Blog Post #3
What is active learning?
Image: My personal Jamboard
Active learning is all about the students engaging in their learns by being involved in how they learn. Active learning really is something that I see as extremely important nowadays in classrooms across the USA. In my experience in education, there are too many teachers that are stuck in their own ways of teaching and refuse to deviate from it.
Students are not one size fits all and never will be. With all of the technology available to so many educators, differentiation and giving some of the choice and power back to the student is attainable.
I really enjoyed seeing the Coonley activity because it not only showcased how students feel about school but also was streamed online which probably made a lot of students feel special to have something by the school posted about them in such a positive way. These kinds of activities give autonomy back to the students and helps show them there is a way to display their creativity with their own ideas.
I personally have started in a new grade-band with teachers who are VERY tenured and have ancient ways of teaching. It is all lecture and notes for the most part along with strict views and yelling. There are a couple newer teachers, a lot fresher out of college and my diverse learners LOVE their classes. The classes give choice options, clear expectations and no scream
ing in their faces. I wish my administration could see the difference in classroom structure and how much happier these kids are to learn in some classes more than others.
In this article about active learning, I like how the model below shows that lecture doesn't need to be completely abandoned-it just needs to be incorporated with activities that will keep the students sparked and engaged.
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Thanks for including the article and sharing your experiences in your current learning context. You are correct in that there *is* a place for lecture but it can't be all day, every day!
ReplyDeleteHi Rhiannon!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your perspective on active learning and how it is and isn't utilized in your school. What grade level(s) are you teaching? It’s unfortunate that certain staff members can be so set in their ways and are hesitant to adapting to new strategies. I definitely agree with your statement that “students are not one size fits all and never will be.” It is so important to give students multimodal opportunities to learn and show comprehension. Things are constantly changing and with that, hopefully paired with growth. We should constantly be growing and evolving as educators.
Hi Rhiannon!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, some teachers are too set in their ways and are unwilling to adapt to new ideas. I sometimes can't fathom why teachers wouldn't want to create activities that their students get excited about. I love seeing my students get pumped up about an assignment activity or project.
I always think about how our kids feel whenever I am attending a Professional Development. You have to sit for a long time with the host talking the whole time. I know it's possible to get bored quickly and become disinterested. It helps put into perspective how our kids might feel if we lecture them for too long.
This generation of students has such creative minds, and they need to be able to explore. When we provide them with all the answers, they don't get a chance to grow. Students truly get to shine when they can connect to a task and explore their creativity.