Active Learning

Study Skill 1.3 Active Learning

Introduction

We often hear the old adage, “Showing up is half the battle.” It’s true. Being present, listening, and absorbing information, or passively learning, is learning but it’s only HALF the battle. To get the most out of ourselves and our education, we need to do more. We need to be ACTIVE learners! To learn best, we need to act, to analyze, to DO, to discuss, to write, to apply, to teach!

Watch

• Gabriel Guzman “Active Learning” (YT 3:35)

Visit

• Study Guides and Strategies “Active Learning” goo.gl/M5Hw00 Links to an external site.

Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cone_of_learning_export_11x17.png Links to an external site. 

Key Ideas

• We learn best when we go beyond passive listening, reading, and seeing and become ACTIVE learners who discuss, debate, create, evaluate, and teach!

Blooms Taxonomy image from https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/ Links to an external site. 

Apply

• Group Activity: Break into partners and have one student in each group choose a concept to teach the rest of their group. The members of each group will then be responsible for teaching the other groups the concept they were taught.
• Individual Activity: Think of something you’d like to know more about or understand better. It can be anything from how to make guacamole to how to perform a skateboarding trick. Challenge yourself to TEACH that topic to your parents or a friend.
• Individual Activity: Look at your notes from one of your classes. Create a Trivia, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” or “Jeopardy” game from the facts and ideas you have in your notes! Play the game with friends to prepare for your next exam!