Active Learning

What is active learning?

Active learning is a range of teaching strategies that a teacher can use to engage students as active participants in what they are learning. This is a great way for students to take control of their learning. It also allows students to be involved, and think about what they are learning.  


About the activity:

The activity we were presented with was a blog set up by a student named Max. In the scenario, Max is away filming a movie, and is not currently at school. Since Max is not able to be in a traditional classroom, a blog was created for him as an alternative active learning strategy. Even though Max will be away filming, he will be able to write a post once a week, keeping his class updated on what he is doing. Max tells his classmates what is going on with the film via the blog post. He shares pictures of himself on set, including his visit to the Royal Ontario Museum. His classmates can comment, ask questions, and even share about their school day to Max. It is a great way for students to keep in touch with Max, and vice versa. 

Personal Photo: Active Learning Padlet

How the activity ties into active learning:

This activity ties into active learning because it is engaging, experiential, and mindful for students. The blog activity allows Max and his classmates to engage with each other by communicating through blog postings. Through Max's blog, his classmates can ask him questions or comment on his posts or pictures.

When the students comment on Max's posts, they are aware that he is not at school. By providing detailed comments, his classmates keep him up to date about what is going on at school. The assignment also allows students to learn about Max's work, including what goes on behind the scenes of movies, as well as new vocabulary like cinematographer.

  
Should teachers keep active learning in mind when developing lessons?

Teachers should always try to keep active learning in mind when developing lessons. For example, if the class is working on plant anatomy, the teacher can incorporate different teaching strategies such as: think pair share, partner talk, and small group activity. Using different strategies of active learning allows students to engage in the material. Allowing students to actively learn also helps them to be mindful of what others are saying. It can also help them learn from each other.

Personal experience with active learning:

I see active learning everyday in our second grade classroom. First, the teacher will present a new lesson for 5-10 minutes. After the presentation, the teacher provides an activity for the students. In the classroom this week, students have to answer who, what, when, where, and why questions using a Clue Jr. mystery book. Once the teacher provides direction for the activity, the students partner up or form a group of three. Once in groups, they work together to read and answer questions to solve the mystery in the book.

During science, the students were learning about plants. Each student was able to plant their own plant. As the plant was growing, the students observed new parts of the plant, and labeled them as the plants grew. The teacher used a whole group discussion with her smart board to engage the students in naming parts of the plant, the job of a plant, and what the plant needs to survive. Students discussed these elements as a class, and were called upon to come up to the smart board and draw/label the information.

Photo credit: active learning

This image is what I think active learning should look like. It is a great representation of  our second grade room. Students need time to engage with other classmates or individually to learn. When students can relate back a subject, they retain so much more than just something being read off a Powerpoint slide or out of a book.

Additional Information: 

Active Learning Information