everyone a chance to succeed. Small groups are best so that no one is put on the spot.
Shannon,
This truly was a creative and experimental lesson. You made it real for your students and you did it in a way that helped them transfer what they learned to their personal lives. What a fun way to teach this concept.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I like to group a passive student with a more active learner. I will also allow students to get creative and experiment in class. Recently I brought in supplies that enabled students to create facial treatments with food products. All of the students exhibited a desire to actively participate during this lesson. Students left that class expressing how much fun they had, in my opinion it resulted from the creative and experimental aspect of that lesson.
Dr. Meers and Marcie!
I find it difficult to engage my younger learners as well. I believe they are growing up in an "instant gratification" culture. This challenges us as instructors to teach them how to become active learners. Dr. Meers, I like your suggestion of giving the students activities that will "get them doing things". One-on-one conversations are also valuable. This shows the student that they are important to the learning process and helps them understand that their contributions are valuable.
Heather
Marcie,
Have a lot of engaging activities that will get them doing things in the class to see the value of the content. Another thing I do is have a talk with them privately and explain to them that this is not high school. They have chosen to pay and attend college, which many young adults do not get the opportunity to do. If they do not want to participate then they need to withdraw and go somewhere else that better fits their needs. These talks often do a lot of good because they mentally have not shifted from being high school students to adult learners so they are not self disciplined nor self directed. They need to learn these skills quickly.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
