Everything about Active learning
Educational technique
Active learning is "a method of learning in which students are actively or experientially involved in the learning process and where there are different levels of active learning, depending on student involvement." Bonwell & Eison (1991) states that "students participate [in active learning] when they are doing something besides passively listening." According to Hanson and Moser (2003) using active teaching techniques in the classroom can create better academic outcomes for students. Scheyvens, Griffin, Jocoy, Liu, & Bradford (2008) further noted that "by utilizing learning strategies that can include small-group work, role-play and simulations, data collection and analysis, active learning is purported to increase student interest and motivation and to build students ‘critical thinking, problem-solving and social skills". In a report from the Association for the Study of Higher Education, authors discuss a variety of methodologies for promoting active learning. They cite literature that indicates students must do more than just listen in order to learn. They must read, write, discuss, and be engaged in solving problems. This process relates to the three learning domains referred to as knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSA). This taxonomy of learning behaviors can be thought of as "the goals of the learning process." In particular, students must engage in such higher-order thinking tasks as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Wikipedia →
🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path
- Read the overview: Active learningA 5-minute orientation
- Skim a recent paper: Active learning-assisted directed evolutionInfluential work since 2022
- Pick up a classic book: A Bear Called PaddingtonThe most-reprinted book on the subject
- Read the landmark paper: Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematicsCited 7,410 times
- Go sideways: Teaching methodA closely related topic
- Go sideways: Passive learningA closely related topic
📖 Definitions
Noun A method of learning in which students actively take part in devising the learning process.
🗂️ The subject at a glance
🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)
Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics
Active inference and learning
Explainable Active Learning (XAL)
Active Learning by Learning
Agnostic active learning
Active learning through multimedia
Technology for active learning
Active Transfer Learning
🆕 Influential since 2022
📚 Books worth reading
A Bear Called PaddingtonMichael Bond · 1960
Creating environments for learningJulie Bullard · 2009
Genius Hour GuidebookDenise Krebs, Gallit Zvi · 2015
Best Practices in Engaging Online Learners Through Active and Experiential Learning StrategiesStephanie Smith Budhai, Ke'Anna Skipwith · 2016
Understanding the high scope approachMonica Wiltshire · 2011
College learning and study skillsDebbie Guice Longman, Debbie G. Longman · 1988
A handbook of reflective and experiential learningJennifer A. Moon · 2004
Tools of the mindElena Bodrova, Deborah Leong · 1995
Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.
🔗 Related topics
- Teaching method A teaching method is a set of principles and methods used by teachers to enable student learning. These strategies are determined partly by the subject…
- Passive learning Passive learning is a teaching method where students receive information from the instructor and internalize it. It is a method "where the learner receives…
- Flipped classroom A flipped classroom is an instructional strategy and a type of blended learning. It aims to increase student engagement and learning by having pupils complete…
- Instructional scaffolding Instructional scaffolding is the support given to a student by an instructor throughout the learning process. This support is specifically tailored to…
- Constructivist teaching methods Constructivist teaching is based on constructivism. It rests on the belief that learning occurs as learners are actively involved in a process of meaning…
- Learning environment The term learning environment can refer to an educational approach, cultural context, or physical setting (the learning space) in which teaching and learning…
- Constructivism (philosophy of education) Constructivism is a theory that suggests that learners do not passively acquire knowledge through direct instruction. Instead, they construct their understandin…
- Learning theory (education) Learning theory attempts to describe how students receive, process, and retain knowledge during learning. Cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences…