I usually consider if the activity will benifit my class for a written test question or if the activity is something done by technicians in a shop.
Hi James,
I love how you make learning apply to the real world.
Patricia Scales
I pass around training aids, discuss what the part is, what it does,and how to change it or rebuild it.then I ask students,one at a time how they would approach such a repair.they all seem to learn well with this type approach.I also have them fill out training repair orders to apply what they have learned to simulate real life repairs on vehicles.
Hi Salvatore,
I like how you add the worksheet portion between lecture and lab. Students can never have too much practice.
Patricia Scales
Labs are clearly the most obvious active learning exercise we use but I like to use work sheets in the room to break up lecture time and reinforce what they are going to do in lab. Then when they get to lab and perform a test on their own car that we did in the room on the board and on paper and get the same results that’s a fun part of the job for me.
Hi ANEURIN,
As instructors you have to be very observant, you can really tell from the lecture those who may struggle with the lab portion of the theory.
Patricia Scales
In the automotive education, active learning is a must for every subject taught. The lecture basically gets the idea in play than the active learning roots it in them. I will do the lecture first then demonstrate the information that was given and then take the students to lab and allow them to start doing the exercise. You will know how effective you were in class and during the demonstration time on how the students will ask questions or how much trouble they are having doing it on their own. If you watch during the lecture and demonstration you normally have a good idea of who will have the most trouble completing the task
Hi Louis,
Every instructor should make an attempt to include activity learning in their lesson plan. Students enjoy active learning, and it is so much more effective because students get to apply what they have learned.
Patricia Scales
Well I feel active learning is critical to what we do. So my guideline is for each discussion to format all that is needed to get the job completed
after discussion a hands on experiment then a final explanation on how to do the project.Then an evaluation is given on the job performed.
Hi Lyle,
When students get the opportunity to apply what they have learned, the information tends to stick better.
Patricia Scales
Almost all the material that I cover is related to an active learning part. If it relates to a lab(it generally does) I let them know what the expectations are including the amount of time that is available. This keeps them on task and still allows for self discovery of the principles we are teaching.
Hi Timothy,
Super! Visual is a great way to get students to grasp concepts! Most of our learners are visual learners.
Patricia Scales
Hi Chuck,
Continue to do what works best in your setting, the more you do it, you will become even more creative.
Patricia Scales
Hi Terry,
I like the review after the lab to test students knowledge; sometimes even after a lab, some students still do not get it.
Patricia Scales
Hi Steven,
Labs are excellent to apply what has been taught through book theory.
Patricia Scales
I use lab time as an active learning to reinforce the visual parts of a class lecture.
The way I determine if an active learning lesson is needed is easy. The curriculum has already been laid out for me; all I have to do is follow it. The first thing I do is give a pre-req review of the subject we are going to learn, and then we go to lab for hands on, follow by a review of the labs to determine if the students understood what they performed in lab.
Teaching a very structured class has its limits. My best approuch for incorperating active learning is in the lecture and disscusion of the days labs.
I will first introduce the lab station , following it up with what resources are avalible and end with the result or conclusion and objectives we need to accomplish.
Show And Tell Seems To Work The Best.Visual So They Can See What They Are Going To Do,Touch The Parts And Discuss Them, Then Go Out To Lab And Do It.
Hi Audie,
When students can feel it, hold it, touch it, see it, and do it, they have a better understanding of it all.
Patricia Scales
