Active Learning

What is active learning? “Active learning is a process whereby students engage in activities, such as reading, writing, discussion, or problem solving that promote analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of class content” (http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsal). Students are learning by doing. What I love about active learning is that it is student centered. The learning is relevant to their lives, they have choice, and are able to use their voice and creatively to actively engage in the learning process.

This week I explored an active learning activity that Coonley students were asked to participate in. The activity was titled “One Year Told in Six Words.” Students were given the following prompts: “Tell something you like about Coonley,” “What activity did you really enjoy this school year?,” “Write about yourself,” and “Give advice to others.” Using those prompts the students wrote six word memoir to capture their thoughts. The results were wonderful and were compiled into a large slideshow available to view through the school’s Twitter feed. This is a great example of an active learning experience as it is student centered, students had choices and were able to use their voice to be creative, while also making meaningful word choices.

Checkout my Padlet that also explains the “One Year Told in Six Words” and also includes more information about other school that have created “Six Word Memoirs.”

Active Learning Padlet created by A. Amber
Check it out here

Active learning is a powerful way to educate today’s students. Students do not want to “sit and get” information, they want to be active participants in the learning experience. It is extremely important that teachers incorporate active learning into their lessons. Exploring active learning this week has given me a new perspective and useful tools I can use to actively engage students in business topics.

For more information on active learning check out the following resources:

• Active Learning Strategies: https://teaching.berkeley.edu/active-learning-strategies
• https://www.brown.edu/about/administration/sheridan-center/teaching-learning/effective-classroom-practices/interactive-classroom-activities
• https://www.edutopia.org/classroom-student-participation-tips